College Football

[swampler]

Here's a few from today. Sure is nice shooting in daylight compared to HS fields, especially since I can use my 2x TC! C&C welcome.

[KatMitchell]

Another great series of shots Steve... Nice exposure on these too..

That is cool the way you captured that guy hovering above the ground in that 3rd shot..

Kat

[swampler]

Thanks, Kat.

[jclark319]

Not a whole lot I think I would have done differntly here. I think you have a ncie series. I first thing that could have made 3-4 of these better would be to shoot from your knees...Just look at how you barely missed their eyes in the helmet. Shooting from you knees, for me personnaly, is a better perspective. It is something to get used to...for sure, by being on your knees for a football game!
The next thing, if I were shooting the black jersey team, I would have likely set my exposure compensation up 1/3 more. I shoot most of my football at +2/3, believe it or not. Personal preference, but I like to be in the helmet. See the eyes...

[cyclohexane]

The first three can definitely be cropped tighter on the action.

For 2 and 3, you might as well have framed those vertically. I shoot too much horizontally too...

I shoot most of my football at +2/3, believe it or not. Personal preference, but I like to be in the helmet. See the eyes...

I do this as well. It works really well.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by jclark319

Not a whole lot I think I would have done differntly here. I think you have a ncie series. I first thing that could have made 3-4 of these better would be to shoot from your knees...Just look at how you barely missed their eyes in the helmet. Shooting from you knees, for me personnaly, is a better perspective. It is something to get used to...for sure, by being on your knees for a football game!
The next thing, if I were shooting the black jersey team, I would have likely set my exposure compensation up 1/3 more. I shoot most of my football at +2/3, believe it or not. Personal preference, but I like to be in the helmet. See the eyes...

Do you have trouble keeping up with the action from a low perspective? Being tall, I'm used to looking over the players, but I do see your point. If the field dries off, I may try a few that way Friday night.

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

The first three can definitely be cropped tighter on the action.

For 2 and 3, you might as well have framed those vertically. I shoot too much horizontally too...



I do this as well. It works really well.

Thanks, Michael. I actually cropped 1, 2, and 3 vertically for the paper, but it seems the looser crops sell better for some reason. I have a hard time following the action vertically, so I usually shoot horizontal and then crop vertical. Bad habit, I'm sure.

[cyclohexane]

Do you have trouble keeping up with the action from a low perspective?

I can't speak for Jason, but I have no problem shooting low. I've been shooting from a higher perspective lately to hide the crown of the Rose Bowl though, but when they get close I still drop down.

If the field dries off, I may try a few that way Friday night.

That's what kneepads and rain pants are for, haha. I have a full rain suit for shooting in awful weather, and I'm in LA right now, where it rains twice a year (once in June, once in October).

I have a hard time following the action vertically, so I usually shoot horizontal and then crop vertical. Bad habit, I'm sure.

Hence why I tend to favor shooting horizontal too, haha.

[iflynething]

Originally Posted by swampler

If the field dries off, I may try a few that way Friday night.
.

Get some knee pads! If you're going for the shot, who cares what you look like!

~Michael~

[jclark319]

Originally Posted by swampler

Do you have trouble keeping up with the action from a low perspective? Being tall, I'm used to looking over the players, but I do see your point. If the field dries off, I may try a few that way Friday night.

I have no trouble keeping up. Sometimes a good play action off center will trick you because you can't see the possible handoff all the time, but to me, the aspect is worth it. I keep a fairly wide stance so I can twist with a play and not become off balance.
I wear knee pads. You can get some at Lowe's or Home Depot for $14 or so. I don't notice much about them when i have them on...don't bother me much, but makes my knee caps feel better!!

[Chromenut]

Would you mind sharing your settings? I'm having a hard time freezing action like this. Your's are beautifully done, but the stop-action is perfect. #3 to me is like the ultimate of what I want to capture, but I can't seem to get my settings right to keep from blurring the picture or adding noise. Any suggestions would be most welcome from someone who takes photos this crisp and clean.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Chromenut

Would you mind sharing your settings?

#3 was shot at ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1000 (f/5.6 was wide open since the 2x TC adds 2 stops to your max aperture). I think for these, I shot in Av mode, wide open, and +2/3 EC.

Hope that helps.

[lputman]

Nice series Steve! Thanks Jason and Michael for chiming in, you all teach me so much. {{{hugs}}} to my fav 3!