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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
First HS Football game
Mike Burns, Photographer
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Reston | VA | USA | Posted: 10:53 PM on 10.23.09 |
->> Would anyone be willing to give me a little critisism on my first football game.
I shot the game tonight (10/23). My friend is the assistant coach for Fairfax High School and got me on the sidelines. I am not giving anything away or for credits or any of that. I told him that I wanted to try shooting football.
I was using an Oly E-3 with a Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 and an Oly E-30 with a Sigma 150mm f/2.8.
Thanks!
Mike |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 11:07 PM on 10.23.09 |
->> Mike,
Nice first effort. You will get better as you get more in-tune with the rhythm of the game.
--Mark |
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Jay Drowns, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 12:06 AM on 10.24.09 |
->> Hey Mike,
I agree with Mark. Nice first effort. One suggestion. Clean backgrounds. It looks like you are standing. Take a knee. You'll be surprised how much of the junk in the background will disappear as the horizon gets lower in your frame. Frames 8 and 9 would have been much cleaner. Frame 10, well you never know when you are going to get a goal post sticking up behind a nice play. |
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Mike Burns, Photographer
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Reston | VA | USA | Posted: 7:29 AM on 10.24.09 |
->> Mark & Jay,
Thanks for the info. What would you say would be the "best" spot to post up during a game? I walked back and forth from one end to the other during each possesion.
Is that normal or was I just wasting time. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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Waynesville | NC | USA | Posted: 11:00 AM on 10.24.09 |
| ->> If you're covering one team, you want to see the faces of that team. If you're covering the game in general, it's usually best to have the action moving towards you. Where to set up depends a lot on what gear you're using. If a 70-200 is your go-to lens, then you will want to be on one sideline or the other and hope the action comes towards you. I've noticed that if I move up and down during one possession, I miss more than I get. If you have a 300 or longer and the team is past midfield, the end zone might be your best bet as the action will be coming to you on most any play. I hope this helps and I'm sure you'll get a lot of tips and some may disagree. Of course, you will develop your own style and figure out what works best for you. Keep up the good work. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 12:30 AM on 10.25.09 |
->> With a 300mm, use the first down marker as a reference point - be at least 5-10 yards past that part of the time. If he team likes to run you'll be well positioned for backs that break through the LOS and on sweeps. You'll also be in decent position if they throw down field and it's in the middle of the field on on your side. As several others have noted,when teams get past the 50, start thinking about going behind the end zone and let them come towards you.
If you're covering one team, think about shooting from about 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage when they are on defense - esp. if they are getting pentatration at the LOS.
The best spot - it's tough to know. IF you cover the same team week in and out, you'll learn that there are certain things they like to do at certain times.Exploit that tendency.
The lighting sometimes makes a difference. I covered a 1A school last night for the third time this season. Love the school and the people. But the field is so poorly lit in some spots it's tough for these 58 year old eyes to follow the play. Best place for me is between the 20 yard lines. Oh well, doesn't matter. The endzones stink. I get to go back there Wednesday night for the first round of district playoffs. |
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Mike Burns, Photographer
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Reston | VA | USA | Posted: 2:44 PM on 10.28.09 |
| ->> Another question I have about HS football is flash. I have seen a lot of shots of HS games with flash, is that normal? |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 2:50 PM on 10.28.09 |
| ->> If your State Association and the local institution permit it, and the light on the field is crap, then in my personal experience, yes, it is more customary than not to use it. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 2:37 AM on 10.30.09 |
->> Mike,
I have no choice. I could crank the D3 up ISO wise, but the images come out so much better with flash. Even the D3's incredible ISO range can't put light where there isn't any.
I usually shoot ISO 800 f3.2 @ 250th with the flash in manual mode with the flash set @ 1/8th. Works like a champ. The flash has a digital camera battery connected so the recycle is snappy. Primary lens is 300mm f2.8.
The remaining HS football team we're covering played on a field that can only be described as REALLY DARK. They play again Monday in the second round of the playoffs on another field, guess we'll find out how dark ..but kickoff is 7PM and this is a small school Class A so it probably doesn't matter where it's played.
Michael |
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Mike Burns, Photographer
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Reston | VA | USA | Posted: 4:12 AM on 10.30.09 |
->> Michael,
Thanks, I am going to try the flash tonight. I have an FL-36 which is the small Oly flash. If that doesnt work I have 2-Sunpak 422Ds and if that doesnt work who knows you might see me with my Alien Bees and Vagabond hanging off my shoulders.
Mike |
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David Manning, Photographer
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Athens | GA | | Posted: 9:21 AM on 10.30.09 |
->> I am constantly moving with the play as the game dictates. If they're inside the 20, I'm in the back of the end zone. If the defense has been monster, I'll be 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage to get the sacks. If its a one-score game with a minute to go, I'm going to be in a position to try and get either bench.
Personally, i dont use a flash because i enjoy the side-lighting and shoot primarily with a D700.
Best advice i can give is to try is to follow the action and be moving appropriately. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 7:11 PM on 10.31.09 |
| ->> Let me know how it went Mike. The tables are turned, I had to shoot MMA for the first time last night. 3 columns x 6 and the image was taken at 3200. (that's why I bought a D3...) The exposure was f3.2 @ 200.sec. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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Waynesville | NC | USA | Posted: 11:59 PM on 10.31.09 |
| ->> Even with High ISO cameras, I still use a flash if possible. It makes the images pop more, with light up under the helmets and a little reflection off of the jerseys. Even if it's not the main source of light, a little fill goes a long way in my opinion. |
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Mike Burns, Photographer
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Reston | VA | USA | Posted: 6:46 PM on 11.01.09 |
->> I tried to shoot with flash last night and bottom line for me is I have to change systems.
There is just no getting away from horrible high ISO with the Oly systems. I tried with both the e-3 and the e-30 with a 2.8 and a flash and anything over 400 is just not usable in my opinion.
If anyone wants to buy a whole bunch of Oly gear let me know. haa |
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