1st Try and Football Photography

danpen · 22-10-2007, 19:19

Having just got a Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 and not having much to shoot 'til I go to the Supermoto in November I thought I'd give a local football match a try.

Never done this before and I was only there for 30 minutes (I got the start time wrong) but reasonably happy with a few shots. Be interested in what you think and how I can do better next time.

They were all shot at f/6.3 and I reckon I might have been better at f/5.6 or f/4.0 to get more blurred backgrounds.

#1

#2

#3 - Not sure if the OOF man works or not

#4

I've seen some good football and rugby shots on here recently so I know some of you can point me in the right direction.

cheers

Dan

P-E · 22-10-2007, 19:25

Lens is looking good Dan

When I shoot rugby I was advised by those in the know to shoot @ 2.8.

Give it a try, you should get some nice isolated subjects with blurred backgrounds.

By the way....how did you feel holding that big one (lens) in your hands

danpen · 22-10-2007, 19:29

Cheers P-E,

f/2.8, I'd be worried that I'd never get anything in focus!

The lens does seem pretty good, it had no problem keeping up with the action (I did but that's another matter). It was a bright day though so I'll need to see what it's like on a normal British overcast day.

cheers

Dan

P-E · 22-10-2007, 19:33

LOL you will be OK mate.

I think all my rugby shots on here were shot @ 2.8.......I think they're all in focus

danpen · 22-10-2007, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-E

LOL you will be OK mate.

I think all my rugby shots on here were shot @ 2.8.......I think they're all in focus

I'll certainly give it a try, I'd be pleased to get results anywhere near as good as yours.

P-E · 22-10-2007, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by danpen

I'll certainly give it a try, I'd be pleased to get results anywhere near as good as yours.

Hey I had lots of shots that went in the bin.

**stepheno** · 23-10-2007, 10:04

Hi Dan......good shots. I shoot open age soccer most Saturdays for my sons club website. I use the 100-400 on TV set to 1/500 and continuous shooting. This usually gives about f5 or f6.3 at ISO100 on a sunny day and I find it still gives good dof. If it's cloudy or overcast then I up the ISO to maybe 400 and still get noise-free shots. This example was TV, 1/500, f6.3, ISO100. HTH.

danpen · 23-10-2007, 16:25

Thanks Stephen, some more good advice to try. I can see I'm going to have to spend a few more Sunday mornings watching them play.

Off to the Supermoto at Cadwell park in a couple of weeks so I'll be able to see how it performs there too.

cheers

Daniel

jusu · 24-10-2007, 07:37

Very nice action shots

Rob Barron · 24-10-2007, 17:10

I can't offer any advice as it isn't something I have tried myself but I can say this is a good set and very well done for your first try.

Cheers,
Rob

gsgary · 24-10-2007, 17:57

Shoot it wide open at 2.8, rugby and football i always shoot 2.8 and you will get nice creamy bokeh, my friend has one and always shoots rugby wide open

@ 2.8

F4 is ok this was at F4 because i only had the 300F4L at the time

***Steve*** · 24-10-2007, 18:17

I am sorry I missed these earlier Dan but after looking at them now and reading your commentary I have to say that out of all of them the OOF shot that you are not sure works is for me the strongest of them all. The reason that it works is that the OOF player in the foreground is looking over his shoulder in the direction of the guy who is playing the ball. This interaction brings the two subjects together but the focus as it is really helps tell the story for me and lifts this shot above the rest.

All are excellent though, especially as its your first shoot with that lens

danpen · 25-10-2007, 08:12

Thanks all for the kind comments and useful advice, it'll be a couple of weeks before I can get to another match but I'll be trying some of your suggestions then.

cheers

Dan