Second attempt at sports photography

[Anonymous]

Not bad, but still plenty of room for improvement. All photos were shot with a 70-300mm lens from a tripod with a shutter release to eliminate lens shake. I've made a few comments on each of the photos. Please feel free to offer any advice.
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Just a stationary photo, but the colors and focus still seem less than what I had hoped for. I think I may have to first get a feel for the lens before doing any more action photos.
<image src="http://www.findmall.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10325/c1~1.jpg">
Again, not bad, but not professional quality either. I was shooting at 1/250 but there is still noticeable blurring in the arm.
<image src="http://www.findmall.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10325/c2~0.jpg">
Great timing but I missed on the focus. <img src="/metal/html/frown.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=""> On the bright side, he was safe. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
<image src="http://www.findmall.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10325/c3~0.jpg">
Another non-action shot that I am less than thrilled with. The only explanation that I can come up with on the washed out colors and less than perfect focus is the fact that I was shooting directly into the afternoon sun.
<image src="http://www.findmall.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10325/c4.jpg">
This one was not shot into the sun so the colors appear to be better but again the 1/250 shutter speed was not enough to freeze the ball and bat motion.
<image src="http://www.findmall.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10325/c5.jpg"></CENTER>

 

[Anonymous]

One hint: if you think there is going to be a play at a certain base, put it in manual focus and prefocus on that base.

 

[Anonymous]

please add that to the tip...........
With today's fast internal focusing lenses that pre-focus problem is a thing of the past, especially with Nikon's and Canon's faster lenses.....
Just a tip

 

[Anonymous]

but I haven't played around with it enough to know how fast the focus is.... I do know that lots of sports photographers pefer Canon.

 

[Anonymous]

It's the lens not the camera.........

 

[Anonymous]

At least with the Digital Rebel it is. The auto focus only focuses on the center of the frame. So if you don't, or can't, keep the subject in the middle of the frame then it will not be in focus. I think I will use manual focus on the base the next time I have a similar opportunity. And you're right, I have one of the cheaper Canon lens, something like $300 for the 70-300mm zoom. A nice 600mm lens starts at around $7,000. I saw a used one with a scratch on the lens go for over $5,000 on eBay. So unless I win the lottery I am going to have to figure out how to get decent photos from my lens.

 

[Anonymous]

Nimrod
Granted, I know very little about photography, or what constitutes a good picture, but your comment regarding the last image I don

 

[Anonymous]

I was also thinking of the problem of shutter lag but the D-Rebel is great...little lag.
John

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like you're ahead of the game already!

 

[Anonymous]

Not only is the article good but the whole web site is pretty darn interesting too, thanks. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

I posted that article here a while back and regularly make reference to that website.....
Old news to me........
<IMG SRC="/metal/html/csflag.gif" BORDER=0 width=22 height=15 ALT="::">chuckling::

 

[Anonymous]

[No message]

 

[Anonymous]

Just funnin with you Nim... Like your swing shots... Guvner..