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Archive 2014 · First time shooting Little League

  
 
Corillien
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · First time shooting Little League


There's a field across my new apartment and little league has started so I took a crack at it. I only had my 200mm with me, but next time I'll bring my 300 and perhaps a monopod (it started getting dark quickly and my 1DII gets noisy relatively fast as well). Any CC would be welcome!

1 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-PgSQMQk/0/L/i-PgSQMQk-L.jpg

2 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-9BTjc26/0/L/i-9BTjc26-L.jpg

3 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-2Mgt8BF/0/L/i-2Mgt8BF-L.jpg

4 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-xG2dTWS/0/L/i-xG2dTWS-L.jpg

5 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-8Xt4vqj/0/L/i-8Xt4vqj-L.jpg

6 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-Gd2vtwq/0/L/i-Gd2vtwq-L.jpg

7 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-tvZtSGd/0/L/i-tvZtSGd-L.jpg

8 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-xFCJNq6/0/L/i-xFCJNq6-L.jpg

9 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-QMRGq6k/0/L/i-QMRGq6k-L.jpg

10 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-k2DrKGV/0/L/i-k2DrKGV-L.jpg

11 http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-MWTdW8J/0/L/i-MWTdW8J-L.jpg



Apr 12, 2014 at 03:20 PM
jonnyt5050
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · First time shooting Little League



Great shots!

#5 and 11 are my favorites.

What 200mm lens were you using? I've found that a 70-200 with TCs work pretty well (for the 4 games I've shot thus far).



Apr 12, 2014 at 06:02 PM
Corillien
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · First time shooting Little League


Thanks! I was using the 200 2.8L prime mk1.


Apr 12, 2014 at 06:54 PM
docsmiles17
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · First time shooting Little League


You got some nice shots. watch your background as some are distracting. In #5 use a vertical crop.


Apr 14, 2014 at 01:50 AM
P Alesse
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · First time shooting Little League


The only one that really works for me here is the last one. Comments to follow...

1: Not sure what's really going on here. At first I thought it was a kid calling his shot, which would have been neat, but the location of the fence suggests that he is not up to bat. We also have an awkward positioning of him in the frame relative to the others which really only serve as a distraction.

2: With a tighter crop, perhaps. But, we really don't have enough face. Since it's a stock shot to begin with, there is no reason to even keep this. You'll get tons better in your sleep.

3: Avoid cross bars that go across the eyes and mouth, it cancels out the emotion of the player which is what the shot is supposed to be portraying in the first place.

4: There are many problems here. Basically... it's not a keeper. Sorry.

5: Like 2, it's a layup stock shot. On this one, the ball gets lost in the exposure of the dirt in the outfield. Overall, I'd still keep it, just crop it vertically.

6: Okay. The shot tells a story and I get it, but as strategy goes, don't let your shooting MO be to get both a batter and catcher in the same shot. Treat them separately. Besides two subjects stealing for the viewer's attention, the other issue you have is that the wider angle produces a shorter focal length which in turn produces backgrounds that become clear and very distracting. Let batters be batters and catchers be catchers and for that matter... umpires be umpires.

7: The timing is not quite there and it's way too loose.

8: This could work if cropped much, much tighter.

9: Tells a story. Just tough to compose due to differing heights. But, I get it.

10: I like the shutter drag, but crop it much, much tighter and vertically. The kid on the left in the foreground is really killing the shot.

11: And this one really works for many reasons. You have face, you have emotion, you have a reasonably tight crop, and you have subjects totally separated from the background. Use this image to build off of.

Side note... and you may have already done this, but make sure you talk to the coaches before you shoot. Explain who you are and why you are there just to air on the side of caution. Crazy stuff has happened recently with photogs showing up to a field to practice their craft and try out new gear.



Apr 14, 2014 at 06:21 AM
Corillien
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · First time shooting Little League


Thanks very much for the sound feedback/ advice. I spoke with the ump before coming who encouraged me to bring my camera and then day of I spoke with a few people too.

A preface: I don not mean to make excuses because if the photo works it works and if not not, but I want to give a sense of the situation so I can get more advice as I imagine I will be in a similar spot next time. The basics are that I started shooting around 5:45 and the game went probably til around 7ish so light was a bit of an issue. I was using a 1d2 with a 200mm as well so noise and relatively lower res than I'd like made me hesitant to crop too tight. Should I just try some of the tighter crops and see if the result is still OK? Apart from taking my 300, a monopod, and trying to find earlier games, anything else I can do? Ask if I can sit in the dugout for closer batter shots? Thanks again for the feedback and any continued suggestions.



