Bragging time from a proud Dad.

[johndec]

Today was my son Matthew's first game of footy for the mighty Brighton Seagulls Under 6's. Cut them to pieces he did Scored 3 tries and saved a couple more with his cover defence. Not a bad debut.

[losfp]

Great pics - nice and sharp. Really got that determined look about him Also judging by the first photo, he is about 2 feet taller than the other kids, is that why he tore 'em up?? j/k!

The only suggestion I could offer is that he seems to not have any feet? Both photos are cut off at the ankles

You didn't have any trouble taking photos of the kids? Just that you keep hearing that parents aren't allowed to photograph their kids' events anymore.....

[wendellt]

the first one is really col , the amount of action and drama in that 1 shot you have compressed nicely
it's probably the most appealing rugby leage shot i have seen

excellent work
your work is darn sharp as well

[johndec]

Thanks Des. He's a big kid, but wasn't the biggest in either team. It just looks that way in the first pic as he is actually a few metres closer to the camera.

As far as the missing feet goes, sports photography, even at U6 level is not as easy as it looks. You are constantly panning and that isn't easy in landscape mode, let alone portrait. Hence something has to give if you want to get drama via facial expressions,etc, and it usually the extraneous bits like feet. Todays Sun-Herald has 7 rugby league actions shots and you can't see the feet in any of them.

No complaints about me taking photos. If you present yourself properly (club shirt, professional looking gear such as a D70 and an 80-200 and in plain view on the sideline) nobody bats an eyelid.. If I was standing behind a tree with a P&S, well that would be different...

[rokkstar]

Great pics John - real keepers.

I love the look on his face in the second - "That ball is mine and you are going down GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR "

[jben_net]

These pics are great. The drama of the childrens faces are what make it. As far as cropping goes I prefer tight crops like these..... The colours are working well and the sense of action is fantastic.

[johndec]

One more with (some) feet

[rookie2]

great pics showing kids determination..and enjoyment

what lens and more importantly what settings inc ISO ..looks like a reasonably bright day. AF-C or prefocesed with Af-S?

how much PP involved in getting these quality finishes.

the sharpness is what I am trying to get in my sports pics but
I'm a long way off...and I dont blame my 70 - 300 ED.

cheers
R2

[Zeeke]

Brilliant Photos there John, what more could you ask for, you got your sons first game on "film" and they are better then your average joe photos... and you have a story to go with them, deffinantly worth printing and framing atleast one of them so when he becomes pro you can go "thats my boy! and thats his first game!"

Tim

[johndec]

great pics showing kids determination..and enjoyment

what lens and more importantly what settings inc ISO ..looks like a reasonably bright day. AF-C or prefocesed with Af-S?

how much PP involved in getting these quality finishes.

the sharpness is what I am trying to get in my sports pics but
I'm a long way off...and I dont blame my 70 - 300 ED.

cheers
R2

The EXIF info is intact (download a program like Opanda to view it). But a brief rundown:

Shot with my 80-200 f2.8 which is a magic lens. It's the old push-pull model which can be picked up fairly cheaply. I actually prefer the push-pull for sports as it very quick and easy to zoom in and out and the image quality is on par with the 70-200VR.

Mostly shot at f5.6 (2 stops down) for sharpness and still good speed. I usually use f6.3 or f8 for a little more DOF with so much available light, but I wasn't paying attention.. Shutter speeds were around 1/640 to 1/1000s. I always use AF-C so that you can pan/track then shoot with a reasonable chance of good focus. Minimal PP, levels and EV were pretty good out of the camera so just pick the best tone compensation, a curve tweak and a play with shadow/highlights (my cure all PS tool ).

Hope this helps.

[beetleboy]

I made the mistake of showing these to my partner..she already wanted kids but now she's Super-Clucky!

You've got a cute lil (figuratively speaking!) fella there. Can't believe he looks like such a pro already in the U6 team!

Fantastic photo - if I was a parent and you'd taken shot's like this of my kid, i'd buy them.....LOTS of them! Oh hang on, isn't that illegal now or something?!

Liam =]

[Alpha_7]

John some great shots, and your pride is well warranted sounds like you have a star performer on your hands, and shots like this will be priceless memories for him (and his own kids).

(Just quietly did you have any issues taking shots from other parents or others at the event ?)

[Steffen]

The only suggestion I could offer is that he seems to not have any feet? Both photos are cut off at the ankles

Hehe, you know, it's called "footy" but feet don't really play that much of a role...

(I just realised how unwise it is to make a remark like this in an Aussie dominated forum But I guess I have to come clean about my German heritage sooner or later anyway...)

Cheers
Steffen.

[johndec]

(Just quietly did you have any issues taking shots from other parents or others at the event ?)

Craig, see my 2nd post in this thread regarding this. BTW, anyone who questions my motives for photographing my own children should make sure their health insurance is up to date before opening their mouths.

[Alpha_7]

Sorry John, your right you had already answered it. (Struggling to multi-task here, I'm watching TV and trying to catch up on 1000 odd posts )

[Geoff]

John - firstly congratulations both on your photos and your son's first footy game. Brillliant series, and as already said - tack sharp and culminating many aspects in each shot. Enjoyed them immensly. Cheers!

[psionic]

john,

I keep going back to the first shot, I certainly like this the best. The expression on the kids faces is excellent, they are all laughing at the chase, it tells a great story, it's tack sharp and colour is excellent.

I reckon with your sons performance and these series of shots as a Dad you've certainly a right to be doubly proud !

/M.

[rookie2]

john

thanks for the detailed info - as a newbie this sort of feedback is invaluable and encouraging..especially with our footy (AFL) season on the way.

I'll post a few of my efforts from this w/e - baseball and cricket and you'll see how far I have to go.

my young fella has had a bad run lately -running late on fri night I was trying to locate his baseball game when I took this one from way off as I made my way to his field (just in case he got his first hit).




ice pack and straight home

next morning....



Saturday time for his first game of cricket for new school (anyone from adelaide will know the weather we have had this year ..one week too hot , next week under water..finally he got his first bat and bowl...




but too many of these resulted in a big loss



I know these are very basic shots with a lot of distracting background but I find it difficult to get too close to the action comfortably especially when in a new school & environment. this should improve over time. Ive just downloaded some stuff from fred miranda that looks really useful.

the main thing for me is it is good fun and very challenging - my muddled brain (too many concussions from footy) has trouble putting everything into order when taking pics so i invariably fail to get all the important elements together at same time.

CC always welcome.

thanks R2

all pics have had some sharpening and cropping using picasa only

[Glen]

Johndec, great action shots of your son, worth the practice, congrats on yours sons debut.

Rookie, your timing seems just perfect from the first shot, lets hope it runs in the family for your sons next game

[rookie2]

johndec

Shot with my 80-200 f2.8 which is a magic lens. It's the old push-pull model which can be picked up fairly cheaply

is this the AF 80 -200 f2.8 D ED with the collar - birddog sells for around $1300 new.

'fairly cheaply' = less than $1k??

AF-S and ED -IF versions too - what about them?

Ilke the sound of the older style - using manual focus a lot with my 70 - 300 ED and while not great shots still better than full auto.

thanks for any feedback

[johndec]

Hi Rookie, it is this one made in the mid 90s' :

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/reviews/nikkor80200.htm

Mint examples usually go for around $800.00