baseball season is HERE!!!

Man ya gotta love that newly cut grass smell, the beautiful color of the dirt, to look back and see thousands of fans, the first pitch, the cheers, the boos even.

Even though I love football, there is a different passion with baseaball. At least with me. Im a nostalgic kinda guy, so I loved the 50s Yankees (Due to The Mick) and have been a fan ever since. Post some of your MLB baseball pics and lets enjoy this new season.

I have one when the Cardinals and Orioels played an exhibition game here a few years back I just cant seem to find it (pre-dslr days)

Go Jays

big ben with an amazing game today. My prediction: Manny Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera for MVP

What kind of shutter speeds are used in baseball? I have never shot this sport but have seen some very nice base-slide and tagging shots. It must be tough to get an actual bat hit on a 90 + mph pitch - I guess this is where a MKll comes in handy?

Papaw wrote in post #2973989
What kind of shutter speeds are used in baseball? I have never shot this sport but have seen some very nice base-slide and tagging shots. It must be tough to get an actual bat hit on a 90 + mph pitch - I guess this is where a MKll comes in handy?

I know some photogs that dont care about background blur throw it on 1/1000 and just shoot (lazy?) while others try to get the higher speeds. I noticed most of mine were 3200-5000 this spring at 2.8 priority. A lot of the sliding shots were on eye as I didnt have the MarkIIn until just recently, you anticipate, get your settings down, and shoot. The bat on ball you can get by watching the hitters motion and where the bat is and when he's about to come through the zone. Like the hitter though, sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. But you can time things, a MarkII for the fps isn't always needed, though it sure dont hurt

Saw the hit in the gap and knew he'd be going to get at least a 2 bagger, turned the 20D/300 to 2nd and waited (after getting the hit of course) until he came into frame and bam, get A-Rod hustling. Just think ahead of the play and you can get the action in baseball.

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MJPhotos24 wrote in post #2974096
I know some photogs that dont care about background blur throw it on 1/1000 and just shoot (lazy?) while others try to get the higher speeds. I noticed most of mine were 3200-5000 this spring at 2.8 priority. A lot of the sliding shots were on eye as I didnt have the MarkIIn until just recently, you anticipate, get your settings down, and shoot. The bat on ball you can get by watching the hitters motion and where the bat is and when he's about to come through the zone. Like the hitter though, sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. But you can time things, a MarkII for the fps isn't always needed, though it sure dont hurt

Saw the hit in the gap and knew he'd be going to get at least a 2 bagger, turned the 20D/300 to 2nd and waited (after getting the hit of course) until he came into frame and bam, get A-Rod hustling. Just think ahead of the play and you can get the action in baseball.

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Nice catch, I like the dirt being kicked up behind him. What lens did you use?

Very nice capture.. My husband will love to see this.. Go Yankees!!

Very nice. Do you usually take these from your seat or do some stadiums have areas that are closer they will let you shoot from?

Go Royals!!! I cant help but to think they are going to have a much better season than last year. Well if today was an indication of anything I wont have to hold my head in shame much.

Papaw wrote in post #2974453
Very nice. Do you usually take these from your seat or do some stadiums have areas that are closer they will let you shoot from?

spring training is much different than the regular season. some stadiums won't even let you in with a big white L

spring training is much different than the regular season. some stadiums won't even let you in with a big white L
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Wow, I didn't realize that. I guess I better check with Texas Rangers Stadium to check on their policy --This stadium has changed their name so many times I can't keep up with the latest.

Papaw wrote in post #2974453
Very nice. Do you usually take these from your seat or do some stadiums have areas that are closer they will let you shoot from?

I shoot 99% of my shots from the photo pits, sometimes hop in the stands to take a few but if it's packed I stay on the field as I dont want to get in fans ways. This was shot from the photo pit in Tampa, I was there before all the other photogs and secured a good spot so I could move around a bit and hit different angles. The japanese photogs who showed up late all had stools to stand on, knowing they wouldn't get the seated positions I assume since they didn't show up till game time. Personally for a 7pm game I'm usually there by 3:30 at latest.

MLB is very picky on photos, they have tons of rules and "laws" on usage of photos bearing there players and logos. Some stadiums do not allow fans to take in big cameras that are anywhere near professional. If it looks like pro gear they turn you away (they dont want you selling your pics on ebay or something like that cuz you'd be taking away from there business). Even media with credentials are very limited what to do, some teams make you sign a waiver saying you will only submit them to the magazine or whoever you're shooting for, some let it slide and let you sell them to others as long as you know they have to be licensced or media purposes (paper, etc). The rules are annoying a bit and understandable for major leagues, problem is they have the same rules for minor leagues as well which is worse cuz noone can survive shooting the minors - it just dont pay, and MLBs rules hurt more than help freelance photographers. Sure it helps them, but not the low guys on the totum pole.