I'm new here so decided that the best way to get in is to post a few recent shots. These were taken the weekend before last and are the only Rugby that I had a chance to get this year so missed some opportunities that I should have captured. This was a friendly game, but I think they forgot to tell the players
Taken with Canon 1D mkIII and Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 some with 1.4x TC.
Nice color and sharpness on all of them. I like 1 and 2 best. Not much going on in 4. To make it a "sportrait" for that guy, I'd crop out the legs. Those hands on the shorts in 3 make me want to see the lower part. Seems like we're missing something.
Nice photos, but were you shooting at f2.8? Backgrounds are a little distracting in 1 and 2. I would work on getting shots that isolate your subjects a little more. Also, watch out for stray feet (e.g. lower right corner of shot 1)
John, Yep on 3 I should have shot a little wider to tell more of the story so will give that a bash next time.
DannWunderlich, I've been shooting for quite a long time but only just found this forum which seems to have more 'high level' shooters than other forums I use so looking to improve and hope this is a place where I can do it. As for the Sigma, yep I've had it about a year and love it!!!
On the two you mention I was not at full length and was at f3.2 so that would have accounted for the deeper dof. I will ensure I use 2.8 next time to get the dof as narrow as possible.
mark1616 wrote:
DannWunderlich, I've been shooting for quite a long time but only just found this forum which seems to have more 'high level' shooters than other forums
your shots definetly prove that ... it looks like i could learn alot from YOU
DannWunderlich wrote:
your shots definetly prove that ... it looks like i could learn alot from YOU
I'm not sure about that, I shoot a load of field hockey but still have huge amounts to learn. For me photography is a hobby that now brings in a little money and like a lot of us I would love it to bring in more so this might be the place to learn what to do. I know I'm in the UK so in the minority but sure a lot of advice on the business will be helpful.
Good shots but try to put them into context by shooting wider to show the opposition as well. Why is the sidestep a good one...becaust the oppo is left flailing in the wrong direction. The lineout would be more impressive if the height that the jumper is at was recognisable. Just a couple of thoughts but nowt wrong with what you have. Just experiment and get some ideas from Rugby World to see what gets published...but they dont like paying for photos so I wouldn't bother sending to them. And to save you funding RW by buying it...save your money and read it in WH Smiths!! Get on the right side of the local team and do their action regularly. Do they do a match day programme? Send shots to the local/regional press and see if there is a regular use that a paper will do and pay you for. Do the team shot at the start of the season/ individual head shots. The players are sure to want one. Don't give your work away...that fine kit cost you money and quality shots should be charged for. If they dont want to buy ...then find another team!
Thanks and that's a good plan for next season. I've been shooting field hockey about 70% of my sports work for the past 2 years but seems that the local teams have had their fill of photos so need to get into some new markets. I have also noticed that parents of youth/children's teams are more keen to part with their money so looking for teams that have opportunities to cover lower age groups to get the parents spending
Hey, great to see another 120-300 Sigma shooter, I do a lot of Rugby down here too so will be good to swap notes.
Really nice shots too, and echo what others have already said. I think the best rugby shots are not where there is a player in isolation but where they are in context of battle.
Edited by kiwifamily on Mar 27, 2008 at 05:45 PM GMT
Hey, great to see another 120-300 Sigma shooter, I do a lot of Rugby doen here too so will be good to swap notes.
Really nice shots too, and echo what others have already said. I think the best rugby shots are not where there is a player in isolation but where they are in context of battle.
I shoot a lot of this sport along with league and soccer. Those saying shoot wider and get some context in the shot dont know what they are talking about. what more context do you need? Its a bloody union game! It's one of if not the hardest thing to shoot (netball is the hardest)
you have to have a mix of isolation and in play. I always make sure I have a ball in the shot somehow. I think the photos are great and very solid. If you have every shot involving more than one person all your shots look very busy.
I like union in the way that I can pick out certain aspects and concentrate on them like the mauls or fly halfs getting rid of the ball from the maul or ruck.
andrew81 wrote:
I shoot a lot of this sport along with league and soccer. Those saying shoot wider and get some context in the shot dont know what they are talking about. what more context do you need? Its a bloody union game! ...I can pick out certain aspects and concentrate on them like the mauls or fly halfs getting rid of the ball from the maul or ruck.
You said it..maul ie more than one player...fly half getting rid from maul/ruck...CONTEXT...and dont swear you rucking flanker!
Mark- there is "context" in a single player running with the ball though.
It is one of those words probably used once by an well known sports shooter and everyone is over using it now days as a critique.
Didnt realise it was such a dirty or overused word...