U9 Girls Soccer...overcast day...have a look

Well, I'm not sure that I like shooting in overcast conditions. I always seem to blow the sky way out on days like this. Again, I was shooting in TV mode...haven't made the big jump to manual yet or even AV mode for that matter. I should have tried manual today as the lighting was pretty constant...the sun never appeared. I might have a go at it tomorrow as we have another game.

Let me know what you think of these and what I could have done differently. They were shot with the 30D and the 70-200/2.8. ISO was 400, ss was about 1/1600, AI Servo, Spot metering.

As always, thanks for looking and looking forward to more cc.

1. Team picture

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

very nice. How do you like the Sigma 2.8 ? good and bad ?

Thanks SBK1. I love the Sigma! It was a bit heavy in the beginning (I'm female) but I have gotten used to it and only hand hold it...no monopods. The only thing I haven't gotten used to is using the 1.4 extender with it...I get a very low number of keepers because my focus is always off. I'm still practicing with it though. It was a good investment and I got it used right off of this forum. I'm looking to either a 300 prime or the Sigma 100-300 to get that extra reach on these ever growing soccer fields.

Karman

These are great shots, well exposed, sharp and great color.

I can highly recommend the Sigma 100-300 F4, I also shoot kids soccer. I sold my Canon 70-200 F4L and replaced it with the Siggy, I have no regrets at all.

Great shots Karmen! I love the yellow uniforms. Overcast skies are tough for shooting when you have the sky in the background. I think you would do better taking a spot reading off one of the girls faces and then use those settings in manaual mode - although your exposure looks pretty good in the team shot, it looks slightly over in the action shots. Also, I think all of your photos would benefit from a tighter crop. Don't be afraid to crop up close! You want the attention on the players, not the expanse of grass below their feet.

Try cropping the bottoms of 2, 3, 4 and 5 a little more and see what you think. 2 could use more crop all the way around.

One last thing is that the jerseys in the team shot are very saturated - I'm guessing they look just a little less vibrant in real life - whereas the player's jerseys in the action shots look a bit desaturated. Probably a saturation somewhere between these 2 would look much better.

Great job though! I am looking at shooting in an overcast day today myself. Looks like we are in for some rain here in New England.

cheers,
Michael

Thanks samkiki. I said my next lens was going to be the Sigma 10-20 but I think I will get much more use out of the Sigma 100-300 since my oldest boy is rapidly moving up to the bigger fields. Thanks for the info. How is the focusing? Pretty quick?

mhackney, thanks for your comments. I normally crop very tight but didn't this time for some strange reason. I think I was tired and trying to get through them. We have another game today at 2 and it looks to be the same conditions so I'm going to try and meter off of the faces you say? My 4 year old is playing today so I'm going to try shooting in manual today. As long as the sun isn't coming out and going in, I should be good right?

Thanks again everyone.
Karman