Baseball positioning

wadesworld

I think I've about had my fill of batting pictures for the year.

Just curious where those of you who shoot a lot of baseball try to position yourself for good shots of the infield, plays at first, third, etc. Being little league, I'm inside the fence and can basically position myself anywhere I want in foul ground. I have been working from the backstop, just behind one side or the other of the batter, so that I can see the whole infield. However, I've been wondering whether I might be well served by moving up one base line or the other.

Thoughts?

kiz5

The outfield shooting towards home is if you have a longer lens. I enjoy doing it if I do 600mm or 400mm + 1.4 or 1.7 or 300 + 1.4 on a crop sensor. A lot don't have access to that though, of course.

Hopefully this gives you an idea though, though it should feel fairly obvious.

attorneyjay

Behind home plate backstop for 1st inning to get shots of pitchers from behind home plate. Maybe some infield shots too waiting for change of pitcher. Then near 1B til about 5th inning. Then near 3B until end (7 innings - high school). Near 1B is overall best for most action, in my experience.

Y_Knot

I do most shots from first base.

GSPeP

First base and behind home plate.

Flea77

I prefer the third base line. You get the normal pictures of the outstretched first baseman with the runners on first, excellent coverage for slides into 2nd and 3rd, and good coverage for the rest too. Only problem I run into is the third base coach.

Allan

double_b

kiz5 wrote: »

The outfield shooting towards home is if you have a longer lens. I enjoy doing it if I do 600mm or 400mm + 1.4 or 1.7 or 300 + 1.4 on a crop sensor. A lot don't have access to that though, of course.

Hopefully this gives you an idea though, though it should feel fairly obvious.

Great visual aid. Not much more to add to that.

johng

Some good info. But I'd like to elaborate.
First of all - one of your biggest issues is going to be coaches on either 1st or 3rd base line. so be ready to be frustrated by coaches that roam the area (very often the coaching box is not enforced by umpires).
Now, having said that - let's talk about the types of shots you can get from each position:
1st base line:

• Shots of right handed batters
• shots of left handed pitchers
• third baseman fielding (although often blocked by pitcher) or pitcher fielding
• shortstop and 2nd baseman fielding or turning double play
• shots of runner coming to first
• shots of plays at 3rd base (although remember not many of these in a game)
• shots of runner going home
• if long enough lens shots of center fielder and right fielder making plays
• right handed catcher

3rd base line:

• 2nd baseman, shortstop fielding (3rd baseman occasionally but might be too tight or he might be in front of you)
• play at first - but make sure you account for pitcher's position so he's not in your line of site when you set up for the shot
• play at 2nd with a view of RUNNER's face while still getting shot of fielder
• shots of runners coming around 2nd - some great running shot opportunities - prefer over going to first because backgrounds are cleaner
• left handed batters and right handed pitchers.
• left fielder plays and center fielder plays
• left handed catcher
• better view of catcher for plays at home plate

Behind home plate:

• pitcher

In general, where you spend your time depends on your purpose for shooting.

cr8ingwaves

This has been very informative. I normally shoot wrestling and football. Never played softball/baseball, so some of this was not so obvious to me. Really appreciate everyone's time.