Daytime playoff football

[fidgety]

An assignment to shoot football during the day. Yoohoo!! Used my Canon 1D MarkIIN with a Canon 300 2.8L and Canon 1.4TC. Used various ISOs ranging from 320 to 640, aperture priority of 4.0 and auto white balance as the sun kept popping in and out through the clouds. Very cold and windy out but love shooting in the daytime.

[mckee80]

Wow. I guess good glass makes a big difference. Those are crazy sharp. Do you stay in the same spot, or do you move up and down the field with the ball? What angle to the ball do you get your best pictures (for example, behind the defense, 20 yards from the ball)? I find myself unsure of where to set up sometimes.

[LightBright]

"Very cold and windy out but love shooting in the daytime."

Very nice crisp shots. Same here I love shooting in day light. Night time stadium light makes things so dull. Great job!

[fidgety]

Wow. I guess good glass makes a big difference. Those are crazy sharp. Do you stay in the same spot, or do you move up and down the field with the ball? What angle to the ball do you get your best pictures (for example, behind the defense, 20 yards from the ball)? I find myself unsure of where to set up sometimes.

It depends on the assignment I get but normally I start with my "safety" shots - getting the QB fading back, QB handing off to a running back, running back running wide, etc. This way I get a number of shots to use if the game turns out to be a bust. I then generally get about 20 yards down field and look to get a shot of a running back breaking through the offensive line. From this position I also look for receivers going down field and catching a pass (and hopefully getting it over the shoulder I need so I can see their face). Once a team crosses midfield I like to stand in the corner of the end zone or near the goal posts in the back of the end zone. From this position I can use the 300 with the 1.4TC to get shots of the plays coming at me and if I'm in the corner of the end zone I can get the entire end zone in view. If the team gets close enough I can put down the 300 and use a 70-200 2.8L I have on another body to get end zone plays. Of course, do what works for you and think like a coach as that can help.

[Shebang]

I took some photos of my grandson's game -- I had fun, but mine are nothing like this -- these are fabulous.

[Old Timer]

Outstanding as usual Chris. I always get a kick out of your post. Your images have a little extra pop that so many others don't.

[fidgety]

Outstanding as usual Chris. I always get a kick out of your post. Your images have a little extra pop that so many others don't.

Thanks much. When I first started shooting sports I found I had a bit of a camera shake problem so now I work very hard on keeping everything still.

I get to shoot football this upcoming Saturday afternoon again so I'm a happy human.

[AnthonyH]

Played in several Illinois high school playoff games myself.