Youth LAX from the past weekend...C&C welcomed

northcoastnorthcoast Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
edited June 4, 2011 in Sports
The weather has been terrible this spring and the LAX season is now at an end. This was our first year of LAX and despite the limited practice and some cancelled games we had a blast. It is a great sport! Here are some pics from the weekend. We played two games back-to-back and I took a lot of pics. Some are even keepers... ;) C&C is always welcome.

1)
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2)
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3) This is from the second game and it was getting ready to storm again! ;)
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Comments

  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 27, 2011
    #3 is obviously special. Your low pescpective on the first two is a really good idea. Much harder to pan with the action from down there, but the shots you get of the little kids are much better.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • termina3termina3 Registered Users Posts: 158 Major grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    #3 is exceptional because you've captured red jersey's face in a big way--nice work. Good perspective, good timing. Did he score?

    Note how much closer the crop is on #3. This is the primary reason #s 1 and 2 won't sell like #3 will. There's no subject, and I can't see anyone's face. Just a bunch of little guys laxin' it up--nothing special. Pull in the crop to isolate one or two players (maybe even three), and you'll have an image of someone (not something).
    Please don't mistake my blunt, pointed posts as my being "angry," "short," or "rude."

    I'm generally happy, tall, and fuzzy on the inside.www.NickensPhotography.com
  • northcoastnorthcoast Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
    edited May 30, 2011
    termina3 wrote: »
    #3 is exceptional because you've captured red jersey's face in a big way--nice work. Good perspective, good timing. Did he score?

    Note how much closer the crop is on #3. This is the primary reason #s 1 and 2 won't sell like #3 will. There's no subject, and I can't see anyone's face. Just a bunch of little guys laxin' it up--nothing special. Pull in the crop to isolate one or two players (maybe even three), and you'll have an image of someone (not something).

    Yes, he did score. BTW - my son won the faceoff and got the assist to Max (at attack).

    So would this work better?

    1) This is my son passing to Max after another face-off...
    i-XFWBKqS-XL.jpg

    2) And Max making another goal...

    i-gDJbVQs-L.jpg

    I do appreciate the feedback.
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  • miketheridermiketherider Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited May 31, 2011
    Cool shots. And, great shot placement by your son! (inner coach coming out.) Great to see new faces in the sport.
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    HA! The poor 'keeper has his eyes clenched closed. rolleyes1.gif
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • miketheridermiketherider Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited May 31, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    HA! The poor 'keeper has his eyes clenched closed. rolleyes1.gif

    Haha, yes. Fatal mistake for keepers! Find the seam of the ball and follow it in!
  • northcoastnorthcoast Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
    edited May 31, 2011
    miketherider wrote: »
    Haha, yes. Fatal mistake for keepers! Find the seam of the ball and follow it in!

    Here are some others:

    4) Nice defensive poke-check...
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    5) A different perspective...
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    6) And then there is this guy. I get the backs of heads and he has all the action looking towards him. He's just not shooting!

    P5226603-copy-L.jpg
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  • VitaminVVitaminV Registered Users Posts: 58 Big grins
    edited June 1, 2011
    This, and your #3 at the top, is why I spend more time behind the goal than off to the sides. You spend time blowing dust off your lens filter when the ball is down the other end, but when it comes your way you get the best chance at catching faces as part of the action. I guess that's an advantage when shooting little guys and girls, the refs will let you stand back there. With the big guys you put your life on the line.
    -MikeV-

    http://www.vitaminv.smugmug.com
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2011
    Nice job getting low. That is one of the biggest things separating the parents-with-cameras from real photographers. The only other things to say, as others have said, are faces, faces, faces.
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • northcoastnorthcoast Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
    edited June 3, 2011
    jmphotocraft wrote: »
    Nice job getting low. That is one of the biggest things separating the parents-with-cameras from real photographers. The only other things to say, as others have said, are faces, faces, faces.

    Thank you. I try to get low with LAX and sit on the ground most of the time. Since a lot of the game is looking down at this age that is the only way of getting more faces and less helmet.

    I still have an issue with not shooting tight enough. I also don't crop too tight in post processing. I still find myself wanting to preserve a sceen and not presenting a subject. Part of me wants to include all of the possible kids so that no single kid get left out. I had/have the same problem with hockey. The irony is that I know that some of my best shots are of a single child (or two) that present some type of captured emotion or expression.

    I watch the action through the camera and that causes me to keep the lens wider than is possible. There are times when I edit files and look at the EXIF data while thinking "Why didn't I zoom in closer?" I have a 50-200mm and I took the shot at something like 72mm.

    I am open to any other suggestions that would help me get to another level. Until then I'll keep shooting and looking at others work for insiration and ideas. I know what I like when I see it in others work; and, it's a matter of identifying what "it" is when I am behind the camera.
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  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2011
    northcoast wrote: »
    I watch the action through the camera and that causes me to keep the lens wider than is possible. There are times when I edit files and look at the EXIF data while thinking "Why didn't I zoom in closer?" I have a 50-200mm and I took the shot at something like 72mm.

    I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear. You MUST decide whether you're at the game as a fan or a photographer. If you're there as a fan, be happy with your snapshots. If you decide you're there as a photographer, nothing you do: no techinque, positioning, equipment, settings, nada: will have as much beneficial effect on your photography as making that decision.

    You can enjoy one or the other. Trying to be both an involved fan and critical photographer reduces your enjoyment of either role.

    When my daughters were on the field I was a fan. I hated that damn viewfinder.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear. You MUST decide whether you're at the game as a fan or a photographer. If you're there as a fan, be happy with your snapshots. If you decide you're there as a photographer, nothing you do: no techinque, positioning, equipment, settings, nada: will have as much beneficial effect on your photography as making that decision.

    You can enjoy one or the other. Trying to be both an involved fan and critical photographer reduces your enjoyment or either role.

    When my daughters were on the field I was a fan. I hated that damn viewfinder.

    Agreed. Try being the coach of your son's team and the official league photographer. Your team's "picture day" is a stressful day!!
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • northcoastnorthcoast Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
    edited June 4, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear. You MUST decide whether you're at the game as a fan or a photographer. If you're there as a fan, be happy with your snapshots. If you decide you're there as a photographer, nothing you do: no techinque, positioning, equipment, settings, nada: will have as much beneficial effect on your photography as making that decision.

    You can enjoy one or the other. Trying to be both an involved fan and critical photographer reduces your enjoyment of either role.

    When my daughters were on the field I was a fan. I hated that damn viewfinder.


    Laughing.gif - I have thought as much.


    That's why I don't get too caught up in comparison race with professionals. I admire the work and will try to emulate what I like. But, I think the next level will take a me gaining a new persepctive. I guess while my kids are on the ice/field/mat I'll be a proud parent with nice snap-shots! ;) They are only this age once. If I manage to get the occassional special shot I can be a happy fan.

    I do appreciate the support of this board. It helps sometimes to get perspective from those that have been there, done that...

    :)
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