First time shooting through the fence

I'm not allowed behind the backstop to shoot but it never dawned on me to take some behind the backstop while the pitcher warmed up. So I took some today. What do you think? I find the pics shot through the fence to be dull, why is this? Is it because the camera is trying to focus on the grey fence?
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It is caused by the fence. The fence can cause your AF to freak out on occasion but this is not what is dulling the colors. The sun reflecting off the grey fence right in front of your lens is what is causing the problem. I think you will find it is not as bad when the sun is behind you. Generally you can adjust for most of it in PP.

Also be sure you keep your aperture as open as possible. This also helps.

Thanks for the explination. It isn't extrememly bad, and is an easy fix, I was just wondering what the exact cause is and if there is something I should do differently.

caroleigh wrote in post #5412435
Thanks for the explination. It isn't extrememly bad, and is an easy fix, I was just wondering what the exact cause is and if there is something I should do differently.

Dark colored fences cause less problem than light colored ones, so if the fence is unpainted chain link, look for a spot that's rusty to shoot through. Bright sun on the fence, either behind or in front of you, causes problems too so shoot through a part of the fence that's in shade or create shade with an umbrella or something similar if the sun is behind you.

Carol, Big K is correct, once the sun is behind you, you won't notice the greying. I "freaked" out the first time I shot thru the backstop too, but the next time was a overcast day and the lighting was just about perfect then.

Carol, from looking at the shadows in these pictures, I'd suggest that you move towards the third base dugout about 15 feet and shoot again as the pitcher is warming up (or during the inning). That might help get the sun off the fence. And make sure you are as close to the fence as your lens will allow without damaging it.

I've had the same problem and can only sympathize with you.
Good luck.
Mike

Carol,

I have shot several photo's of the pitcher through the fence and the one thing that I have noticed is that if you have a UV filter... slam your lens "joking" just put it right against the fence. If you look through the view finder you can see the difference if you just move your lens along the fence a little. I wish I kept everything that I shot so I could show you the difference that 1/4 inch makes but I only keep select images to be sold to parents.

Hope that helps a little.

Make small movements while pushed up against it and you will see what I am talking about.

Mark

Nice shots. Yesterday I tried shooting through the fence for softball (my first try with 70-200mm f2.8) and I had same problem. I was going to ask this question and saw your post.

Thanks for all the advice, this forum rocks!
Yesterday was very overcast and I tried again. I didn't have the grey I had the previous day. This fence was rusty. I have a yellowing in these photos... However, I did not do a custom white balance, I used the cloudy setting which normally does give the creamier look. These shot through the fence just seemed a little more yellow so I am guessing it is from the rusty fence?
I did change the coloring in PP, which one works better for you, if either? If I did something wrong this time and you want to tell me what I did wrong, go for it
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