Australian Rules (The REAL Football)

Finally following the dream and working my butt off at becoming a sports photographer = ) Used my 400 5.6L for the second time in absolutely awful conditions. The turf was just mud, blistering cold, rained most of the day (when i awkwardly realized my 50D isn't water proof hehe) but I couldn't care less cause I spent the day doing what i love. Thought I'd share a few here as I've been ridiculously shy to post pictures here. Oh well! Here goes

1.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Some good shots in there Katie, I think it's just time to get more practice in. Composition will improve (i.e. straight horizons and knowing where to focus, be it following the ball or the man) with time.

Guessing you're from Ballarat, by the looks of it? Definitely not Willy's home ground

Thanks moose Definitely up for heaps more practice. The difference in the first lot of pictures i took to these ones is huge. Starting to gain a bit more confidence = )

And no definitely not from the rat! That's the Bullants (second) home ground in Preston. Absolute hole

Just my opinion:

#3 and #7 have too many players in the frame, plus, no ball.
#6 is good except you probably could have cropped closer and get the horizon straight.
#5 is good
#4 should be cropped closer.
#1 would be better if the ball was in the frame, but, it's a good shot of the players.
#2 crop tight on the guy with the ball. The guy with his back to the camera is a distraction.

Pay attention to your backgrounds and horizons. I know sometimes you can't do anything about it, but when you can you should keep them in mind.

Remember a basic rule of thumb for action shots is no face, no ball, no picture. I shoot a lot of Recreation Department (school aged kids) and high school sports. When I'm trying to decide to keep or delete a picture the question I ask myself is would the parents of the person in the picture put this picture on their desk at work or the refrigerator at home.

Hope this helps.

Dan

Thanks so much Dan, just what i was after

Nice Pics Katie. I gotta shoot a local footy match in 2 weeks. I have never shot sports. Do you think my 70-200 will be suitable ? I realise i wont be able to get as close as you have...

I dunno if I agree with the "real football' but there are some nice shots there

looks like your fields are in the same conditions as our up here

supernova74 wrote in post #10671759
Nice Pics Katie. I gotta shoot a local footy match in 2 weeks. I have never shot sports. Do you think my 70-200 will be suitable ? I realise i wont be able to get as close as you have...

Thanks = ) TBH 70-200 will sturuggle. I keep one on my second body for when they come right up close but 95% of the time I use my 400.

Nice one cheers.