Home Run Swing - No Ball

Harm wrote in post #5625289
Yes, I thought about that too - in terms of the crop being too tight to the bat. Perhaps cloning is another option too, to make it a sure fire winner.

No no no no!! Doing so would manipulate the image and since Dennis is submitting these to a wire that would be a HUGE no-no, people have lost jobs over doing such things. Not every image is going to be perfect and the catcher doesn't subtract from this image one bit. What's next he take out the sign in the background? Or the blurry fan takin a bite of a cheesburger in the background? Where's the line drawn in other words.

As for the images they are nice, and too bad about Hardy on the wrong side. Had that happen to me last night, shooting a couple stock shoots of the SS (he had this little hop thing I was tryin to catch before each pitc), I turned away from him and bam - he made a diving catch, ESPN like going towards me, would have been perfect, instead I got the pitcher. Ah, bad timing happens.

The small bit of the catcher in this instance is so trivial it doesn't detract one bit IMO. The image is fantastic. Maybe if it was going up on the wall as a poster would you want to clone out that little bit, but I think it's great as is. I think Dennis took the right approach and cropped so that the bat wasn't right at the edge.

very very impressed, both of them look amazing

To be the most hyper-critical git in this place, am I right in thinking that the fielders shoes are more in focus than in his face in shot 2?

It's a great shot, don't get me wrong, but I found myself looking at his cleats. Sorry.

I am once again in complete awe of your photos!!!!!!

Nice shots Dennis.

Dennis, would you please discuss the camera settings, in particular the +.33 EV in AV mode.

awesome shot

Merciez wrote in post #5645062
Nice shots Dennis.

Dennis, would you please discuss the camera settings, in particular the +.33 EV in AV mode.

I thought he explained it pretty well.

dmwierz wrote in post #5623739
Scott, and all - Thanks.

This was an odd game, from an exposure standpoint. The game started with the roof open (apparently the first time all year) but by the third inning, they closed it in anticipation of showers that never materialized. With the roof open, Miller Park is sorta like a regular ballpark, and you can get away with shooting manual for much of the game. However, with the roof closed, the light can vary by as much as a whole stop across the field (from home plate to the infielders, for example).

So, to answer your question, I shot the whole game in Av, and used EC to vary my exposure based on monitoring my histograms. My guess is whichever EXIF program you're using interprets Av as an "Auto" program. One of the ones I use call it "Progam Mode", If you scoured the EXIF data, Aperture Priority is probably buried in there somewhere.

Thanks, guys.

Matt - I shot this game in Av mode, primarily because the lighting was pretty unpredictable and changing not only from minute to minute, but across the playing field as the subjects or the ball moved. While shooting in Av mode, EC is the fine tuning control on exposure in situations where I know the camera's meter or auto-exposure system is being fooled. Also, I know some shooters who know their cameras always need some sort of EC in order to get proper exposure.

With my MkIIn, I almost always find myself using + EC; I use it to pull faces from under the bills of ball caps. I use it to account for bright backgrounds that I know will underepose the subject. etc.

Does this help?

I have learned to stop down my lens a little as I have accumulated more experience with it. So, in Av, I'll select an aperture (somewhere around f/4.0 if I can) and adjust the ISO to keep my aperture from 1/2500s to 1/5000s.

dmwierz wrote in post #5645188
.adjust the ISO to keep my aperture from 1/2500s to 1/5000s.

sadly mine only goes to 2.8

Awesome shots Dennis! What lens did you use if I may ask?

dmwierz wrote in post #5645188
Thanks, guys.

With my MkIIn, I almost always find myself using + EC; I use it to pull faces from under the bills of ball caps. I use it to account for bright backgrounds that I know will underepose the subject. etc.

Does this help?

Yes it does, thanks.

Andy1265 wrote in post #5646385
Awesome shots Dennis! What lens did you use if I may ask?

Andy - Thanks.

EF 400 f/2.8L IS

AdamLewis wrote in post #5625332
I think youre making a mountain out of a mole hill here. Instead of worrying about cropping or cloning or anything else, why dont you just accept the fact that not every picture can be perfect and take the example that Dennis posted for what it is.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #5625763
No no no no!! Doing so would manipulate the image and since Dennis is submitting these to a wire that would be a HUGE no-no, people have lost jobs over doing such things. Not every image is going to be perfect and the catcher doesn't subtract from this image one bit. What's next he take out the sign in the background? Or the blurry fan takin a bite of a cheesburger in the background? Where's the line drawn in other words.

Take it easy chaps...

I was only pointing out what "could" be done to the shot. All I did was say some options not "You must do this" or "you must do that". I wasn't intending to make a mountain out of a molehill. Afterall 99% of shots are never perfect, or how you wanted them to be. But the ones on show here are bloody great, straight out of the box. Sure, I did originally question about the appearance of the catcher but hey, we all are here to learn and improve our ways - especially me!!

Cheers

Dennis,
I love the first shot. Great shots, as usual.