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Archive 2015 · Little League - are these too soft?

  
 
Corillien
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Little League - are these too soft?


Hi all,

I was out shooting the other evening and it was quite overcast - felt it was really pushing the limits of my kit (was using 1D3 with 300 f4) and skills. There were definitely mistakes made including leaving it on aperture priority and I still haven't given up handholding (just not comfortable with a monopod for some reason). These were all somewhat later in the game, ISO 1600, f4 or 4.5, and ranging from 1/200 - 1/500.

All that said, I'm wondering if some of the resulting images are too soft (or motion-blurred) to be worth posting for sales. Of course, if you have any other CC on these, please let me know!

1.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-zBp6XK8/0/L/i-zBp6XK8-L.jpg

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

3.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-tZpv6vt/0/L/i-tZpv6vt-L.jpg

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

5.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-NgpVN6J/0/L/i-NgpVN6J-L.jpg

6.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-PNG5bHz/0/L/i-PNG5bHz-L.jpg

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

8.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-N8pxq75/0/L/i-N8pxq75-L.jpg

9.
http://ojbphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-5MK9J4v/0/L/i-5MK9J4v-L.jpg



May 07, 2015 at 10:33 PM
gschlact
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Little League - are these too soft?


I would try to sell. These look OK because the blur didn't affect the face too much.


May 07, 2015 at 11:06 PM
P Alesse
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Little League - are these too soft?


What's your shutter and ISO? "Pushing the limits of your 1D3 and 300/4"... don't take this the wrong way, but that aint exactly a 5.6-6.3 zoom on an old 10D...

That combo coupled with overcast skies is your dream shooting situation. I would take that shooting situation any day. Given that combo, even at f/4, I'm thinking, full manual, 1/1600 shutter and around ISO 1600-3200 depending on time of day. It looks like you shot at too low of a shutter speed in order to spare ISO. Be careful with that. Noise, if even noticeable can be fixed. Motion blur cannot.

That being said, the motion blur in these are not killing the shots. Off timing, and subject matter are more the culprits. Not a fan of 2,3,7. One,4,5,6 are all okay. 8 and 9 are great. You'll be amazed how much shots like those will sell over your action shots... even over your best action shots.



May 08, 2015 at 05:28 AM
Corillien
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Little League - are these too soft?


Thanks guys. I see your points all round, Paul. ISO was 1600 for these; I feared noise beyond that would be too much. Shutter was between 1/200-1/500 depending on the shot. I need to be more comfortable with manual and noise and remember there's a difference between some shutter drag for a touch of blur to add action vs. what I did here. All said, I also intend to focus more on the 4, 8, 9 type shots. I have often had kids ask, "Did you get a shot of that hit?" But I've had parents tell me they love a more portraity shot. Granted, I'm still not getting great sales either way but I think that's likely a somewhat different issue.


May 08, 2015 at 05:43 AM
P Alesse
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Little League - are these too soft?


Yeah, you'll have to get that shutter up a bit. 1/1000 bare minimum when you have light like this. Don't worry about the ISO. Parents couldn't care less about that. In focus face, shot tight, good expression... it will be a seller even at ISO 10,000. Trust me on that.


May 08, 2015 at 07:03 AM
Game Changer
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Little League - are these too soft?


P Alesse wrote:
What's your shutter and ISO? "Pushing the limits of your 1D3 and 300/4"... don't take this the wrong way, but that aint exactly a 5.6-6.3 zoom on an old 10D...

That combo coupled with overcast skies is your dream shooting situation. I would take that shooting situation any day. Given that combo, even at f/4, I'm thinking, full manual, 1/1600 shutter and around ISO 1600-3200 depending on time of day. It looks like you shot at too low of a shutter speed in order to spare ISO. Be careful with that. Noise, if even noticeable can be fixed. Motion blur
...Show more

I couldn't agree more. Minimum shutter should be 1/1000. You can go full manual (auto ISO is OK) f/4 and S/S at f/1000 minimum. I shoot in similar conditions and get away with ISO 6400 all day long with a D4S/200-400mm f/4 combo. Shoot RAW and cleanup in post via LR Sync.

If you are shooting in good bright daylight, Aperture Priority is great too. Just watch your S/S when the shadows are in play. Peter Read Miller has a great book that goes over this in detail.
http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Read-Miller-Sports-Photography/dp/0321857127

Most of my HS sales are kids standing around or "sportrait" shots. The double-play tag at 2nd with a sliding runner with dust flying everywhere rarely sells (for me).




May 08, 2015 at 10:33 AM
TrojanHorse
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Little League - are these too soft?


6400 is the upper limit for a 1d3 and I'd avoid that if I could... but use 3200 if you have to - absolutely! Just make sure you don't underexpose.

Too bad the IS on that lens is so crummy... I think I actually got worse results with mine with ISO than without, just keep your SS up high enough so you don't need it.

I don't think a little bat blur (see #1) hurts the overall image but #3 is a bit excessive IMO.

Good luck on your next outing!



May 08, 2015 at 03:31 PM
Corillien
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Little League - are these too soft?


Thanks guys, much appreciated. I'll be more liberal in pushing the ISO. I'll take a look at that Peter Miller book too, GC, thanks for the reference. That said, Paul, when are you writing a book? ;-) In all seriousness, I can try to put you in touch with Henry Horenstein if you ever seriously consider publishing a book. I took a workshop with him last summer, great guy.


May 13, 2015 at 08:16 PM
sliceoflife
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Little League - are these too soft?


P Alesse wrote:
... You'll be amazed how much shots like those will sell over your action shots... even over your best action shots.


So true!



May 15, 2015 at 09:24 PM





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