LL-1st Time-Last Game

Friend invitation, LL-2nd grade, shot a few innings, very overcast, then drizzle, then rain, put the gear away.
1)

Great work for the conditions. I would try to use a faster shutter if you can to stop the bat and ball. I am sure the light did not help.

Shutter speed aside - the first shot captured the bat-ball contact perfectly! Also like the eye on the ball of #4 vs. the perfect hit of #1 with the eyes not on the ball.

Love #5. The overcast produced a great day for faces.

The shutter speed issue doesn't bother me. Maybe I've been viewing too many images in 'Motorsports' [Pics of race cars look best when the driver/car is sharp but tires are blurred from high speeds] but there is something to be said for a shutter speed that is fast enough for sharp faces but leaves a hint of speed and motion in the bat and ball. Wouldn't want to do it that way all the time but it works for me here.

JMHO.

Phil

Very nice images. The cloudy day really helped make the colors pop.

I shoot the same way,going for faces. And making sure that they are properly exposed for. I found that most parents prefer their faces in focus than freezing a bat on ball.

Good crops as well.

What gear did you shoot with?

Love the shots!! Only thing I don't like is how some parts get chopped off, glove in #3 and bat in #4, but it doesn't take away from the shot by any means!

Thank you for your input. It is always welcome and reflected on.

I agree. I am a fan of stopping a bat on the ball (on most occasions) so that you are able to read the label and count the seams. I could have bumped the ISO to 3200 and/or 6400. (Also, had nudged up my exposure +1/3 and/or +2/3.) My intent was to focus on faces within the action. Because of the weather conditions, I feared that I might only have one inning or two before the rains came. Thus I stayed in only one or two positions to capture.

I shot with 1DMk3, f2/8, 300mm and was granted access on field, 1st base side, near the gate where the players enter the dougout (their on-deck circle) which is almost flush with 1st base, which put 2nd graders with bat in hand, warming up (swinging) near my head.....and more importantly near my gear!!!

It's amazing (and understandable) the eyes that are "NOT" on the ball. Also the various grips, swings etc. Probably could do a photo essay on everything surrounding the game that is not directly related to the direct action of play.