D3 with the 400 2.8. No TC on for these games.
For field hockey, I was there basically to just shoot one player. Ended up coming back with a few quality images of her, I think.

1

And flag football from Monday...
9

Sports action shooting conventions frown on an out-of-focus player in the foreground so your field hockey shots #4 and #6 would be throw-aways, or at least need to be cropped tighter.

In general your shots look slightly over-exposed and over-saturated to me.

The first two are well done but the high-key style is not normally seen in sports.

In the first one, if possible, tone down her right arm. The second one looks/feels muddy to me.

I do like the first one the best though.

mmm i have always wondered about players being in the foreground and out of focus. do you mind on just going on that a bit and why ?
because i feel it gives the photo direction but is it a distraction ?

I'll politely disagree with "conventions" about 4 and 6. I like shots that place the player in focus how they're situated in the game, and I don't frown on these personally at all - I like how it gives some context to the shot. I may have cropped more of the OOF player in 4 out, but still I like the result. I understand the point, but sometimes working outside the norm makes for more exciting photography IMHO. Isn't that how the "Dietrich" shot came about?

At any rate, I like this set Adrian, including the processing on the first two, although as I mentioned elsewhere I too think maybe the right arm in #1 is a little hot.

I like it when photogs challenge convention though, sure makes for some interesting thought and reflection. If all everyone ever posted were the typical isolated player with ball/puck/whatever, I think the forum would be fairly stale. Good on you for trying some different things.

As I was once told to learn the rules of photography, then go break them. I think the foreground OOF player shots work in this case and I like the results. I also like #2 but wish she was looking more towards the camera.

Nice series of shots.
Frank Lauri

If there were no conventions, or rules, there would be no special interest to the shots that are "out of the box thinking", or that "break the rules". Intentionally breaking the rules to achieve something exceptional is an entirely different proposition than being ignorant of them.

thats why photography just keeps on growing on me. I appreciate the discussion, thanks.

WmPat wrote:
Sports action shooting conventions frown on an out-of-focus player in the foreground so your field hockey shots #4 and #6 would be throw-aways, or at least need to be cropped tighter.

In general your shots look slightly over-exposed and over-saturated to me.

The first two are well done but the high-key style is not normally seen in sports.

I am also going to politely say that you are mistaken.

It frames the shot - shows a story beyond just getting a single perosn in the frame.

4 and 6 may not be the best shots i have ever seen - but they are by no means throw aways.

i really like them

I like the foreground players giving some depth to the image.

However, #5 doesn't fit in with the rest of the images you posted simply because you missed the focus. All the rest are very nice.

Nothing wrong with OOF foreground players. Are the players supposed to line up for their action shots?