Track is hard. (longish post)

DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
edited April 24, 2006 in Sports
Hard to run, hard to shoot.

C&C always welcome.

It was only a half day, since my daughter pulled a muscle.

Here she is jumping before it got pulled:

[EDIT: click on pics for EXIF]

65752865-M.jpg]



These kids really gave their best.
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65750454-M.jpg


And it took a lot of concentration
65747587-M.jpg


The hand-off
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But sometimes it didn't look so good...

65746463-M.jpg

65746592-M.jpg


I kept losing the feet when I didn't have to...
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And backgrounds were a major challenge
65752404-M.jpg


But I worked around it...
65747820-M.jpg


P.S. This is my first sports post! I need a longer lens, but then the challenges just increase, no?
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Comments

  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Ohhhhhh You Did Good David
    DavidTO wrote:
    Hard to run, hard to shoot.

    C&C always welcome.

    It was only a half day, since my daughter pulled a muscle.

    Here she is jumping before it got pulled:
    These kids really gave their best.
    And it took a lot of concentration
    The hand-off
    But sometimes it didn't look so good...
    I kept losing the feet when I didn't have to...
    And backgrounds were a major challenge
    But I worked around it...
    P.S. This is my first sports post! I need a longer lens, but then the challenges just increase, no?

    Wow you did pretty darn good there mate thumb.gif
    Captured some great expressions on the kids faces, and of your daughters jump as well.

    Overall you got some good stuff David good for you clap.gifclap.gif
    Second Last Picture...Child in the Middle...Look At That Face I Love it iloveyou.gif
    You can almost hear what he might be thinking rolleyes1.gif
    Skippy (Australia)
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • juliejulesjuliejules Registered Users Posts: 163 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    I'll shooting my first Middle School track meet tomorrow, although it might rain. Your shots look good. I can see what you mean about backgrounds. What lens were you using?
    --juliejules
    http://www.juliejules.com
    Canon 70D, Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS, Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L, Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM, Canon Ext 1.4x II, SpeedLite 430EX
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    juliejules wrote:
    I'll shooting my first Middle School track meet tomorrow, although it might rain. Your shots look good. I can see what you mean about backgrounds. What lens were you using?


    I used my 70-200 f4L. Love that lens, although sometimes I was wishing I had more reach. Most shots, and I think all the ones posted here were f4. The shutterspeeds were generally over 1600. Maybe I'll go back and post EXIFs.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    I went back and edited, now you can click on the pics for EXIF.

    And I wanted to add this shot:

    65746758-M.jpg
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Thanks for commenting, Skippy! It was really fun. My daughter did track a few years ago, but back then all I had was my Oly 3030, and shooting wasn't that much fun. Track meets are all-day events, and my daughter would rather spend time with her friends...so now I've got a great way to keep busy and have fun!
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  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Excellent stuff for a first time, David!

    My favs are:


    For isolation of subject in key moment of action (though the processing looks very contrasty to me.)

    65752865-Th.jpg%5D


    For depth of field use (but I'd crop the heck out of this, lots of empty space.)

    65747587-Th.jpg


    For storytelling (and I'd give this one a nice crop, too.)

    65747820-Th.jpg
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    wxwax wrote:
    Excellent stuff for a first time, David!
    ...((snip))...

    (though the processing looks very contrasty to me.)


    Thanks for the comments!

    Funny, my RAW output looked a little flat to me, so I upped the contrast with an S curve. I still kind of like it like that. But maybe I went too far.

    That first shot of my daughter high jumping was cropped, so it makes sense that you would groove on the isolation. You're right about the others, my 200mm lens needs help!
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  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    David,
    I like it! Great work! Stunningly sharp action!

    I quess the same weather that gave me a lot of fog in the mountains provided you at with a high quality portait soft light.

    I'm kinda envy: for some reason none of my kids is involved in any daytime outdoor activities (except for my youngest lately getting her feet wet in the airsoft, but then other issues come - like how to spot a camo-ed person who's trying to stay under cover - AND do not give up his position at the same time). so all I have to shoot is a nocturnal or indoor event, where the lighting is abismal..ne_nau.gif Oh well, maybe next time I'll join you. mwink.gif

    Cheers!1drink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Nikolai wrote:
    I like it! Great work! Stunningly sharp action!

