Catching the Long Ball Pass - Football

[Kauz]

So I'll start off by saying what I'm shooting on: Nikon D3 w/ 80-200 f/2.8 and a Nikon D7000 with a 300mm f/2.8.


I shoot (so far only) the University of Wisconsin football. We have great run play schemes and I'm often shooting the cropped 300mm to track the run play and our quarterback who can easily break free for a 15-20 yard gain. That being said, I'm still having trouble catching the long ball when it's thrown up in the endzone or far down field.


I usually post up in the endzone, as my two other photographers are posted on the sideline at about the 10-20 yardline or endzone corners if within 10 yards of the endzone. Thanks to that, we usually get the shot. But as I start shooting for more demanding publications and move to bigger games where I don't have two shooters with me, what can I do to read the play and get those long balls? I don't want to play it safe and just sit on the 80-200mm.

 

[D-B-J]

Maybe a 200-400mm f4?

 

[tirediron]

^^ My suggestion exactly!

 

[imagemaker46]

You can't cover the whole field, and it doesn't matter what lens you have. If you really understand the game that makes it easier to figure out if it's a pass or run, but apart from that, if you want one specific play, you'll have to sit in the end zone and hope that it happens. If you are covering the quarterback you'll be downfield already shooting back at him, that allows you for the run plays,as well as shooting the linemen as well, for the pass plays you would be out of position for anything thrown short. What you have to decide is, do you give up on all the other game play for one picture that may or may not happen, or do you just cover the whole game? Are you able to move up and down the side lines or are you assigned spots?

 

[Kauz]

I cover the whole game, and I don't have access to the 200-400mm. I was lucky enough to borrow some gear this past weekend from a guy who shoots for SI, but he loves his 200-400 for that exact reason so I got to shoot with the 500 and the 600 f/4 instead. I can move around but when we have three photographers, we usually communicate and have set spots. I need to get back to roots and just sit on the 80-200mm f/2.8 for a bit to get the pass play and crop a bit tighter. I guess under the circumstances, I'd rather miss a few run plays and get Nick Toon diving for a catch than have 300 of very similar run photos.

I enjoy the 300mm f/2.8. It belongs to the paper I shoot for. I am buying myself a second body hopefully sometime soon because I can't keep borrowing a Nikon D3 from Heinz, but when you rank lenses for me to own for football after that, what would be the best investment? A 300mm f/2.8, 200-400mm f/4? Its a long-term planning thing because I don't have the money, but I'd be curious your opinion. I do feel like the 200-400mm is good for the style I want to shoot.

 

[imagemaker46]

I've been shooting pro football in Canada since 1969, started out with what my Dad handed me which was a 200mm. I have for the most part always shot with my 400 2.8, now I use a 300 2.8 and a 1.4 ex, it's easier to hand hold than my 400, which I have always done, not a big fan of monopods. If you're interested in seeing some of my stuff it's on my web site. www.imagecommunications.ca

As a lens to have, I would go with a 300 2.8, but then I use Canon right now, so it's pretty much like shooting with a 400 and with the 1.4 that's got me over over 500mm. I don't shoot with anything shorter, although I do have a 70-200 2.8 on the second body.

 

[Kauz]

I guess a good question would be, how do you anticipate the throw so that you can get the 70-200 up to your eyes? You only have a short amount of time to react. Is it possible to get the camera up in time or do you just have the camera ready and wait for the shot?

 

[imagemaker46]

Everything, regardless of sport requires timing, reaction time and luck. As I mentioned before really learning to understand the sport is important. I know the ins and outs of football, as I also mentioned I have shot it for a lot of years, but I have also coached it and still play. I'm not saying that you have to be that "into it" but if you can watch any practices, even without a camera, you will learn to see what formations are being used, and the play you're looking for, it may just give you that edge to be ready. I've never enjoyed shooting with two cameras as I felt I ended up missing pictures and my style of shooting football is more of covering one player at a time. If the play you are talking about is going to the same guy, staying on him when he on the field is going to be your best bet.

 

[table1349]

I use a minimum of 2 bodies when shooting football. One with a 400mm f2.8, the second with a 70-200 f2.8. I usually have a third with a 24-70 f2.8 for pregame, post game and sideline shots. Also if you are not already, learn to shoot with both eyes open, one on the viewfinder and one on the action in general. It takes some practice, but once you master it you will instantly know where the action is going to and be better prepared to capture the end result.

 

[imagemaker46]

Keeping both eyes open also helps keep you from getting blindsided, I've seen it happen more times than I can remember. Another tip don't have anyone standing behind you, if you have to back up quickly you don't want to be falling over the ones that aren't paying attention.

 

[Kauz]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'd say I understand the sport more than most. I grew up going to Packer games since I was probably 3, with 8th row season tickets for our family. That and going to a highschool where football is king, I know the game, its just tracking the action with such tight lenses that is what really gets me... I'm going to try to get better with shooting with both eyes open but really, even doing that this weekend at the urging of my SI friend, I felt like the camera just was in the way too much to follow anything. I'll have to try to retrain myself. Thanks again.

 

[imagemaker46]

As practice try following just one player and shoot all verticle, it will help you get some timing and tracking down. Don't worry about what you don't get, think about what you do you get. Just out of being curious, which SI shooter is it? I've worked with quite a few over the years.