Chico State Baseball! 1st Attempt, C&C!

KJEphoto wrote in post #7307404
I had a question about "action coming at you". I showed these to the photo editor at the Chico's Student newspaper which i work at, and they pretty much said the only one that works was the pitcher shot where he's throwing directly at me. He said this was because it was the only picture where the action was coming at the viewer. I found myself disagreeing, while i believe it adds impact i felt that this doesnt make the others not acceptable. Anyone else have something to say on this? It just kind of shook my beliefs and i was wondering what others thought.

both you and your editor have good points. I took photos for my college's newspaper and media guides as well about, WOW, 15 years ago (just realized how old I am! :confused

The pitcher shots are always good shots. The batter ones are lost a bit, even though some of them have good timing, you can't see the player's face (much like MikeC710 said).

I also like the second shot, although I wish that arm wasn't there. I also like the 8th shot with the DP. It needs to be tighter, but that's why they invented PS!

If they don't have a photog's box, see if you can get permission to shoot a few from the (somewhat) safety of the dugout if you haven't already - you should be able to get some good batter shots from there (don't forget the catcher too!).

Also, (I'm assuming you're a student there) offer the SID to use your photos (whatever your newspaper doesn't take). They usually don't have a huge budget to pay photographers, but they'll give you photo credit for your portfolio.

Remember the forum rules, only 8 images - also make them a bit bigger - maybe it's my monitor but they seem small to critique. White balance looks off, I just reformatted so don't have PS to see but they look a little bit like the white isn't white.

#1 - more, these shots are only good if you have the scene in them
#2 - jube shots are always good! To bad the arm's in the way.
#3 - standard pitching shot, always good to get the ball off fingers. Notice kids how he's not pushing off the rubber? Huh, huh, anyone? OK.
#4 - pop-up, makes the hitter look bad, no face, delete
#5 - I'd say more out in front of him so he's not center....the base path as the "scene" and the runner on the side.
#6 - dead arm look is usually one to avoid, ball in flight good but you can get it it more and with his arm down it looks better.
#7 - nothing of interest, first baseman's backside isn't exciting (to me at least) - diving runner would have been the focus from this angle, or pitchers reaction/pick off attempt.
#8 - tighter, and that's a weird throw - or did he eat it?
#9 - exposure off...just nobody of focus really IMO
#10 - Again kids, notice the stiff front leg, the extension and the back foot falling off. Always like these type pics.
#11 - delete, makes the kid look bad as he chased a one hopper.

DHMN wrote in post #7311916
Included in thinking ahead is.. probably obvious (and stated on every forum I've ever read).. watch out for line drives coming at you. Obviously you want *the* shot but also don't want to get knocked on your backside by a baseball either! Probably a good idea to shoot with both eyes open just in case...

As with the softball thread, I'm jealous of being able to watch baseball/softball when they don't even take the field here until the end of March if then.

We take the field in April, college teams supposed to be in March but hardly ever.

As for the line drives, I took a nice one last year where I stepped to jump and the new catcher put his gear bag in my "jump zone", so I wore it like a champ. Seams embedded in the skin and all, good times. Batted a few away in my day with a monopod to, Brandon Phillips shattered two of them for me in a weeks time that I used to protect myself, and lost one at the All-Star Game I used to bat a liner away during BP. So yea, always be ready to jump, never be relaxed while in the open.