What's your biggest weakness as a Sports Photographer?

What's your biggest weakness as a sports photographer? What are you doing about it? This is NOT about GEAR you don't have. This is not a laundry list. Pick one deficiency that you have and describe your correction effort. It could be post production, level horizons, tracking accurately, or being aware of backgrounds. Whatever you struggle with is an OK topic.

Example: You might say that PP is your weak area and that you are taking a photoshop course to improve. It is not appropriate to say "I don't own photoshop and I'm going to buy it."

My problem: I'm learning to shoot volleyball and my timing is terrible. I'm often quite late and since I'm shooting strobes, I can't 'machine gun' the images but must time them properly.

What I'm doing: The volleyball coach has given me Carte Blanche to shoot the practices whenever I want, so I've gone to practice to work on my timing and check out angles and focal lengths for shooting.

What are you working on?

being used to shoot football im very comfortable with it. lately i started shooting a soccer league and its a bit iffy at times. im not a big soccer fan so my anticipation is lacking compared to football and so it my position on the field. ive actually been watching some more soccer matches on tv and try to observe the photogs and their style. one thing i do different (dont know why, might be detramental) is that for soccer i do not use a monopod.

Correcting all of the below are a matter of practice.

1. Mashing the shutter too hard (in the moment of excitement), therefore introducing camera shake.
2. Eye to finger lag (timing the shot)
3. Trying to use AI-Servo when the player is the size of the focus point.
4. Jerky panning in trying to follow a player, therefore losing center focus point from the player
5. Zooming / panning / Servo the same time
6. Finger slipping / losing pressure when using back-button focus
7. Forgetting to double check / change camera settings before hand
8. Forgetting to change camera settings as lighting changes (ISO, metering mode, picture style settings, EV compensation, etc.)
9. Using NR software (Neat Image) properly
10. Yelling at the ref to stop blocking my shot

Note: I have a lot to work on

WATCHING the game rather than concentrating on what's happening, readying the camera and getting the shot. I don't do this all the time, but am keenly aware that a HUGE number of great action shots have been missed.

What I can do about it? Better 'game plan' going into the shoot and don't stop shooting until my plan is completed. Tonight for example, it's getting shots of receivers in action. I usually get the QB throwing, lower the camera and watch what happens AFTER the play on the ball is over with. Missed a lot of interceptions, tipped balls, good catches, etc. Stop watching; Keep shooting!!!

dave

^^^aint that the truth. sometimes i get so into games youd think i was a coach. its hard to to stay with my gameplan when theres one kid just running over everyone else

On the 8th hour of the 5th day of a 5 day shoot staying focused (pun intentional). Forcing myself to concentrate on "nailing" that shot for the next however many hours rather than thinking about packing up and the drive home.

My knees....

I often stand up and deal with a worse angle rather than staying low and get the better shot. Sometimes I even sit on the grass but that doesn't allow for good panning and also ruined some shots.

So, gotta work on my fitness and stamina to make it through a full soccer game with better photo angles

My biggest panning, still want to stop and squeeze the shutter, must be why I was better with a rifle and lousy with a shotgun.

For your volleyball, try to judge who is going return the ball and watch their eyes. The players eyes will tell you exactly where the ball is and when it gets to them. Remember in most ball sports if you see the ball is is too late, you need some extra little clues.

Learn to use both of your eyes, one looking through the viewfinder, the other to watch the action.

jack

KEEPING THE HORIZON STRAIGHT!

AB8ND wrote in post #8881020
Remember in most ball sports if you see the ball is is too late, you need some extra little clues.

I am slowly learning about this, and you are right. Ball in the viewfinder and the peak action is missed.

Wow! I have a lot to correct (or work on anyway). I think everything that has been said so far has happened to me more than once. Bad knees. Yep. Can't kneel due to knee replacement and doc says NO!
Watching the game instead of shooting. Yep. Losing focus? Yep Especially after a long day of shooting.
Timing, timing, timing. It's all about the timing, and I don't have a good grip on it either.
Mike

1. Horizon
2. Keeping both eyes open.
3. Missing my target with my AF point
4. Missing too much.
5. Wanting to get better faster than I'm able.
6. PP ability.

eigga wrote in post #8881386
KEEPING THE HORIZON STRAIGHT!

How can we tell if the horizon is off when you keep shooting with that 400 and there's nothing but a blur?

I must admit that timing seems to be my biggest fault also... most of the time I will take my eye off the camera for a second to actually watch the play... WHY IS IT THAT ALL OF THOSE TIMES THE BIGGEST PLAY HAPPENS??? URGH... I need to stop doing that.