Girls Varsity Lacrosse

LINYBIMMER

Hi all, my first post on DGrin. Three Lacrosse shots from my daughters first lacrosse game of the season:

1.

DSC03649 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

2.

DSC03626 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

3.

DSC03595 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Jim

Icebear

Y'all get to play (and shoot) in DAYLIGHT!?!?!
PS: Welcome to the asylum!

LINYBIMMER

Thanks Icebear - Yes, here on the Island, all the games are typically during the day. Makes it easier when you can select an ISO of 200, F/4 and 1/800 - 1/1250 SS.

wmstumme

jhefti

Overall these look quite nice. I might suggest that you shoot from an angle that does not have a lot of background clutter. For example, #1 would look much better if there were not people and bleachers in the background. This is hard to do--sometimes impossible--but it will really make the subject of the photo stand out much better.

LINYBIMMER

jhefti wrote: »

Overall these look quite nice. I might suggest that you shoot from an angle that does not have a lot of background clutter. For example, #1 would look much better if there were not people and bleachers in the background. This is hard to do--sometimes impossible--but it will really make the subject of the photo stand out much better.

Thanks John, you're absolutely right. Composition is my weakest skill set when it comes to sports. It's foremost now, and I have a game I'm shooting this afternoon, so I'll hope to improve.

Jacobovs

Nice set. Love #2 !

phatman

Liny,
very nice set. the background thing, you will find, is just a positioning thing.
show some more!
thanks for sharing.
B

LINYBIMMER

more lax shots
Thanks Phatman & Jacob,I appreciate the encouraging words. My daughters team played (and won!) yesterday. Afternoon sun at a very low angle, no clouds. Here are a few shots from the set. ISO 200, f4, 1/1000 ss

1.

DSC04225 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

2.

DSC04246 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

3.

DSC04178 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

My daughter in #1 & #3. Heading to USC next year as a defender.

jhefti

LINYBIMMER wrote: »

Thanks John, you're absolutely right. Composition is my weakest skill set when it comes to sports. It's foremost now, and I have a game I'm shooting this afternoon, so I'll hope to improve.

Just takes practice...My early sports shots had TONS of clutter! I was so enamored with the action that I didn't even notice at first.

It looks like it was overcast when you took the above shots. This makes life easier, as you can shoot from any angle. One of the pro teams that I regularly shoot requires the shooters to be on the unfavorable side of the field (i.e. shooting into the sun) for afternoon games, which is really annoying. In addition, one of the best angles (for night games anyway) has an advert for the local porta-potty in rather large letters. Really spoils a good shot!



Sometimes the total amount of clutter around the field, combined with the direction of the sun, just don't leave much choice aside from shooting with a large aperture lens and blurring out the background.

wmstumme

Congrats on USC. Good to see all the schools adding programs. Looks like Long flights to see her play from NY.

Good work--couple of comments--# 1has the best action/moment. The third girl in the back/middle is so close even with a f2.8 she's probably not going to be fading into the back ground. Just not much you can do there. However, I would have cropped closer to help remove some more of the blue container. But often there is just a pile of junk around the field no matter what you do. Last year, my daughter played a tournament at the Naval Academy--right next to the Severn river. Sound picturesque, but between the field and the water were turned over soccer goals, a chainlink fence and cars--and the backgrounds in the other directions were even worse....





#2 isn't bad, the closeness to you at the moment helps to fad the background--however they are just a touch past you and you really can't see her eyes or face in the shot (even if the goggles weren't there...)

#3 also isn't bad, but would have been better a fraction of a second later to have her arms extended more. Hard to time--sometimes, especially when starting out, might be better to shoot a burst since a cradle across the face can ruin a what in another couple miliseconds would be a great shot. Also, was this shot during warmups? (I ask because the girl in the background is running in the other direction.) Warmups can be great to get good close shots of all the players on the team, but you just have to really think about the setup so that your not getting things (such as extra balls, equipment or girls standing around) in the shot which would give it away as non-game action.

Final question, during the game, where are positioning yourself?

Look forward to seeing more

LINYBIMMER

Thanks Will. The 3rd shot was during the game. Since my daughter plays low D, one of the middies had to go back on defense since she got the ground ball and the green light to run it up the field. It's funny to see her on offense - I'm not used to seeing her in offensive posture. I think the coaches are trying to help her out for next year by getting her comfortable all over the field.

I stationed myself between the endline and the forty yardline with the sun at my back. I've been taking pictures for all my daughters HS teams since 8th grade (she's played varsity Lax/BBall and Volleyball since), so the coachs know I'm quiet, I don't interfere and they end up with some decent pictures for everyone. No pro's cover the games for the team, so I'm not taking a job away from anybody, and when the local papers or TV stations come by I help them with player identification and backgrounds so I feel like a benefit rather than a pain in the neck parent.

wmstumme

Except for during a draw when I might try something else, I generally stay close on the sideline to being even with the goal and wandering behind endline, generally out near the 12 meter arc. Behind the endline, I try and stay at least about 10 feet away from the endline--and that generally keeps the ref's from getting upset. I also stay quiet--actually that's why I got into photography; I liked the (relative) peace and quiet away from the "pain in the neck parents."

I tend not get too near midfield (generally not past the restraining line), as I just don't find I get much worthwhile from there. However, there are exceptions to everything.

jhefti

wmstumme wrote: »

I also stay quiet--actually that's why I got into photography; I liked the (relative) peace and quiet away from the "pain in the neck parents."

Amen to that!! My daughter plays soccer (U15) and we've actually had several instances of parents being told to leave the field by the ref! One parent was told twice, at different games and by different refs. I like the quiet focus of shooting the game, and not hearing every parent's analysis of what the coach and players are doing wrong.

LINYBIMMER

Another cold, rainy March lacrosse game on Long Island. I've listened hard to you guys and here are my next few attempts.

1.

DSC04423 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

2.

DSC04404 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

3.

DSC04399 by jimkerr1961, on Flickr

And, I'm the worst Dad (and photographer) on the planet. My daughter, a defender, came over with a ground ball and scored a goal. Me? I was directly behing the goal and didn't catch the shot. I'm sad!

Icebear

I've never had much luck being right behind the goal. Always too many players between my viewpoint and the ball.
I like the first two of the last set you posted.

wmstumme

From behind the goal can work--but there is a lot of stuff that can get in the way. Basically, you'll just have to get lucky that the angles work out...





What I like about being over near the endline is the offense will be coming directly at you.

LINYBIMMER

Great stuff! Next Wednesday will be my next opportunity to shoot Lacrosse. I'm planning to plant myself at the endline and see what happens on both sides of the ball. Thanks for all the kind words guys.

jhefti

I like the first two a lot. The third one has real potential but perhaps could use a different crop to limit the dead space on the left. Maybe a simple 3/2 aspect ratio on the two main players??