    I quess the same weather that gave me a lot of fog in the mountains provided you at with a high quality portait soft light.

    I'm kinda envy: for some reason none of my kids is involved in any daytime outdoor activities (except for my youngest lately getting her feet wet in the airsoft, but then other issues come - like how to spot a camo-ed person who's trying to stay under cover - AND do not give up his position at the same time). so all I have to shoot is a nocturnal or indoor event, where the lighting is abismal..ne_nau.gif Oh well, maybe next time I'll join you. mwink.gif

    Cheers!1drink.gif


    It's coming up this saturday!
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  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Cool!
    DavidTO wrote:
    It's coming up this saturday!
    Let's get in touch Friday night..thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • photocatphotocat Registered Users Posts: 1,334 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    I love the shots of the faces David... The faces tell their story. Interesting to look at. I am normally not a big fan of sport pics but those really kept me looking! Well done I would say...
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  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    You did good. I like the DOF on the last shot. The leader looks like
    she a mile ahead of the others. Good job.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    davev wrote:
    You did good. I like the DOF on the last shot. The leader looks like
    she a mile ahead of the others. Good job.


    She was. It was the 4x100 relay, and that one team had the speed and the hand-offs down.

    Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment. I'm really looking forward to going back and shooting more. I may even start shooting sports that I've not got a child in...just show up and start shooting!
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  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    That might be a problem...
    DavidTO wrote:
    I'm really looking forward to going back and shooting more. I may even start shooting sports that I've not got a child in...just show up and start shooting!

    Why do you think I'm asking your permission to join you there... People are totally suspicious about guys with large lenses nowadays, especially with the kids around :cry

    Last summer my youngest was trying for volleyball, and, man, lemme tell ya: there was not a single outing that I was not approached by one or more person and asked if my kid was in there..
    High school events are usually a bit better, but still, if you wanna get on the field (shooting from bleachers is ok, but 70-200 may not be enough, especially at night) you simply must have some "connections" - or be a con-artist..ne_nau.gif

    Of course YMMV, but just mark my words: "show up and start shooting" approach may not always work well these days, and may get you in trouble.. One time I had to format my memory card only to get some angry parents off my back..rolleyes1.gif

    My 0.000002 of the f/stop
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Not a single question. Sure, some of the other parents knew me, but there were over 200 kids competing that day. Plenty of strangers to me there.
    Nikolai wrote:
    Why do you think I'm asking your permission to join you there... People are totally suspicious about guys with large lenses nowadays, especially with the kids around :cry
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  • USAIRUSAIR Registered Users Posts: 2,646 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    They all look excellent to me
    Shot with AI servo ? I havent used that yet
    Just wondering how that worked

    Thanks
    Fred
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  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    wxwax wrote:
    Excellent stuff for a first time, David!

    My favs are:


    For isolation of subject in key moment of action (though the processing looks very contrasty to me.)

    65752865-Th.jpg%5D

    Methinks you might need an eye or monitor adjustment - looks super, too me!

    David - well done thumb.gif
    Andy

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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    USAIR wrote:
    They all look excellent to me
    Shot with AI servo ? I havent used that yet
    Just wondering how that worked

    Thanks
    Fred


    Some were. The high jump was prefocused. The hurdles usually were prefocused as well.

    The AI Servo worked OK. I imagine that on a better camera it'd work better. I had some fantastic shots...that were hopelessly OOF. If you're careful and work with it, it's pretty good. But track moves quickly, and all of a sudden you might realize the drama is over there, swing the camera, and lose it because the focus isn't fast enough.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Andy wrote:
    Methinks you might need an eye or monitor adjustment - looks super, too me!

    David - well done thumb.gif


    Thanks, Andy.

    Hey, Sid....that Huey's gotten great reviews!


    :D
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  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited April 23, 2006
    Andy wrote:
    Methinks you might need an eye or monitor adjustment - looks super, to me!

    Cheap shot! :fu
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • mereimagemereimage Registered Users Posts: 448 Major grins
    edited April 24, 2006
    I think you did a great job
    Excellent action and expressive faces does show how hard these kids were competing......Mereimage
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