More U-6 Soccer

Another weekend shooting some soccer. Will also have some baseball to post later once PP is done.

C&C is welcome.

All shot with the 20d Sigma 70-200mm 2.8. They play on a short field so I left the 100-300 at home.

Let me know what you think.

Scott

1.

Tighter crops.

#2 is the best one. It does need to be cropped closer and it looks a bit overexposed, but you have something there. I've shot my kids soccer for three years and can vouch for how difficult kids soccer can be to shoot.

From my own experience, here are a few tips.
1) You need to see the kids' eyes or the shot is nearly worthless
2) Rule #1 can be overruled by extreme action/ball mid-air
3) Get low when you shoot - probably on your knees, but at least at the kids eye level.
4) move around during the shoot - behind each side of the goal and the far sidelines - this is usually not a problem in the lower soccer levels
5) use a monopod - people will think you're weird or pretentious, but the shots will be better

I'm not savvy enough to pull up the EXIF...sorry. I too shot some youth soccer last weekend. I was wondering what SS and aperture you were set at. #2 is probably the best of the player...and #5 is more to my liking as it has stopped action (including the ball). Anxious to see how you improve the more you do this.

First thing that struck me is that all the faces are half in bright sunlight and half in shadow, due to the sun being at approx 90 deg to the player, (from the shadows on the ground). By shooting with the sun at your back you can avoid this, or even shoot into the sun for the 'backlit' effect (as long as you use M to expose for the faces).

Kcussbuc wrote in post #9992348
5) use a monopod - people will think you're weird or pretentious, but the shots will be better

How are the shots going to be better? Shooting with a 70-200mm there is absolutely no need for a monopod.

willshoot4food wrote in post #9995560
How are the shots going to be better? Shooting with a 70-200mm there is absolutely no need for a monopod.

I find the opposite - a slight movement when at full zoom makes it much tougher to keep "on targer" with such a long lens. If shooting with a 70-200 *IS*, I agree.

IS or no IS if you can't track a kid with a soccer ball while hand holding a 70-200mm you got bigger problems.

Now when shooting with a 400mm 2.8 I would totally suggest using a monopod.