Possibly a very stupid question.........

jamesward93

jamesward93

Messages
1,146
Name
James
Edit My Images
Yes
.....But i am going to ask it anyway!!

When shooting sports, particularly football, do you focus on a players face or just anywhere on the player?

Reason i ask is at the weekend i seemed to get a lot of shots with nice sharp kits but the players faces very soft and overall was very disappointed with my results from the weekend.

Any other advice on focusing that can be offered will be appreciated
 
You kinda answered the question yourself.. if shooting at f2.8 and the players are reasonably close (filing the frame) then the chances are the belly or an arm or somehting will be in focus and the face not

if shooting at distance then your ok to point at center of subject as the dof is more likely to work .. but closer and your missing the point of focus arn't you ...

On the mkIII its easy with the control set to the focus point.. just a flick of the thumb sends it up to face :)
 
when a player is runnign about its almost impossible to track his face (for me that is.. others may have perfected it) .. hence why i rareley shoot at 2.8 unless forced to with lighting conditions ... f4 is sweet and helps a lot IMHO
 
I kinda knew that was going to be the answer, but suppose i wanted hear it from some one else, just to make sure.

I have to get used to using the multi-directional control to change the focus point. I'm sure it will come in time but I'm probably a bit slow on the camera,if that makes sense. Maybe i need to ask the g/f for lessons on multi-tasking!!! :)

I do think i need to calibrate my lenses a bit too.
 
Hi James a bit slow on the comments bit so can only echo tony's comments. using the multi directional dial on the Canon is a damn sight easier than my nikons I can tell you!!. but I've got to grips with it on the maine so just keep trying!.

on another note relating this thread, I've often wondered why they havn't evolved & encorporated a pro version of the "face" recognition software as seen on point & Shoot cameras into the pro sports cameras!, anyone know why not?
 
Bluesman graham said:
on another note relating this thread, I've often wondered why they havn't evolved & encorporated a pro version of the "face" recognition software as seen on point & Shoot cameras into the pro sports cameras!, anyone know why not?
Click to expand...

I would imagine speed.. even a nano second (is there such a thing?) makes a difference.. speed of focus is all important.
 
Thanks guys, Im off to Luton v York tomorrow and i know the lights there are pretty bad, so will have to shoot at 2.8, so good practice for the thumb!!
 
Night matches.. first real rule is to fill the frame... taking pics of players way off and hope to crop in doesnt work so much at night.. although its better with the mkIII :)

I think they had a few rules at luton as to where you could take pics from .. cant remeber exactly what
 
Hi James i tend to go for the torso as its a bigger target, at f/2.8 it seems to work most of the time

Good luck with the game tomorrow. f/2.8 under lights is a must really (unless you have really good lights)

Look forward to seeing how you get on (can't be much worse than mine from the PNE ressies :lol:)

Thanks

Andy
 
I was at Luton a couple of weeks ago and they only allow you sit on the sideline opposite the 'executive boxes' and only in an area about 5 meters from the corner flag. However if its raining they do allow you to stand under a metal staircase right in the corner of the ground!! :thinking:

I will let you know when i have posted some Andy.

Tony, are you on Flickr?
 
jamesward93 said:
I was at Luton a couple of weeks ago and they only allow you sit on the sideline opposite the 'executive boxes' and
Click to expand...

I remember now and it was a blazing hot sunny day and was shooting into the very bright boxes.. not easy
.
jamesward93 said:
Tony, are you on Flickr?
Click to expand...

Never had a need for it.. dont think much of it to be honest.. i use fotopic..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top