Girls Soccer Game

Just got my first DSLR, XSI and a new 55-250mm IS lens. I just take these pictures for the family but I want to make them the best that I can. Just about all of my pictures will be of my kids and the sports that they play, soccer, baseball, basketball. Any suggestions or comments are needed.

Thanks,
Theron

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They both look a little soft, to me. They could also do with a closer crop to make the central subjects stand out. Good start though.

Are you shooting in aperture priority with your lens wide-open?

I was using shutter priority. Is the aperture the better way to shoot? I was trying to freeze the ball movement.

Thanks for the comments.

Theron

What were your shutter speeds? Other settings like AI Servo, and ISO?

packpe89 wrote in post #5562777
What were your shutter speeds? Other settings like AI Servo, and ISO?

1/500 AI Servo ISO800, F5.6 (default), Auto WB

Thanks,

Theron

The gal in the green in the second shot is going to hate you! Agree a closer crop on the first one would improve it (crop out the girl on the extreme right).

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Theron

tmalone893 wrote in post #5563515
1/500 AI Servo ISO800, F5.6 (default), Auto WB

Thanks,

Theron

This is why shutter priority isn't so hot. You selected an ISO / shutter speed that could not be supported by the lens maximum aperture. In this particular case the exposure was very close anyway so it was OK, but at other times this can lead to underexposure.

Then, if the light is instead adequate for the ISO and shutter speed you pick the camera will start to stop down the lens. For most sports you want a fast aperture selected to blur out the background. f/5.6 is already slow enough that you are going to get a lot of junk in the background, don't let the camera go to f/8.

M mode and aperture priority are probably better. If you use Av simply set the lens wide open and select an ISO setting that gets the shutter speed up to the range you want. Keep an eye on the shutter speed as you shoot in case of things like sunset or clouds.

The ref in the first picture seems very angry...was he having a bad day ..*heeh*

I don't think the first one is that soft really, the second is clearly a little too soft and blurred (to my liking). But I like the moment you've captured in that one

Looks like those were shot at the Bartlett Soccer Park on Sycamore View. I shoot my daughter's games there. Here is my advice, but keep in mind I am no pro.

1. I would shoot Av. I usually shoot F4.0 or F2.8 and adjust the ISO to keep the shutter speed high.

2. I would try to keep the shutter speed higher than 1/500. I like to be over 1/1000s. Adjust the aperature or ISO to keep the shutter speed up.

3. Use AI-Servo focus mode if your camera has it.