Apr 14, 2014 at 09:33 AM
Corillien
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · First time shooting Little League


I had an opportunity to shoot the same teams playing again. How'd I do this time? Also, not totally sure on posting etiquette here...is there a tacit limit to the number of shots one should post in a post like this?

1:
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-Pc9VNsV/0/L/i-Pc9VNsV-L.jpg

2:
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-w3c7vnp/0/L/i-w3c7vnp-L.jpg

3:
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-z5Tdzbk/0/L/i-z5Tdzbk-L.jpg

4: Jube-ish?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-wB4rfBj/0/L/i-wB4rfBj-L.jpg

5: Even with the busted arm, he insisted on having some fun. I'm annoyed that the bag got tossed in the frame but does it kill the shot completely?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-Xsdxwh2/0/L/i-Xsdxwh2-L.jpg

6: A better version of calling the shot than the "playing around behind the dugout" one from the first time around?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-9XVJJ2P/0/L/i-9XVJJ2P-L.jpg

7:
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-PgtvLvw/0/L/i-PgtvLvw-L.jpg

8: Too generic/no faces?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-4bf3bfn/0/L/i-4bf3bfn-L.jpg

9: Celebration in dugout after a homer
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-QfwshtC/0/L/i-QfwshtC-L.jpg

10: Kind of obvious that it's one of the "safe" during warmup shots, but the kid's expression got me.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-8fRsWMb/0/L/i-8fRsWMb-L.jpg

11: Which is better? Eyes closed but ball in mitt...
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-cp5mqs2/0/L/i-cp5mqs2-L.jpg

12: or eyes open with ball en route?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-KRhLxrK/0/L/i-KRhLxrK-L.jpg



May 07, 2014 at 06:01 PM
kirkrsnyder
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · First time shooting Little League


Props to P Alesse for some good constructive criticism. I definitely though the second set of photos was better. The overall composition is better but it looks like the 200 prime might be a little too much for the setting. I have a 70-200mm for sports and even that isn't wide enough for certain spots. I could be wrong but do you find yourself having trouble getting shots because of the focal length? (Sorry if this was already addressed, I skimmed through rather quickly)


May 07, 2014 at 06:36 PM
P Alesse
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · First time shooting Little League


Nice little follow up set. I respectfully have to disagree with Kirk on focal length. 200mm is still short. 300mm on a crop body is near ideal. For Nikon shooters, on a LL Field, 200-400 is even better. You want to bring your viewer into the emotion of the game unlike any other shooter. The only scrappers here IMO are 8 and 10. 8 for the obvious reason...no faces. 10 because it's really being killed by the BG distraction.


May 07, 2014 at 06:53 PM
P Alesse
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · First time shooting Little League


On focal length...no such thing as "too long". This is from behind home on LL field with a 600... about 50 feet from mound...

http://www.playballphotos.com/images/2010_Baseball_Regionals/PVA_4295.jpg

http://www.playballphotos.com/images/2011_Baseball_Regionals/75337_PVA.jpg



May 07, 2014 at 07:04 PM
kirkrsnyder
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · First time shooting Little League


Those photos definitely made your point. However, you have much less room for error with a longer focal length. The pitcher is easier to photograph because he isn't really moving off of the mound. Trying to get a player sliding into a base would be much more difficult. Personally, I would rather have the extra room and crop the photo later. This is my opinion though, and I'm definitely no professional


May 07, 2014 at 07:37 PM
P Alesse
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · First time shooting Little League


kirkrsnyder wrote:
Those photos definitely made your point. However, you have much less room for error with a longer focal length. The pitcher is easier to photograph because he isn't really moving off of the mound. Trying to get a player sliding into a base would be much more difficult. Personally, I would rather have the extra room and crop the photo later. This is my opinion though, and I'm definitely no professional


Yeah, I'm not saying that 600 stays on the camera the entire game by any means. When you need to get EVERY player in the game, a zoom is the best option not to cut parts. Agree there. The only thing that you have to be careful is the shoot loose, crop later mentality. When you shoot too loose, the BG becomes more of distraction. Can't crop your way out of a nasty BG.



