girls soccer..trying to get it right

need some advise. trying to shoot pics of our daughters soccer team. im able to get on the sidelines with a 70-200. this seems to be the best angles i can get. something doesnt seem right.im thinking about taking a small step ladder so i can shoot down at them.

here is another

These look pretty good!

A few points...first crop the second two to be more similar to the first. THis removes unnecessary background (BG) and focuses eye on key play. On the third for example I'd crop out the girl on the right and everything below the one white line just below the players feet.

I notice on #3 you also had a 2/3 EV compensation. This was maybe a bit too high as the faces look a little "hot". Otherwise, when cropped, this will be your best of the three.

Second, try and shoot with an fstop using your 70-200 at f2.8. This will, 1) allow you to blur more of the BG and will allow you to use a faster shutter speed which will help freeze action. (These look a touch soft on my monitor esp. #1 on the face).

Finally #2 in my mind is a "non-keeper" simply because there are no faces to be seen which takes away from the impact the photo could have. I find soccer is like hockey and if you can get the "holy trinity" of puck/ball, offensive and defensive player, and faces of both in the image, you have a winner!

Cheers!

Chris

and I am not sure about the ladder. In most cases you want to be low. Think about all the shooters you see at pro football games or even soccer games. Most are on their knees or standing. If you are on a ladder you will have even less chance of getting their faces in shot as you will be shooting down on their heads. Low is key, and then finding the right spot on the field to get the action coming at you.

cstewart wrote in post #5853508
These look pretty good!

A few points...first crop the second two to be more similar to the first. THis removes unnecessary background (BG) and focuses eye on key play. On the third for example I'd crop out the girl on the right and everything below the one white line just below the players feet.

I notice on #3 you also had a 2/3 EV compensation. This was maybe a bit too high as the faces look a little "hot". Otherwise, when cropped, this will be your best of the three.

Second, try and shoot with an fstop using your 70-200 at f2.8. This will, 1) allow you to blur more of the BG and will allow you to use a faster shutter speed which will help freeze action. (These look a touch soft on my monitor esp. #1 on the face).

Finally #2 in my mind is a "non-keeper" simply because there are no faces to be seen which takes away from the impact the photo could have. I find soccer is like hockey and if you can get the "holy trinity" of puck/ball, offensive and defensive player, and faces of both in the image, you have a winner!

Cheers!

Chris

i didnt even consider shooting at 2.8:o:o. i put it somewhere near 5.6 thinking i would have alot of focus issues at 2.8......definately gonna try that next week. we could only shoot from 1 side,,the team side no one was allowed on,,so only 1 of those pics are not cropped. its definately not easy trying to make 14 yr old girls look like olympians,,gotta keep on trying

slowdad wrote in post #5853580
i didnt even consider shooting at 2.8:o:o.

If your backgrounds are pretty clean (as in most of your shots with nice trees and such) and you have the light, then sure go for the bigger DOF that the higher apertures can provide and maximize focus areas. If you have busy backgrounds (other fields, coolers, ugly fences or other infrastructure, spectators, parents in chairs along sidelines, etc.) then use 2.8 to better isolate players.

If using 2.8 and center point focus spot, you should be OK with any focus issues that arise.

Yep, definitely go to 2.8 and whatever you do, don't bring a ladder and shoot down!! You always want to be shooting lower so that the face, and especially eyes, are visible.

If you have the flexibility, try to position yourself so that your backgrounds are less cluttered.

I echo the "shoot at f2.8" and "get low" sentiments.

Just remember that soccer has as much emotion as any other sporting event and sometimes, the best shots are the ones without a ball in the frame - celebrations, coaches yelling, players reacting to decisions, etc.

14 year old girls aren't supposed to look like olympians; 35 year old men playing quarterback aren't supposed to look like ballerinas - if you go into an event with a pre-conceived idea of what your shots will/should look like, you'll limit your ability to react to the events on-field and really get the best out of your shots.

So it's 'only' soccer; so it's 'only' a girls' game... so what?!

Research your subject well enough to know what to look for (without limiting yourself to those areas alone) and you'll be delighted with what you can achieve. These are good shots all the same! Give yourself a round of applause, learn from the sensible feedback that others have given and promise yourself you'll get better and better every time.

danaitch wrote in post #5854748
If you have the flexibility, try to position yourself so that your backgrounds are less cluttered.

I echo the "shoot at f2.8" and "get low" sentiments.

Just remember that soccer has as much emotion as any other sporting event and sometimes, the best shots are the ones without a ball in the frame - celebrations, coaches yelling, players reacting to decisions, etc.

14 year old girls aren't supposed to look like olympians; 35 year old men playing quarterback aren't supposed to look like ballerinas - if you go into an event with a pre-conceived idea of what your shots will/should look like, you'll limit your ability to react to the events on-field and really get the best out of your shots.

So it's 'only' soccer; so it's 'only' a girls' game... so what?!

Research your subject well enough to know what to look for (without limiting yourself to those areas alone) and you'll be delighted with what you can achieve. These are good shots all the same! Give yourself a round of applause, learn from the sensible feedback that others have given and promise yourself you'll get better and better every time.

your right about knowing the subject. i know little about soccer.HOWEVER, after playing 22 years of competetive USTA TENNIS AT THE 5.0 LEVEL,,i do know alot about sports and athletes. always trying to get the facial expressions and capture the emotion of the athlete. if these girls were on a tennis court,,i could make all look like steffi graf:p

these last 2 shots were my favorites. 1st is my daughter trying to high kick a ball. the other is a close friends daughter. shes very aggressive and always diving and sliding into shots. got i little out of focus when cropped but i saved it anyway

Can you shoot from behind the goals? I've had some success getting shots from there before.

I agree behind the goals is good. Keep both eyes open too that way you can follow the action with the other eye so you can anticipate the next shot. Definitely shoot low. All in all your pictures look good.

Tom