Sports photography - single images

**ThorSanchez** · 03-22-2020, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Unfortunately, probably not many new sports opportunities coming online for the next couple of months...

(On the bright side, time to catch up on editing photos from the past that might not have been processed as well as we'd like).

I had anticipated taking 1000+ shots of my two boys playing soccer this month. I got a 20% of that in a few preseason scrimmage events before everything was shut down. I have looked back at older photos, but with sports the differentiator is often focus, and no amount of post is going to fix missed focus.

**volley** · 03-22-2020, 04:58 AM - **1 Like**

I hardly ever use burst mode for my sport shots, probably a habit from nearly 40 years ago when shooting sport events was my main income to finance my university education. Film and processing was expensive for a student

But here I played a little at the race track.
If you click on the picture it should take you to my smugmug with a 12300 pixel wide version.

K3 and DA* 4/60-250

GvilleRick · 03-22-2020, 08:57 AM - **1 Like**

This is usually my busiest time of the year but with all the schools closed in the state there are no spring sports to shoot. I did manage to get in three games the week before the activities were suspended.

**iheiramo** · 03-23-2020, 01:36 AM

Wasp · 03-23-2020, 03:37 AM

The game is rugby. Taken with a Pentax K10D and SMC Pentax 200mm f/2.5.

dosdan · 03-24-2020, 08:44 PM - **1 Like**

I only shot junior swimming at a few events back in 2012, using a K5 + smc PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED. Regional & State-level competitions were frustrating to shoot because I had to stay in the stands, and the indoor facility, while with some lights up in the ceiling, was relying a lot on light coming in from a row of windows along the top of the wall opposite the main stand, so the swimmers were semi-backlit. But at District-level, it was more informal, and I was able to get down on the deck of a partially- covered pool and get better shots.

Because I only shot swimming for a short time, I didn't get much of an opportunity to work on my technique and work out the type of poses and framings that I should being pursing. And I never got a race shot where a very close finish was involved. Also, this lens was a bit soft at 300mm FL.

Shots 1&2: 1/400s, f/7.1, ISO100.

The hands in the 2nd shot suffer from motion blur. If I'd had more experience I would have used a higher shutter speed.

I like shots with sharp water droplets. Unfortunately, the shot with the pose I liked did not have outstanding droplet quality. I would have liked to have shot it with a K3 + DA* 60-250/F4.
1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO200.

If you get the right time of day and location there are some interesting colours in the water. The next shot is not that sharp but I like the colours. I used a "cross-processing" colouration in PSP X7 to get this. In retrospect, I should have shot at 1/1000s.
1/200s, f/7.1, ISO80.

A Club event. The swimmers' appearance with their caps and goggles makes them look like aliens. I decided, when processing the final shot, to emphasise that aspect by really pushing the local contrast. The colours aren't realistic, more impressionistic.
1/800s, f/6.3, ISO400

As Shot:

Processed:

Dan.

**iheiramo** · 03-25-2020, 11:57 AM - **1 Like**

Windsurfing from today with K1ii and M*300.

**volley** · 03-26-2020, 06:12 AM - **1 Like**

I believe this one is x-posted ...
K3 and DA* 4/60-250
B&W conversion in DxO Filmpack 4

I have to post an old shot because this years season which was about to start now has been suspended.

**robgski** · 04-04-2020, 07:18 AM

Yes, the track season is postponed, just a dream now

**mroeder75** · 05-03-2020, 09:56 PM - **1 Like**

Rutgers v. Iowa in American football in September 2019. It is cropped severely.

Ball was overthrown.

**iheiramo** · 06-26-2020, 01:52 PM - **1 Like**

M35/2:

**robgski** · 07-03-2020, 02:19 PM

The Local Drag Strip is opening back up, great opportunity to practice panning and various shutter speeds.

GvilleRick · 09-18-2020, 06:02 PM

The past couple of weeks I've been able to shoot some high school sports since the March photos of soccer that are posted above.

Cross Country

Volleyball

Tennis

Golf

**robgski** · 09-19-2020, 06:46 AM

I've learned the had way with my telephoto lenses really need to have AF calibration done, too easy to blur the subject, especially if it's moving towards the camera, and get the thing behind the subject.

I usually use Aperture Priority but I think most sports or action photos require Shutter priority or Shutter and Aperture Priority together to nail the focus and freeze (to some extent) the motion.

GvilleRick · 09-19-2020, 06:51 PM

This morning was a bit chilly compared to recent days, temps in the lower 60's. I'm glad I was shooting the meet and not swimming.

