Football Standing or Kneeling?

David Evertsen

I realize that many organizations require you to kneel on their sidelines for football. I am looking at what works best for most of you, requirement or not. Standing or kneeling?? The field I work at most of the
time has a huge hump and kneeling doesn't obviously work for me on far side especially with a 200. However on the sidelines coming at me sounds like it would work best to get under the helmet. Any ideas or personal preferences and why would help greatly..

David Evertsen
www.phabulousphotos.com

KMCC

The old adage is that shots taken from a seated or kneeling position (looking slightly up at the player) make the athlete look more heroic.

If I'm not moving around a lot on the sidelines, I always try to shoot that way.

johng

I agree with Kent.

The only time I stand is if I'm shooting with flash setup on monopod (I stand so I can elongate the monopod and have more distance to remove red-eye) or if my knees just get too sore from a long day (yeah, OK I'll admit it )

du8die

Helmet
Kneeling also gets you under the helmet looking up, (better shot at the eyes), and standing (especially with kids), you get the tops of their helmet.

bandgeekndb

How important is the whole "getting under the helmet" idea and elongating the distance between camera and flash (when using flash on the monopod) if the players aren't using helmets?

I'm covering a flag football game and I'm renting a 70-200 f/2.8 lens and SB-800 flash for the event. I'm going to play with the flash mounting as soon as I get the equipment, and I'm hoping to get some test shots before the actual game, but I'm always interested in opinions, especially from those who know what they're doing!!!

Thanks,
Nick

johng

bandgeekndb wrote:

How important is the whole "getting under the helmet" idea and elongating the distance between camera and flash (when using flash on the monopod) if the players aren't using helmets?

Nick

Well the helmet plays no part in red-eye. That's what you're trying to prevent by getting the flash as far away from the camera as possible.

David Evertsen

Thanks Everyone

KMCC wrote:

The old adage is that shots taken from a seated or kneeling position (looking slightly up at the player) make the athlete look more heroic.

If I'm not moving around a lot on the sidelines, I always try to shoot that way.

I am going to kneel more on my shots.. Got some really great ones last night and I was not shooting the top of the heads... Now I have to figure out the flash thing... Thanks again everyone..


David Evertsen
www.phabulousphotos.com

South Shore Snapshots

David Evertsen wrote:

I am going to kneel more on my shots.. Got some really great ones last night and I was not shooting the top of the heads... Now I have to figure out the flash thing... Thanks again everyone..


David Evertsen
www.phabulousphotos.com

Um, dude, why not a little bit of both? Heck for that matter, how about laying down on a couple, and turning the camera diagonal too. That's what I so love about digital. Shoot freely and review your findings later.

Rob

bandgeekndb

AMEN! I'm going to have to be very creative when I shoot. Sadly, the team is already shelling out for the refs, etc. so I was shot down on my proposal: aka, all I have then is my D40 and an 18-55 lens. If I get lucky, I might end up borrowing a 55-200, but I doubt that is gonna happen.

So, wish me luck, but I think I'm gonna end up frustrated on the sidelines this time. I hope you have better luck than I do!

~Nick

David Evertsen

South Shore Snapshots wrote:

Um, dude, why not a little bit of both? Heck for that matter, how about laying down on a couple, and turning the camera diagonal too. That's what I so love about digital. Shoot freely and review your findings later.

Rob

Exactly, I don't shoot with a Monopod but I have a belt mounted flash... Need to work on a better mount, but shot last week with one and will continue after their bye week..

David Evertsen
www.phabulousphotos.com

ASkip

thought I'd throw in one more vote for down low. I've been trying out hand holding my 300mm 2.8 lens and sitting on the ground for football the last couple of games. no flash. I figure the lens has VR (I have Nikon stuff), it may as well do some work. Just takes a lot of advil after the game for my little girly arms to recover from all that weight. and I have to jump up fast to avoid being trampled if there's a long play and the entire team comes galumphing down the field in celebration...

schlpic

David Evertsen wrote:

Exactly, I don't shoot with a Monopod but I have a belt mounted flash... Need to work on a better mount, but shot last week with one and will continue after their bye week..

A belt mounted flash--now that sounds interesting! I like the idea of the flash on the monood, but I change frequently from standing to kneeling positions and move around too much to feel comfortable dragging a monopod with me. And occasionally you need to move quickly to get out of the way of the action that ends up on top of you the sidelines!!! Is this belt flash something you rigged up yourself? Please share!

David Evertsen

[/QUOTE]A belt mounted flash--now that sounds interesting! I like the idea of the flash on the monood, but I change frequently from standing to kneeling positions and move around too much to feel comfortable dragging a monopod with me. And occasionally you need to move quickly to get out of the way of the action that ends up on top of you the sidelines!!! Is this belt flash something you rigged up yourself? Please share![/QUOTE]

I have a Tamrac belt and system for my 200 lense and camera. Also have the medium lens accesory for the belt as well as a water bottle holder. I have seen the threads on the web about the monopod mounted flash and thought about that. I don't really like to use a monopod and was thinking about what to do. So was at a game a few weeks ago (sans flash) and saw a real pro with flash on the belt. He stands up and I was at the time but took the water bottle holder moved it over my right leg and bought a 3 ft flash cable and strapped it to the soft water holder outside Just a rubber band like device. Did not stick it in it. I was not kneeling at the time but it did work well till the batteries died. (My fault got some rechargeable nimh) So I have to further refine it. I think it will work fine kneeling if I can get the right pose.. Standing it worked great.

David
www.phaboulousphotos.com

schlpic

Thanks for sharing David!!