I suggest one of the big issues with the night photos is they look to be heavily cropped. You also need to get exposure correct for the FACES of the players. As Randy mentioned, flash is preferable for that (external flash, not the built-in flash). You've got some nice action in some of these, but the over-cropping and the lack of visible faces really hurts these.
Thank you all for the comments and constructive criticism. I am a senior in high school, so I don't have access to all of the equipment that you have suggested. This year I have been shooting with a Canon Rebel T3i and for most pictures a Canon 70-200mm lens. The others have still been shot with the same camera but using a Tamron lens that has been hard to get used to. This was also my first experience using Lightroom, so I wasn't exactly sure how to use it.
you don't need to buy new equipment to solve the 'over cropping' problem - you just need to be more selective in your shots and shoot at max focal length. Here's a good rule of thumb for night football:
if the subject is not filling 3/4 of the vertical portion of the frame IN CAMERA then they're too far away or you're not zoomed in enough. If you're already at 200mm and they don't fill up that much of the frame then they're just too far away.
There is a natural tendency when you start sports shooting to want to make a photo of ALL the action. That's a frustrating way to do things. What you want to do is put yourself in a good location to increase the odds of getting a good photo. But then be cognizent of the range of your lens - watch for action taking place inside that range and don't worry about the action outside the reach of the lens you're using.
I have been using the schools equipment. I have been looking to buy some of my own gear. (any suggestions?) There is another game on Friday, I will try your suggestions and post some more pics from the game. I usually shoot at 3200 ISO and 1/500th or 1/640th.
You're going to have to spend a lot of money to get better equipment than canon 70-200 2.8 and T3i camera. My advice is: use the free gear as long as you can and just keep saving money. Only buy your own gear when you don't have free gear anymore. For example, if you want more reach, the next option in the lens world is a sigma 120-300 2.8. You could buy a non-OS version used but you take risks. The new OS version is $3200.
The canon 70-200 2.8 (non IS) is $1400
Want a better body? The 60d will be slightly better - $900 body only
A 7d will be a big step up - but that's $1500 for body only.
So, unless you have about $4000 or more to spend you're not going to see big improvements. So put off buying gear if you can - there will always be something better down the road, so save your money - that way you buy the latest and greatest you can afford at that time rather than having to buy gear about the same as what you're using now.
My son who is also a senior shoots a 50D and a 70-200 2.8 non IS. I think if you be patient and stay 20 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage and wait for your shot, you will be just fine. Here is one of his shots
Comments
Day shots are better...
Another issue with the night shots is they are a little dark.. maybe 1/2 stop underexposed or so...
go here for a write up i did: http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=313401
Randy
http://www.CarolinaSportsPhotography.com/
Thanks again
if the subject is not filling 3/4 of the vertical portion of the frame IN CAMERA then they're too far away or you're not zoomed in enough. If you're already at 200mm and they don't fill up that much of the frame then they're just too far away.
There is a natural tendency when you start sports shooting to want to make a photo of ALL the action. That's a frustrating way to do things. What you want to do is put yourself in a good location to increase the odds of getting a good photo. But then be cognizent of the range of your lens - watch for action taking place inside that range and don't worry about the action outside the reach of the lens you're using.
Thanks
The canon 70-200 2.8 (non IS) is $1400
Want a better body? The 60d will be slightly better - $900 body only
A 7d will be a big step up - but that's $1500 for body only.
So, unless you have about $4000 or more to spend you're not going to see big improvements. So put off buying gear if you can - there will always be something better down the road, so save your money - that way you buy the latest and greatest you can afford at that time rather than having to buy gear about the same as what you're using now.
Thanks again for all the help.
On another note, these are for my high school's yearbook if that at all explains some of the cropping decisions I made.
http://www.youatplay.com