Baseball is Back

Big Red · February 28, 2011

MDalby · February 28, 2011

These shots look great! How in the world can you guys stand to shoot baseball. It has to be the most boring sport to shoot. Maybe I just don't appreciate the details of hte game.

Your shots make baseball look like it has a lot of action though. I like Shot #1 and 2

Big Red · February 28, 2011

M.Dalby. Thanks for your response. (Sorry I forgot to number them). I guess I like to shoot baseball because I love baseball. I look forward to the challenge of catching the moment. #2 is my favorite, even though that shot was taken during warm ups (Warm ups may be the only time to get some "action shots" of some problems due to some not playing regularly, the ball not being hit to them, etc.). Pitchers are the easiest since they are the busiest. I try shooting them at all different angles. Typically batters are always moving also and you can get good shots there. I delete a lot of shots if they miss the ball, foul it off, etc. This is my favorite sport to shoot.

JimKarczewski · February 28, 2011

MDalby wrote: »

These shots look great! How in the world can you guys stand to shoot baseball. It has to be the most boring sport to shoot. Maybe I just don't appreciate the details of hte game.

Your shots make baseball look like it has a lot of action though. I like Shot #1 and 2

, glad I'm not the only one. Reason to watch baseball for me is, it's a drinking game?

. I say that and I'll probably be shooting more Peewee and Little League for a lifetime this summer.

MDalby · March 1, 2011

JimKarczewski wrote: »

, glad I'm not the only one. Reason to watch baseball for me is, it's a drinking game? . I say that and I'll probably be shooting more Peewee and Little League for a lifetime this summer.

Baseball: The only sport you can play and take a nap at the same time.

attorneyjay · March 6, 2011

MDalby wrote: »

Baseball: The only sport you can play and take a nap at the same time.

ha, ha, well I guess it's all about what you like and understand the best.

Yes, baseball is slower for action photographers and I do enjoy the fast pace of basketball for pics, for example.

Baseball is my favorite sport and which I know the best so it is one of my favorites to shoot. Baseball is like a chess game interrupted by short bursts of action. To be the best baseball photographer you need to *pay attention*, think and anticipate. "Sleeping" between plays will make you lose concentration and miss good shots. The breaks in the action allow you to contemplate possible shots coming up and/or look for other interesting shots between the play action.

Part of the challenge is using the "down" time to creatively find or think about possible good shots. With every sport, I'm always looking for unusual shots to supplement the typical action shot. I usually can get funny, poignant or other interesting shots scanning the player benches, spectators, other players on the playing surface, etc. I also do "Celebrity Sightings" where I find people in the stands who have some local notoriety and do a candid of them in my gallery with "Celebrity Sighting" posted on the actual pic and an explanation in the caption. Could be a local politician, well-known alums of the school or anyone whose name and rep is interesting to my gallery viewers. You'd be amazed at the positive response I get from viewers when I have a little fun with my gallery pics instead of just posting typical action pics.

Of course, the action is priority so I don't get carried away with peripheral things, but instead of lamenting how slow the baseball action is I use all the time I'm there scanning for other photo ops. Believe me, it fills my time, makes it much more interesting for me, and increases interest in my galleries.

Jay

Baseball is Back

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