We hear a lot about the loss of confidence in athletes and its effects on their performance. We don't talk much about that here as it applies to what we do as photographers, but I realize my confidence had been shot as it related to soccer, and everything from my work during the shoot to my finished product reflected that lousy incompetent feeling. Eric's remedy for my AF issues has made a huge difference, and I'm finally feeling like I've got a fighting chance, which is good timing since the US World Cup qualifier is next week. Just in time to go at that one with some gusto. Last night was a non-league US Open match for RSL. They were down early, 2-0 at the end of the first half. Tied it very late in the second, then two 15-minute overtime periods. RSL scored three goals in the first overtime and pulled out a 5-2 victory. Not nearly as many fans as usual, but enough excitement on the pitch to keep it interesting. Here are 10 images with a bit of an effort to provide some variety. C&C welcome, and thanks for looking.
Russ, though you might not be feeling it, I'd say you're ready for World Cup- these are some solid images.
Interesting point you made, because I've felt exactly what you're talking about. Once you lay off for awhile, you can really feel like you're all over the place, chasing your tail trying to establish rhythm and nail some decent frames. Luckily, it doesn't seem to take as long to get it back as it would an athlete playing a given sport, as you've shown here.
Hey Russ,
Every member should reference this set when they set down to edit. When in doubt crop tighter. There needs to be a lot to show as in #5 and #9 to go loose.
Great variety and a superb set. As others have mentioned, we could all learn from this set. Great timing of peak action, spot-on focus and exposures, good BGs, and the set tells the story of the game.
I think #8 is the best of the bunch. Soccer is a game that is very hard to get clean backgrounds with all the led advertising crap that surrounds the pitch, and #8 captures the eyes/expressions/background (IMPORTANT!!!) very well; I try to shoot at least 20 minutes from up top if I can.
Nice set of snaps, and I'm glad the 400 is like a hot knife through butter for you now.
Equipment and people occasionally need a vacation from soccer, and sometimes both need tune ups to get back into the game. In your case Russ, as others have had fun with, it was just a few loose screws
Nothing here suggests anything has been lost in regard to your ability to capture the peak action while telling the story with them. Like each one
picboy, Frank, Tim, Tom, Bill, Bryan, Dan, Paul, Eric and Matt: Thanks to all for your comments. I appreciate the feedback as well as the image choices and, as always, the support. Some differences of opinion on the shots, which is always fun to see. I agree that shooting from above offers a unique perspective that can work out very well, but I also recall that a short while back I posted a full series of images taken from that vantage point and the general consensus was that they were not as strong as the more standard, head-on type of shot. More a matter of mixing it up, I suppose, which makes sense. Thanks again!
I am more than pleased to have viewed this thread.
#1 and 2 great point of action shot.
#3 a stock photo but a great one.
#4 same as #1 and 2.
#5 It works for me. may be a difficult shot for most to appreciate.
#6 and 7 same as #3
#8 love the change of shooting angle
#9 my least fav but a crisp shot non the less
#10 excellent jubilation
Ted: Thank you, my friend. I very much appreciate your image-by-image feedback. I think #9 is one of those shots I want to be more than it is. It's so hard to capture action like that because, to me at least, it's somewhat unpredictable--I have to anticipate the crossing pass as likely enough that it's worth trying to figure out who it might go to if it happens, and then I have to hope and pray I can track it all quickly enough to acquire focus on the target. I fail at this much more than I succeed. And in this case, it was a beautiful goal. Having kind of nailed the shot (certainly relative to my other attempts at such shots), I'm inclined to insist that it was a shot worth nailing. I was hoping the hair, the flying sweat and the motion blur on the ball would give the sense of the ball moving from head toward goal. But I hear you, and it might be as difficult a shot to appreciate as #5 (recognizing that 'difficult to appreciate' very well could be the same as 'falling short'). Thought I'd throw together a composite to take another stab at the 'motion,' but I don't know that this works either. At any rate, thanks for your comments.
Russ, after shooting the qualifier in Seattle I envy your match coming up in SLC.
I have been losing a little bit of my passion and the Vancouver v Seattle game with 54K+ fans followed by the World Cup qualifier a few days later reminded me why I love photography.
Be prepared for a little faster action; especially the quality of the passes and finishes. The two goals against Panama were especially world class and happened very fast.
I’ll try and find some time to edit the soft jpg images I submitted and process for web and post in a separate thread but with Father’s Day and other commitments I might not find the time.
Thanks, Guy. I was directly behind the goal, behind the low 'wall' of advertisements that surrounds the field.
George: My daughter was at the Vancouver match and said it was incredible. Those two within a few days' time surely would do it! Please do post up some of your shots. And thanks for the advice. I'm anticipating a faster game, and I know the speed of play will take some getting used to. I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks, Shane. Eric Smith recommended that I check the small screws on the mount of my 400 f/2.8 lens and sure enough, they were very loose. Tightened them and all is well.
Crazy thing is that I'd been having a similar problem with my downcourt basketball shots for a good part of this past NBA season. Not as obviously a plane-of-focus issue, but similarly frustrating in that images weren't as sharp, particularly faces, as I knew they needed to be. Just finally checked my 300 f/2.8 lens and sure enough, those screws were very loose as well. I have to assume that tightening is the solution here as well, but it sure is amazing that something so simple can have such a huge impact. Lovin' the cost of the fix though...
I was hoping the hair, the flying sweat and the motion blur on the ball would give the sense of the ball moving from head toward goal. But I hear you, and it might be as difficult a shot to appreciate as #5 (recognizing that 'difficult to appreciate' very well could be the same as 'falling short'). Thought I'd throw together a composite to take another stab at the 'motion,' but I don't know that this works either. At any rate, thanks for your comments.
Please do post up some of your shots. And thanks for the advice. I'm anticipating a faster game, and I know the speed of play will take some getting used to. I'm looking forward to it.