2nd attempt at kids soccer

[CdTSnap]

I feel like my skills are getting a bit better now (in general) these are pretty much SOOC, same with my other posts today. I like the fact I dont need to process my images as much.

1.

_DSC1404 by Christopher Turner Photography, on Flickr

2.

_DSC1449 by Christopher Turner Photography, on Flickr

3.

_DSC1444 by Christopher Turner Photography, on Flickr

4.

_DSC1422 by Christopher Turner Photography, on Flickr

5.

_DSC1393 by Christopher Turner Photography, on Flickr

 

[manaheim]

Some pretty decent shots. I can give you a few tips from my somewhat limited experience... (I shoot every year for my daughter's team and the coach hands out pics to the kids at the end of the year)

1. If the team you're shooting is generally on the "winning side", float more towards the opposing team's goal. If they're more on the defense, stay closer to their goal.
2. Mind your light. I try to get in a position where 3/4 of the kids are in sun and 1/4 are not. Gives some nice contrast and keeps from having blown out backgrounds. Keep in mind, they switch sides at halftime, so sometimes you just need to wait until then to get the right light.
3. Try to keep your focus point on the trailing edge of the action... so if the kids are generally moving to your right, have your focus point on the left 1/3, so you can have plenty of room to get them and the ball as they move.
4. Get down on your knees (or better- bring a milk crate). Staying low gives you more of the kids' perspective, which looks great.
5. A circular polarizer is a decent tool for bright bright days. Works pretty well, but be mindful of the position of the sun and adjust.

 

[CdTSnap]

Great tips! Thanks alot. Ive been meaning to get a polarizer.

 

[AceCo55]

Agree with mannaheim's points - good advice
I would also say crop/crop/crop .... isolate what the action is in the image and focus on that by cropping out the unnecessary elements. You don't want them competing for attention and having the viewer's eye wandering around the image

#1 is a classic for a closer crop to isolate the player with the ball (would have been nicer to have the ball in the air to suggest movement)
#2 you could crop about 10% from right edge and same for top edge (at the moment you have two annoying elements just poking in on the right edge)
#3 again perfect for a close crop of just the player and ball
#4 I like a back view used occasionally for variety. Here again you could much closer (you don't even need to show the entire goal net)
#5 A little ripper. Again, I would crop much tighter. The player in red is not involved in the action so I would crop through them. This would do two things ... 1) gives the image a frame and directs the eye to the kicker 2) would clearly show that this player is NOT part of the action

I think you could boost the contrast just a little???????

I like them, but I think if you follow the advice you will end up with more powerful images and ones with more impact

 

[manaheim]

Oh yeah, forgot the crop thing. Very good point. I also take all my shots in landscape and crop quite a few to portrait. It just gives me more real estate for a mistake if the ball moves too quickly or something. Of course, I also run a 36MP camera, which gives me some luxury there.

 

[astroNikon]

wow Manaheim .. your points are exactly what I would have suggested too.
I guess bunnies think alike

I have a ton of my kids soccer shots here if you want to peruse. I've made great strides since I started doing it .. basically adding all of manaheims listed recommendations to my technique !!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100677477@N08/sets/

Our coaches just let me post it on my flickr as the parents like getting them within a couple days after the game, versus at the end of the year.