Baseball - where do you shoot from?

[steelerdirtfreak]

I've never shot a baseball game, but a couple parents from church have asked me to cover their kids youth league games and do a photo package for them.

So where would I shoot from? And is there any basic information I need to know about shooting baseball?

Thanks for any advice!

[swmdrayfan]

I've never shot a baseball game, but a couple parents from church have asked me to cover their kids youth league games and do a photo package for them.

So where would I shoot from? And is there any basic information I need to know about shooting baseball?

Thanks for any advice!

1. What kind of youth league? T-Ball? Little League? If it's one of those two, you're not going to have to worry too much about the speed of the game, as some of the plays will take a little time to develop. Your shutter speeds won't have to be high.

2. How close will you be to the action? Some of the youth league fields keep you pretty close, so a good 70-300mm will be more than enough.

3. You can pretty much pick your spots. That is, where you choose to shoot from. You can get good home plate shots from near first or third base, depending on whether or not the hitter is left handed or right handed.

4. If you're shooting T-Ball or Little League, weird things can happen, so pay attention.

Hope this helps.
John

[JSPhoto]

As John said but:
#4: Goes for ANY baseball

Look through the forums and see what others have done photo wise in baseball and you'll get some ideas. I normally shoot from the theird base or 1st base side, whichever gives the best light , of course it depends on which way the kids bat as you don't want to shoot from behind them.

JS

[Ultra Magnus]

It also depends a lot on the field. I've been shooting my neices softball games, and different schools and differnt fences and places to shoot from. Normally, I get at the end of the fence by first base, but one field we were at had the fence running all the way past the outfield, but there was an openning at the backstop, so that offered a great angle of the pitcher. One feild had pretty low fences that I could easily shoot over. Just be careful, an overthrown or fly ball could end up hititng you and your camera. When looking through the viewfinder, you may not see everything going on and putting you at risk.

BM

edit: 200mm isn't really long enough. My camera goes to 200mm equiv. and there's a lot of shots I can't get.

[JSPhoto]

I guess I forget I get more access than parents can as I shoot for news papers and go pretty much anywhere I want. Most umpires know me so that helps too. I have almost been hit by line drive fouls on a number of occasions.

Parents have a tough time in our county. They have to shoot through the fence, which surrounds the entire field. One school has most of the fence covered by plastic which really cuts them off!

Well I am off now, I have to go shoot some present and former athletes as they head off to the prom

JS

[masdog]

I haven't shot much baseball or softball, and when I do shoot it, I find it very frustratring. The college's fields are completely surrounded by fences that don't have any gaps in them.

The softball fences are pretty low, so I figure I can get over them with a step ladder. I'm gonna try to track one down for this week so I can use it at the next game I am scheduled to be at. There is also a bence behind the center field fence that I can use to get pictures of the hitters.

I don't know about the baseball fence.

[Homer]

My suggestion is what has been working for me. But let me break it down a little bit. There are the basic three people / groups that will hire you to shoot baseball / softball. They are the parent, coach or team, and the league. On the most part you'll more then deal with a parent who wants some pictures of their child playing. My suggestion is have the parent introduce you to the coach and get the coaches permission to stand on the field, just past the dugout, which will be around first or third base. Now once you got it worked out with the coach go introduce yourself to the umpire and let them know that you were hired by a parent to photograph their child. Make sure they understand that you have the approval of the coach and where you will be standing. I've never had a problem with an umpire allowing me on the field by the dugout. Now mind you this is for little league and not college. Either way give it a try.

Jim

[masdog]

While thats a nice idea, it won't work for college sports. They will not let you inside the fences for several reasons. Anything inside the fences is part of the playing surface, and non-participants aren't allowed. There is also safety issues (its not like Little League where an over-thrown ball won't have much velocity behind it).

[Homer]

Well masdog that's what I thought and it make sence but steelerdirtfreak did mention kids youth league games and I think it will work just fine.

Jim