UCSD Baseball

I went out to attempt some baseball shots today. For some reason I had it in my head that baseball photography wouldn't be that challenging after shooting motocross and surfing...I was wrong! I read many of the suggestions on this board and that helped a bunch. This is my first attempt at baseball so any C&C would be welcome...Thanks

1.

Nice shots! I need to get to a game soon!

Titans have a good team and the games were exciting! I went out yesterday but it was raining and I left the gear in the car.

Michael:

Those are all good shots. Good crops as well. The only bad one is the left-handed batter--got to stay away from backs and butts, or so I've heard!

Focus is good, colors really pop! Nice job on the shortstop throw to first, too. #2 ... dead duck at 2nd unless that was ball 4 and sent the runner on a 3-2 count play!

I've shot baseball a few times and know the game incredibly well. You mentioned surfing and bike racing. Very predictable. Baseball = very UNpredictable.

I found it best to show up to a game and plan on coming away with a few types of shots. Might be the pitchers during delivery, pickoff moves to 1st, the hitters from the side of the plate with good light, etc.

This way, you're not focusing on the action as it comes at you at 100+ mph. You may be good enough to capture it, but it certainly didn't work for me. Stepped back and thought about it at bit. It made the most sense to me to plan on getting a few shots of this or that activity that routinely happens during a ball game and not focus on catching everything as it happens.

dave

snyderman wrote in post #9665861
Michael:

Those are all good shots. Good crops as well. The only bad one is the left-handed batter--got to stay away from backs and butts, or so I've heard!

Focus is good, colors really pop! Nice job on the shortstop throw to first, too. #2 ... dead duck at 2nd unless that was ball 4 and sent the runner on a 3-2 count play!

I've shot baseball a few times and know the game incredibly well. You mentioned surfing and bike racing. Very predictable. Baseball = very UNpredictable.

I found it best to show up to a game and plan on coming away with a few types of shots. Might be the pitchers during delivery, pickoff moves to 1st, the hitters from the side of the plate with good light, etc.

This way, you're not focusing on the action as it comes at you at 100+ mph. You may be good enough to capture it, but it certainly didn't work for me. Stepped back and thought about it at bit. It made the most sense to me to plan on getting a few shots of this or that activity that routinely happens during a ball game and not focus on catching everything as it happens.

dave

Thank you for the comments Dave. You are correct, I found myself overwhelmed with all the action around me compared to MX and Surfing. I finally went to the 3rd base side and focused on the action coming from second..pic #1 and the shortstop throwing him out in pic #3.. As another forum member pointed out to me the shortstop in pic #2 should be the one in focus as he's about to make the play. I did find this one...but again I wish I could have captured the slide.

Michael-

I think these are very good, especially for so early in the season. I'm not a baseball guy, so I've been lurking to try an get some ideas for the upcoming season. Of course we are at least 2 months from green grass. You have stopped motion and also kept enough depth of field to show us what's happening. Can you tell us the lens, settings, etc.?

Terry Healy wrote in post #9668966
Michael-

I think these are very good, especially for so early in the season. I'm not a baseball guy, so I've been lurking to try an get some ideas for the upcoming season. Of course we are at least 2 months from green grass. You have stopped motion and also kept enough depth of field to show us what's happening. Can you tell us the lens, settings, etc.?

Thanks! Most of these were shot between 1/1000th-1/2500th f5.6-7.1 and ISO of 800-1000. There was some clouds moving in and out of the area most of the game and it made for some challenging lighting conditions.