One Football Shot

[snerd]

I've been reading and learning here for awhile now, and I think it's slowly sinking in a little. Here's one of about 20 I shot today at my grandson's peewee game. Tell me how to make it better.

 

[snerd]

Okay, one more..................

 

[Braineack]

Tell me how to make it better.

View attachment 57068

funny...

 

[runnah]

Needs to cradle the ball more.

 

[cbarnard7]

I think they're both well-shot (maybe a little overexposed in some areas), but where you set-up is very important. #1 is much better, compositionally, but #2 has so much background noise (parents) that it's difficult to focus on the players (who are the subjects). I would suggest finding a different place to shoot that you can get a more clear view of just the players and not really the fans. Maybe get behind the end-zone and shoot downfield at the runner coming towards you (or something like that). That's just my opinion! But, I do think #1 is nice.

 

[snerd]

When I snapped #2 I thought I had a "great" shot. The defender went up to block the pass thrown by the quarterback. Then when I was processing it, I noticed it wasn't as "great" as I thought. You're right about the busy background, it really took a lot away from the action. I'll dump maybe half my shots because I haven't yet learned to think "composition" before hitting that shutter button!

 

[cgipson1]

Cant see how you shot these... exif data is removed.

Good timing on both...

#1 has excellent DOF choice and good exposure considering that the lighting conditions look harsh.

#2 would have been greatly improved with a much shallower DOF (to increase background separation).. if that was feasible.

 

[sm4him]

Sometimes, with PeeWee games, or even middle and high-school games, you just can't really get away from distracting backgrounds. My niece's high school soccer team has a terrible, terrible home field. Stands on both sides, one end of the field always has all sorts of clutter (including a huge blue & white tent they keep set up), the other end of the field has the parking lot clearly visible and the National Armory is right next door, so there's also a bunch of old equipment piled up everywhere. Add to that the fact that people mill around EVERYwhere with little regard to the game going on, and there's just nowhere to aim and avoid distractions.
So, sometimes, all you can do is all you can do. If there IS a less distracting area to put in the background, by all means do so. But at least you've got it somewhat blurred out. Another option might be to shoot from a lower perspective so you're aiming up, but it looks to me like both of those shots were from a fairly low angle already.

 

[amolitor]

Those look fantastic. I don't see offhand how #1 can be improved at all, it's fantastic.

 

[Braineack]

When I snapped #2 I thought I had a "great" shot. The defender went up to block the pass thrown by the quarterback. Then when I was processing it, I noticed it wasn't as "great" as I thought.

I think it's pretty "great".

I mean we could photoshop the football to a decapitated teammates head and make it pretty "great". Halloween is coming up...

Yeah, the background is a bit busy in #2, I have no problem see the ball and the player jumping for it, I just lose the QB due to his pants bleeding into the person behind. But these two examples are well exposed, spot-on focus, and captured great moments in the game; I'd be happy with them.

 

[snerd]

Cant see how you shot these... exif data is removed......

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[D-B-J]

I second the background issues--sometimes it's hard to get a perfect background. Number one is nice, but the body-less defender really stinks. I wish you hadn't cut off so much of him. Also, be careful of the tilted horizon in the second photo.

Regards,
Jake

 

[snerd]

Thanks all for the comments. After so many frustrating "learning" shots, I needed an atta boy!

 

[D-B-J]

Thanks all for the comments. After so many "learning" shots, I needed an atta boy!

There's no such thing! There's always something we can nitpick about.. Hahaha.

Regards,
Jake