On 6/12/06, Gary Lim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi all:
I plan to take pictures of my kid's (5 years old) sport and soccer games
this week. I've never really into sports photo stuff but I guess it's time
for me to learn. Anyone out there have any tips for me? Here is what I
plan to use 20D + 28-135IS and 100-400 IS. (btw, I found out the hard way
my vertical grip is not functioning properly. It gave me no battery while
the camera works fine without it!)
OK, here is what I plan to do:
1. max aperture (AV)
2. ISO 400-800 depending on the light
3. continuous focus
4. try to focus on the ball (?)
Objective: I plan to take some interesting action shots. :)
Hi Gary -
I shoot minor league and high-level amateur soccer, so some of this
may help you and some may not.
I used to shoot at max aperture, generally with shutter at 1/250, and
I adjusted the ISO as necessary. This season, frustrated with how
soft a lot of my shots were, I started bumping up the ISO, the shutter
speed, and the aperture (I'm usually shooting around f/5.6, shutter
speed 1/500, and ISO 400-800). I was worried that the shots would
look grainier, but IMHO the *very* slight increase in graininess (more
so at night) is more than compensated for by the increased sharpness.
I also started using a monopod for my 300 mm lens, which helps, even
though I still hate using the monopod (always have!).
The team I work for prefers that I get shots with fans in the
background (or at least not empty stands), which I don't like -- too
cluttered for me and I get glare because of where the sun sets during
evening matches -- but that's what they want. You should look at the
various angles of the field so you will avoid having the parking lot,
etc. in the background if you can help it.
I prefer to move around every so often to get a different angle of the
field so I can get more shots of the different players. I do tend to
concentrate of shots of players with the ball, but on the players
themselves, if that makes sense.
I shoot JPEGs and use a high-speed card in my 20D (I have a slower
card in my 10D since it's not as fast anyway), and I do tend to fire
off a quick burst when taking certain shots -- headers, saves,
players' reactions to set pieces, etc. It's far easier to delete the
non-money shots later than to get the players to recreate a shot
missed.
Finally, while I don't shoot youth games, from friends who do, be
prepared to have other parents ask you for photos -- be prepared ahead
of time as to whether you want to give them away or sell them (or
neither), and if so, how.
Oh, and I use one 20D and one 10D body, a 300mm f/4 L lens, and a
70-200 f/2.8 L lens (non-IS). I have some shorter lenses in my kit
but only pull them out occasionally (i.e., for team photos or
wide-angle shots of the stands) for soccer.
HTH,
Pattie
--
Pattie Anderson
http://pattiea.com/
Support our Troops! http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time
we fall." -- Confucius
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