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First game of AFL i have ever seen live - first game of sport I have taken a camera in with the thought of trying to get a half decent image.

Hats off to those sports photographers..it ain't as easy at it looks. I was using the manual focus 100-300 and I don't think a AF lens would help all that much. Its not too hard to get a shot of static players etc but to nail them action shots with the guys in the air is pretty darn tricky.

Any thoughts, suggestions helpful techniques for next time?

Anyway heres a few that made the cut (and it was a big one!)

Awesome shots, carn the bloods - sounded like a good game on the radio.

I reckon you nailed 2.

4 would be better with a bit more grass under Micky O's foot.

I should take my 55-200 out and see how it goes.

Nice sharp shots Gerry. With faces & ball too. Well done.
A good auto focus lense will help enormously. It's difficult enough anticipating & following action without adding to that the need to manual focus. Capturing the competing leaps for a mark with the ball in the frame makes for some good action and the hard physical contact/competition with faces & the ball in frame is what i'd be after.

Personally, I would advise Av wide open, alter the iso accordingly to retain a min. 800/1000 shutter speed, high speed continuous AI servo focus mode, center point focus only & shoot vertically %99 of the time. Let the play come to you for a full frame & don't chase the play with a short lense.

And of course, enjoy the game at the same time.

Nice work Gerry, you have done a lot better than I have ever managed (I took my D300 and a variety of lenses to Origin I and Origin III last year as well as a RLWC match). I am not sure if it is just me but your reds and blues look oversaturated and your whites a bit blown out.....

Great work on the sharpness and framing though!

Awesome shots, carn the bloods - sounded like a good game on the radio.
I reckon you nailed 2.
4 would be better with a bit more grass under Micky O's foot.
I should take my 55-200 out and see how it goes.

yeah it was a cracking game, head to head all the way until the last 15mins. I definitely agree with the extra bit of grass under the foot - I was hoping no one notice

Nice sharp shots Gerry. With faces & ball too. Well done.

ta

A good auto focus lense will help enormously

hmm. ya reckon? I found that I was doing ok with the manual focus as long as I tried to predict where the ball was going etc. I guess if you have a lens that focus' really quick then yes it would help!

1000 shutter speed

*tick*

vertically %99 of the time

only once! you really need a grip to do this for any length of time imo! but yes I see how that would help.

And of course, enjoy the game at the same time.

lol, yes there was plenty of frantic camera juggling while clapping/booing/yelling

thanks for the tips there norwest!

reds and blues look oversaturated and your whites a bit blown out.....

hmm, maybe alittle too much contrast maybe - I will check on a different monitor tomorrow!

Great work on the sharpness

pleased to say there was only the standard downsizing sharpening on these! I am still amazed at this 100-300mm...

Fantastic shots!

Looks like you got nice and low, which really helps

I like the first and 4th shots. First one is a great action shot - Macca handballing AND getting tackled at the same time. I might crop it in a bit more tightly to focus in on the expressions a bit more, but good photo nevertheless.

I haven't taken my camera to the games for about a year - I have to juggle a toddler now, so it's not so easy to turn up early, and spent 2-3 quarters on the boundary taking photos of the reserves. My season tickets are high up in the grandstand, not a great spot for taking photos.

Looks like you had a good time Glad to hear you enjoyed it, and hope you will return for more frustrating action!!

Looks like you got nice and low

couple of rows back from the fence behind a bunch of rowdy Nth Melb supporters

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, and hope you will return for more frustrating action!!

Thanks for the comments all, I am keen to get back there, especially with a little bit of experience under my belt on it!

On a side note I did not have any issues getting in with the camera - I remember a thread some time ago about people having issues about getting in with camera gear. I had the D80 with the 28mm prime attached and the 100-300 in the bag.

aim54x wrote: your whites a bit blown out.....

Thats pretty much par for the course with a D80. On my monitor they look pretty good. I am constantly blowing highlights on my D80, really annoys me.

I am constantly blowing highlights on my D80, really annoys me.

yeah anything in mode P/Auto I find is a bit bright, I typically dial it down by default and when going manual just make sure its on the under exposed end.

When using old manual lens (like the 100-300) it does not matter since there is no metering so I got noone to blame but myself

biggerry wrote:

A good auto focus lense will help enormously

hmm. ya reckon? I found that I was doing ok with the manual focus as long as I tried to predict where the ball was going etc. I guess if you have a lens that focus' really quick then yes it would help!

Average of around 500 shots in a soccer or rugby game jerry, with about a %95 keeper rate is difficult to compete with.
Hard to manually keep up with a subject running flat out towards you, shooting continuous frame in AI servo or a subject continuously on the move that requires constant focus adjustment jerry. I'm talking about in comparison with a 70'-200L F2.8 or 400L F2.8 on a 1 series body shooting at over 8 frames a sec. The focus is instantaneous & much, much faster than the fastest manual hand & eye. Or even a D60, my first digital body, with a 100-400L F4.5-5.6 at only 3 frames a sec., was still very quick & quite accurate.

Since i moved to the bush the only sport i shoot is the local junior & senior soccer for our local little paper. Limited these days after having had enough of it in the city and getting rid of a lot of gear before i left.

I think you did fine re the highlights in spite of the reflective modern jersey & white contrasting with bright shorts or shirt colours in bright sunlight making life difficult.