03-24-2020, 08:44 PM - 1 Like	#546
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	I only shot junior swimming at a few events back in 2012, using a K5 + smc PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED. Regional & State-level competitions were frustrating to shoot because I had to stay in the stands, and the indoor facility, while with some lights up in the ceiling, was relying a lot on light coming in from a row of windows along the top of the wall opposite the main stand, so the swimmers were semi-backlit. But at District-level, it was more informal, and I was able to get down on the deck of a partially- covered pool and get better shots. Because I only shot swimming for a short time, I didn't get much of an opportunity to work on my technique and work out the type of poses and framings that I should being pursing. And I never got a race shot where a very close finish was involved. Also, this lens was a bit soft at 300mm FL. Shots 1&2: 1/400s, f/7.1, ISO100. The hands in the 2nd shot suffer from motion blur. If I'd had more experience I would have used a higher shutter speed. I like shots with sharp water droplets. Unfortunately, the shot with the pose I liked did not have outstanding droplet quality. I would have liked to have shot it with a K3 + DA* 60-250/F4. 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO200. If you get the right time of day and location there are some interesting colours in the water. The next shot is not that sharp but I like the colours. I used a "cross-processing" colouration in PSP X7 to get this. In retrospect, I should have shot at 1/1000s. 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO80. A Club event. The swimmers' appearance with their caps and goggles makes them look like aliens. I decided, when processing the final shot, to emphasise that aspect by really pushing the local contrast. The colours aren't realistic, more impressionistic. 1/800s, f/6.3, ISO400 As Shot: Processed: Dan. Last edited by dosdan; 03-25-2020 at 01:00 PM.

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03-22-2020, 04:17 AM	#541
ThorSanchez Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,806	Originally posted by Rondec Unfortunately, probably not many new sports opportunities coming online for the next couple of months... (On the bright side, time to catch up on editing photos from the past that might not have been processed as well as we'd like). I had anticipated taking 1000+ shots of my two boys playing soccer this month. I got a 20% of that in a few preseason scrimmage events before everything was shut down. I have looked back at older photos, but with sports the differentiator is often focus, and no amount of post is going to fix missed focus.

03-22-2020, 04:58 AM - 1 Like	#542
volley Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Springe Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,693	I hardly ever use burst mode for my sport shots, probably a habit from nearly 40 years ago when shooting sport events was my main income to finance my university education. Film and processing was expensive for a student But here I played a little at the race track. If you click on the picture it should take you to my smugmug with a 12300 pixel wide version. K3 and DA* 4/60-250

03-22-2020, 08:57 AM - 1 Like	#543
GvilleRick Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,689	This is usually my busiest time of the year but with all the schools closed in the state there are no spring sports to shoot. I did manage to get in three games the week before the activities were suspended.

03-23-2020, 01:36 AM	#544
iheiramo Unoriginal Poster Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Espoo Photos: Albums Posts: 3,182

03-23-2020, 03:37 AM	#545
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,660	The game is rugby. Taken with a Pentax K10D and SMC Pentax 200mm f/2.5.

03-25-2020, 11:57 AM - 1 Like	#547
iheiramo Unoriginal Poster Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Espoo Photos: Albums Posts: 3,182	Windsurfing from today with K1ii and M*300.

03-26-2020, 06:12 AM - 1 Like	#548
volley Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Springe Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,693	I believe this one is x-posted ... K3 and DA* 4/60-250 B&W conversion in DxO Filmpack 4 I have to post an old shot because this years season which was about to start now has been suspended.

04-04-2020, 07:18 AM	#549
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,797	Yes, the track season is postponed, just a dream now

05-03-2020, 09:56 PM - 1 Like	#550
mroeder75 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,597	Rutgers v. Iowa in American football in September 2019. It is cropped severely. Ball was overthrown.

06-26-2020, 01:52 PM - 1 Like	#551
iheiramo Unoriginal Poster Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Espoo Photos: Albums Posts: 3,182	M35/2:

07-03-2020, 02:19 PM	#552
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,797	The Local Drag Strip is opening back up, great opportunity to practice panning and various shutter speeds.

09-18-2020, 06:02 PM	#553
GvilleRick Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,689	The past couple of weeks I've been able to shoot some high school sports since the March photos of soccer that are posted above. Cross Country Volleyball Tennis Golf

09-19-2020, 06:46 AM	#554
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,797	I've learned the had way with my telephoto lenses really need to have AF calibration done, too easy to blur the subject, especially if it's moving towards the camera, and get the thing behind the subject. I usually use Aperture Priority but I think most sports or action photos require Shutter priority or Shutter and Aperture Priority together to nail the focus and freeze (to some extent) the motion.

09-19-2020, 06:51 PM	#555
GvilleRick Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,689	This morning was a bit chilly compared to recent days, temps in the lower 60's. I'm glad I was shooting the meet and not swimming.