May 07, 2014 at 07:49 PM
innaeddy1
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · First time shooting Little League


Paul wrote
Side note... and you may have already done this, but make sure you talk to the coaches before you shoot. Explain who you are and why you are there just to air on the side of caution. Crazy stuff has happened recently with photogs showing up to a field to practice their craft and try out new gear.

this happened about 10 miles from a park that I cover. It got bad before it got good.... I had more parents question me at my local park after this than in the 20+ years I have been there... here is a link to the story

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/top-stories/stories/suspicious-photographer-cleared-any-wrongdoing-signal-mtn-9854.shtml

Andy



May 07, 2014 at 09:05 PM
docsmiles17
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · First time shooting Little League


improvement from the 1st set...sometimes the ball in motion or in route is better and sometimes the ball in the glove is better, it just depends upon each individual shot. In your specific catcher samples, the ball in route works better.

I think #3 is best of bunch but would like to see the whole ball in the image. any chance you cropped it out?



May 08, 2014 at 12:18 AM
Corillien
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · First time shooting Little League


Thanks all, for your feedback. Certainly don't have a 600mm, not sure I'll be getting one any time soon, but these photos were a combination of a 200mm on a full frame and a 300mm on a 1.3 crop sensor. I'm still trying to figure out positioning. For the t-ball and instructional games I had their blessing to take a spot anywhere along the baseline but here, I'm basically stuck off to the side behind first or third, in the outfield, or behind the backstop. The "dug outs" are basically benches between the backstop and an additional fence making it difficult if not impossible to get a decent shot from too far up the baseline. If I sweet talk some folks maybe I'll get to hang out in the dugout to take photos but some parents have mentioned restrictions on the number of adults allowed in the dugout per league regulations, even if I'm not acting in any sort of coaching capacity. All that said...any suggestions, or just keep doing what I'm doing and try to catch good action with what I've got?

Andy, I was initially invited by an ump to shoot and the first day I went with camera in hand I got the league commissioner's blessing...most questions I've gotten have been people assuming I'm shooting for the local paper. It's turned out that I've photographed one team a couple times and so parents and kids are starting to know me as "that photographer guy." I've received some nice compliments on the photos from parents and kids alike, but had minimal sales, alas alas.



May 09, 2014 at 08:48 PM
sdalmado
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · First time shooting Little League


Very nice capture, especially since you say you are just starting out.


May 09, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Corillien
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · First time shooting Little League


First, Doc, sorry I forgot to respond to your question but unfortunately, no luck on the whole ball in that shot of the catcher.

Now a follow up to the follow up, if that's OK? (should I just make a new thread in the future or is it better to add to this one to help with comparison?)

I think I'm getting a bit better with aspects like timing, feel for the game, those other "moments" that aren't the at-bats, etc. but I think I have to give up on shooting the weeknight games, perhaps until later in June because the lack of light and consequent noise/blurriness/whatever is just killing me, despite using a monopod for these.

1.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-67Cvff7/0/L/i-67Cvff7-L.jpg

2. A bit cluttered, wish I could have had a bit more DoF, but I liked having the one player looking into the lens with the others focused on the pre-game psych-up.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-nPDgXzw/0/L/i-nPDgXzw-L.jpg

3. Goofed a bit on my compo (wish I had shot a bit higher to get the whole pitcher's head in) but does it kill the shot? Or are there other things I need to work on that kill the shot apart from that?
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-rpFN5tt/0/L/i-rpFN5tt-L.jpg

4. Pitcher was frustrated, some confusion over the count I think.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-kKfkXC7/0/L/i-kKfkXC7-L.jpg

5.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-2Sf238k/0/L/i-2Sf238k-L.jpg

6.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-gtzCZZn/0/L/i-gtzCZZn-L.jpg

7.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-6HVvdWM/0/L/i-6HVvdWM-L.jpg

8.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-fM9Dzts/0/L/i-fM9Dzts-L.jpg

9.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-8ZJknNV/0/L/i-8ZJknNV-L.jpg

10.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-xxHNhnQ/0/L/i-xxHNhnQ-L.jpg




May 17, 2014 at 07:51 AM
P Alesse
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · First time shooting Little League


I would focus on shooting more vertically. Too many hacked limbs. Emotion is better but composition needs improvement.


May 17, 2014 at 08:31 AM
TrojanHorse
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · First time shooting Little League


Some of these are starting to get soft too, partly because of the low shutter speeds but it looked like you focused on the armpit in #8. ISO noise is always preferable to soft focus because of blur IMO. I know you think you're up against a wall with respect to ISO but... find a way to deal with it. Something like Noise Ninja might make it easier for you too, I'm pretty sure they have a free trial. (and there are other, similar options) Lightroom is even good lately.


May 20, 2014 at 07:10 PM
SwimmerDad
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · First time shooting Little League


Glad to see you are still turning out great work Paul and taking the time to offer constructive critique.

Great example of what the 600 can do.

Ron



May 22, 2014 at 08:18 AM
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