Questions for Pop Warner shooters...

Going to shoot a game on Saturday and just want a couple tips from some experienced football shooters.
Kids are 7-9 years old. Ill only have a 20D and a 70-200mm 2.8 and my tripod.
oh and a 2X tc( wish i had a 1.4)...
Where is a good area to line up?
Behind the defense?
Near the Line of Scrimmage?
Endzone??
Oh and its a day game...

THIS IS WHAT I DO ALOT OF. FIRST INVEST IN A MONOPOD..IT'S EASY TO MOVE AROUND YOU NEVER WANT TO USE A TRIPOD IN THIS CASE. ALWAYS SHOT FROM THE FRONT...POINTING AT THE OFFENSIVE LINE OR DEFENSIVE LINE. IF THE PLAY IS RAN TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIELD THERE ISNT TO MUCH YOU CAN DO. ENDZONE SHOTS ARE THE BEST WHEN THE OFFENSE HAS THE BALL INSIDE THE 10 GO BEHIND THE ENDZONE ALOT OF TIMES YOU WILL GET THE RB RUNNING RIGHT AT YOU. GOOD LUCK - PAYNE7

Luckily for you, little kids football moves slower than high school and college, so you'll be able to learn fast, I think. Are you shooting one team over the other? Or are you covering the game for both teams? I find that following the action so that you are near the endzone of your team for the given quarter is the best way to go about it.

I use a monopod and move with the action. Especially with a 200, which is a little short, you need to stay with it. Invest in the monopod.

I use a monopod with a 70-200 2.8 and the 1.4x TC. With the little guys, I fund out I couldn't see them very well when I was downfield. Some of the times, I get behind the ball so I can shoot the QB and running backs as they hand the ball off. Of course, lots of time they run to the far side of the field! Bummer. But if they come your way you can get the open shot of the runner as he comes at you.

Good luck.
Mike

I would say since you have the reach once they get closer to the goal line for sure shoot from the end zone. You might get some cool images of a rb coming through the hole or a nice alley to shoot the qb.

IODebbie wrote in post #4150653
I use a monopod and move with the action. Especially with a 200, which is a little short, you need to stay with it. Invest in the monopod.

Cant i just make a monopod?
Never used one but this seems ideal,
i have a gyro manfroto head...
i could just thread a pole or a stick haha.
Thoughts????

I use my 2 30D's one with the 24-70 and the other with the 70-200 2.8 lenses. I usually lineup alongside the out of bounds behind the defense. Most kids run towards the endzone and out of bounds. So they will pretty much be running towards you most of the time. If it permits you can get on the field depending on the age and speed of the kids and of course the referees and coaches. Once they are near the endzone get directly behind the defense or offense depending on who you are trying to shoot. And lose the monopod and tripods. No need for a 70-200 2.8 lens it's not that heavy of a lens and the pods just get in the way.
since the kids are short stay low to the ground.
Here is a link to some shots i took of pop warner about 2 weeks ago during the day without the 1.4 extender.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=391846

Thanks,
-Joey

Put the 2X on, get a monopod if you can, if not, shoot handheld.

Set center-point only AF, AI Servo, Av, your goal is to shoot 1/1000 or faster.

Shoot the team coming on to the field.

Initially, try setting up about 20-30 yds downfield in the direction your team is moving the ball, shoot away, trying to get faces of kids with the ball or tackling. When they're on defense, you're the opposite, behind the opposing players, now trying to shoot a tackle. You'll get a feel for it........... e.g. when the ball is inside the 20, shoot them from right behind the goalpost, if you can.

If you need to shoot every team member, pay close attention, shoot every player going on/off the field.

Shoot your cheerleaders as well; they buy/want photos.

Enjoy.

EDIT: To what dekalb sez below -- set the monopod so that you're on one knee, the lower your angle with kids, the better the shot.

Skip the monopod, at this age level you should be on your knees, if not lower.

what about legalities of shoot kids and puttin them on a website for sale? Have you had any problems with it? Recently I had a Pricipal tell me that I had to take the pics off my website and she would have not given me permission to take the pics if she had known. Any advice?

Play it by ear. Most parents now are more appreciative in my area of seeing their kids online as long as there is a password. Put a password and pass it out on the back of the business card to the team coach to hadn out to parents. If t hey want their picture off just take it off.
-Joey

dekalbSTEEL wrote in post #4156709
Skip the monopod, at this age level you should be on your knees, if not lower.

Agree, I shoot HS football and don't use a monopod. without one it is much easier to quickly dorp to the knees to get a different perspective. I also find that I can switch from horizontal to vertical shots much quicker. By the end of the game, you might begin to notice the weight of the equipment (Body,70-200 f/2.8 and in the case of HS night games, add the weight of a 580EX )
Leave the camera bag home. I use a Lowepro belt system to carry spare batteries,memory, my 1.4 TC and other stuff, such as a water bottle.