Baseball Photo Critique

PatLovell · March 30, 2010

Hello everyone,

I've been a hobbyist for many years but over the last 2 years, I've been pursuing a career as a sports photographer. I do have some published work but am looking for some input from other sports photographers.

I use Canon equipment and on these photos I used, 50d and 1D Mark III with 300mm 2.8 and 70-200mm 2.8 IS, I use a 2x converter with these lenses sometimes when I'm outside.

I'd really love to get some good, constructive feedback as I'm working on building up my portfolio. Thanks in advance.

The images are linked to my SmugMug galleries, if you would like to see more.

zack75144 · March 30, 2010

Pat, I too am a hobbiest so you can gauge my opinions accordingly.

shot 1 is not in focus, the horizon is tilted and there is too much DOF.

shot 2 is great action, but again the focus is a bit off and too much DOF.

shot 3 I love the 1B's reaction, but to me it is just too tight.

shot 4 is good, but on the wrong side of the infield. Lefty's from the 1B side.

shot 5 I think is the best in the bunch, but in my opinion a little too tight and also a little flat in color.

shot 6 is good, I'd love to see the series of him fireing it to first.

Don't think I'm trashing your work, I'm in the same boat too.
Good Luck!

10smark · March 31, 2010

Pat, you have done a great job with the timing of your shots - great action! I agree with Zack's suggestions: horizons and DOF. With that 2.8 lens, I suggest setting it wide open. Pic 1 is a good example - the spectators in the background are a little distracting. But again, you have a great eye and great timing, so these things should be easy to work out.

Zack, you may be a hobbyist, but your photos are nice also. I am in the same boat myself, I have been taking pictures many years, but now I want to do some sports photography as a career.

Mark

PatLovell · March 31, 2010

zack75144 wrote:

Pat, I too am a hobbiest so you can gauge my opinions accordingly.

shot 1 is not in focus, the horizon is tilted and there is too much DOF.

shot 2 is great action, but again the focus is a bit off and too much DOF.

shot 3 I love the 1B's reaction, but to me it is just too tight.

shot 4 is good, but on the wrong side of the infield. Lefty's from the 1B side.

shot 5 I think is the best in the bunch, but in my opinion a little too tight and also a little flat in color.

shot 6 is good, I'd love to see the series of him fireing it to first.

Don't think I'm trashing your work, I'm in the same boat too.
Good Luck!

Thanks Zack, I don't think you're trashing my work, I asked for the critique and you gave your honest opinion

, that's what I need.

I agree with the backgrounds and shot the baseball team again yesterday and made some adjustments by shooting wide open. I got the backgrounds all blurred.

I've always been told to "shoot tight" and when I think it's tight enough, shoot tighter... I guess I went too tight on a few but can see what you mean.

I've worked out my settings to get sharper, cleaner images and took off the 2x convertor . I'll post some more images from yesterday.

PatLovell · March 31, 2010

Updated images with adjusted settings.

Big Red · March 31, 2010

Pat,
I really like these shots. The action is great (Maybe a little noise reduction??)

The only thing to add is that I try not to keep photos that make the player look bad (swinging and missing the ball). In the case of photo #1, if it inlcluded the pitcher, then the photo would make him look good. I have three sons who play baseball and I know they want photos that make them look good. 2 cents from a fellow hobbyist.

Big Red

PatLovell wrote:

Updated images with adjusted settings.

JSPhotography · March 31, 2010

I'm going to dissagree on the cropping. Tighter the better.

PatLovell · March 31, 2010

thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

practice, practice, practice.. i've got 15 baseball games scheduled over the next 6 weeks with some softball sprinkled in there as well. Plenty of practice.

zack75144 · March 31, 2010

These are very nice!
I never think to shot the batter from that angle, especially with names on the back.

I agree with the comment about photos that show the player failing, but honestly I thought this was a ground ball to third.

Thanks 10sMark!

PatLovell · April 5, 2010

Big ten season opened this weekend, I covered the IU/Michigan 3 game series. I think these are better than the last 2 sets. It was the highest scoring baseball game I've attended. IU won 26-5

Celebration after Tyler Roberts hit a grand slam in the 5th inning.

zoomer · April 5, 2010

Make sure the shots are level is step one, several of these are not.
Crops on several feel just a bit tight, leave a bit of room, shoot on largest f-stop that is sharp with your lens for fastest possible shutter speeds to freeze the action and blur the background as much as possible.
If you are not using a tripod, it helps a lot with sharpness if you do.

Keep shooting, these look pretty good overall, looks like a lot of fun.

PatLovell · April 5, 2010

zoomer wrote:

Make sure the shots are level is step one, several of these are not.
Crops on several feel just a bit tight, leave a bit of room, shoot on largest f-stop that is sharp with your lens for fastest possible shutter speeds to freeze the action and blur the background as much as possible.
If you are not using a tripod, it helps a lot with sharpness if you do.

Keep shooting, these look pretty good overall, looks like a lot of fun.

I'm using a monopod and I definitely try to keep the horizons level. I've been shooting with largest aperture possible but when the sun is really bright I have to go smaller even shooting at 8000 shutter .

thanks for the input, I've been using suggestions and can see a difference in my images.

zack75144 · April 5, 2010

yep, I find the monopod really helps shoot batters. You can pull your face out away from the camera and watch the pitcher's windup to better time your bob shot.

Enitsugua · April 5, 2010

PatLovell wrote:

I've been using suggestions and can see a difference in my images.

Your last set is a large factor better than the first set you posted. Keep after it. You're doing great.

(and please don't use a tripod

to shoot baseball; the monopod is plenty)

attorneyjay · April 6, 2010

#1 Looks very good. My preference would be to crop top and bottom a bit tighter though.

#2 Same. Also, horizon seems crooked.

#3 Same, and horizon again.

#4 My least favorite from technical perspective although I like the pose very much. Needs much tighter top and bottom crop, horizon very crooked, and I wouldn't crop the right side as tight. The batter's perspective is forward, so allow more space in front of him. The way it is now seems to draw one's eye to the bat too much. Centering batter's face would be better. You might even try a horizontal orientation with this given how far to the left the bat extends the picture.

I know many sports shooters do everything vertically but I don't agree. It depends on the nature of the action and pose as to which way I'll orient the shot.

Jay

Baseball Photo Critique

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