Defending a PC - Womens Field Hockey

[funwitha7d]

This is premier grade women's hockey and these are first eleven high school students (mostly age 14 to 16). The girl second from the left is the first runner and she is wanting to get out to the person who will try to hit the hockey ball, to interrupt the shot. The two girls with face masks are called posties as they defend deflections near either post (the ball is hit hard and can go anywhere) and so they need the masks. Hope you don't mind the explanation. Was trying to capture movement so shutter speed was down. Taken Saturday. C&C welcome.

 

[The_Traveler]

IMO, way too much and varying motion blur to be attractive.
On a complex subject like this, it goes in and out of focus and it just looks like a jumble to me.

 

[tirediron]

Have to agree with Lew; the idea is good, but it would have been a better execution to wait until you had two people going after the ball, rather than the whole group.

 

[DarkShadow]

I agree with what was said and also I think in sports its always better to isolate 1 or two players in action rather then the entire team.Thats how its usually done in basketball,hockey,baseball etc.

 

[funwitha7d]

IMO, way too much and varying motion blur to be attractive.
On a complex subject like this, it goes in and out of focus and it just looks like a jumble to me.

Have to agree with Lew; the idea is good, but it would have been a better execution to wait until you had two people going after the ball, rather than the whole group.

I agree with what was said and also I think in sports its always better to isolate 1 or two players in action rather then the entire team.Thats how its usually done in basketball,hockey,baseball etc.

thanks for all your comments, I wondered if this sort of worked...
another example with fewer subjects

 

[The_Traveler]

Much much better.
It's obvious that you've caught an important moment; the players are both on a single foot and something is just about to happen.
I try to get action a bit closer (and end p with lots of pictures.)

sort of like this

 

[funwitha7d]

Much much better.
It's obvious that you've caught an important moment; the players are both on a single foot and something is just about to happen.
I try to get action a bit closer (and end p with lots of pictures.)

sort of like this

thanks for your feedback again, passed this onto the mum of one of these players and she was pleased I had captured this moment

 

[funwitha7d]

p.s. The_Traveler I have a lot to learn (everything) about Photoshop, that was a very fast edit...

 

[The_Traveler]

p.s. The_Traveler I have a lot to learn (everything) about Photoshop, that was a very fast edit...

This was a relatively easy edit.
Your shot was sharp and clean.
Female in dark uniform was nicely in focus and I just selected all the left side , including her, (with some feathering on the background and grassy areas), and slide it over to the right.
Then I added space on top and bottom and cloned in what was needed.
Maybe ten minutes.

 

[The_Traveler]

If I was really more industrious I would have moved her closer and fixed the sticks so one passed over the other.