Non League Football

skiking

skiking

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Hired a Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens and thought I'd have a go at attempting to photograph a football match so I went along to Salford City FC. Not done any football for a couple of years (only took pictures of my sons team) and never used a lens so big or heavy. Look forward to your comments - constructive ones.

1.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122455997/m%3D900/37ba6817571985424f45528d6ef59198[/img]

2.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122455995/m%3D900/cd4f206ffb45998722f7d034d4eb3e64[/img]

3.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122455993/m%3D900/4124b4d1e15802604d0215218a31c98d[/img]

4.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122462467/m%3D900/065c1e4972f05126081f1911f47a0f5f[/img]

5.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122462465/m%3D900/ce55626bea9390eef4b59a3f297f3698[/img]

6.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122462463/m%3D900/38d4ae22207760c02fac3fa0de5a9327[/img]

7.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122462461/m%3D900/0ceddd944e3715869d71a75cd2b144e7[/img]

8.
[img=]https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/122462459/m%3D900/7b60ef9a9718c04023e0848f0261479f[/img]

Thanks for looking.
 
Hmmm, photo's appear on the web site but on the Android app it only shows the URL link....what have I done wrong?
 
Decent set of images. No.3 for me, the other's are pretty standard action shots. Nice exposure and focus, although no.7 seems to have picked out the lad with his eyes close,
and drifted away from the two tussling for the ball.
Good range with the Sigma was it?
 
I'm sure the footballers will appreciate the photos! Everyone loves an action shot of themselves!
The only constructive criticism i'd say is that you're too close or cropped. You lose the perspective of the rest of the game when you aim on just a couple of guys, Unless they're celebrating a goal or something. But then why use a 600mm if you dont want to see up nostrils! :)
I do not shoot sports photography so it's more of a general observation when comparing to what I see in print!
 
Nice set, No1 could do with more head room in the crop, imho. Parked cars in the background, although can't always be avoided, are distracting.
No 1, 5 & 8 for me, contact between the players and ball in play.
 
As pictures, I like them. I was expecting a tackle, the joy after a goal or the disappointment after a miss... Did they not score any goals in this game ?!
 
Decent set, I'd be happy with them. Nice and sharp and don't see any issue with cropping in tight. There are plenty of folks on Flickr who photo Evo-Stik leagues, worth having a nosey around at what's out there, both good & bad. ;-)
 
Many thanks for the responses.

Cropping; Hmmm! I've read with interest some of the pro sports toggers on here commenting on bits of bodies being left in the shot which is why I've cropped, basically to focus on the action. It got me thinking about what you see in newspapers (I've not bought one in years) but I looked at the on-line versions and they generally keep it tight. I agree about #1 being too tight at the top and the reason I did crop so tight was that there was a bright skylight in a house in the background just above his head.

I get the comments about the background but unless you are at a top flight game then that is what you have to expect. I deliberately positioned myself where I was mainly shooting towards the only stand they had. The other side was a rather ugly grassy bank plus Gary Neville watching on :eek:. I was shooting as wide open as I could with the lens to try and throw the focus of the background out - mind you, I did sometimes manage to get the background in complete focus and not the players. Talking of the lens (Sigma 150-600mm Sport which I'd hired for a little play), it was a beast! Bloody heavy and I was glad I used a monopod. What did take time to get used to was 'finding' the subject at its longest end with it having such a narrow field of view. It had great reach though; I could view the other end of the pitch without the players being specs in the distance.

Well spotted Peanut about #7. I couldn't work out whether the players in the foreground were slightly out of focus but now its been highlighted then it obvious - should have gone to Specsavers.:oops: :$

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to comment.:ty:
 
Hi. I think they are a pretty good set. The only thing that I dislike about a 100-600mm is the max f/number of f/5-f/6.3, as evidenced by the lack of blur in the backgrounds. My experience has been that you can't cover the whole pitch. Choose your priority, shoot what is within reach. Get a wider aperture lens, shooting what is nearer to you will blur the distant background. Crop to the action, and although the odd wider shot can enhance a set, the close-in action is by far the best. #1, #5 and #8 for me.
 
For your first shoot with a longer lens these are very good IMO; you've certainly done well to get the ball and players in frame and focus. Keep working at it :)
 
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