First baseball game I have shot...

[Benguk]

Let me know what you think of these:

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[retroactiv]

Good start, important things to point out.

Faces: in a couple of your shots you show the bodies of the players and miss the faces, a lot of times the face will show the emotion of the play that is happening.

Focus: seems like quite a few of these shots are soft, allow more time for your camera to come into focus, maybe 1/2 more than you are allowing right now before pressing the shutter. Anticipate where the action is going to be and focus on the player at that spot, so you will have a better chance of getting the action in focus.

Noise: Most of the images have noise in them, this is because from the way it looks you are shooting at a high ISO, take it down a couple spots. Try 200, that is the lowest on a lot of camera.

Once you get all of that down you should have some great shots. These are a very good start, also in your next post please tell us what type of camera and lens you were using to shoot these, it would be a lot easier to point out things.

[Old Timer]

Off to a great start. Chris pointed out some things to concentrate on to improve and they were all valid observations. The one point that I would make is to open up that lens and cut down the DOF. Your back grounds are way to sharp. Try to minimize the distraction of the background by keeping them out of focus. Looking forward to your next group of pictures.

[SmartWombat]

OT, with a S5 IS the lens focal length is short.
Like with my G5 opening up even to f/2.8 isn't the same as for a SLR user

[Benguk]

Good start, important things to point out.

Faces: in a couple of your shots you show the bodies of the players and miss the faces, a lot of times the face will show the emotion of the play that is happening.

Focus: seems like quite a few of these shots are soft, allow more time for your camera to come into focus, maybe 1/2 more than you are allowing right now before pressing the shutter. Anticipate where the action is going to be and focus on the player at that spot, so you will have a better chance of getting the action in focus.

Noise: Most of the images have noise in them, this is because from the way it looks you are shooting at a high ISO, take it down a couple spots. Try 200, that is the lowest on a lot of camera.

Once you get all of that down you should have some great shots. These are a very good start, also in your next post please tell us what type of camera and lens you were using to shoot these, it would be a lot easier to point out things.

Thanks for the tips, I def. agree with what you said. Will a lower ISO compromise the ability to cut down on any motion blur?

[BFiredup]

Great start....love the facial expression on the runner going around 3rd.....

You will get there....time and practice along with the tips here, you will get it down in no time....

[Old Timer]

OT, with a S5 IS the lens focal length is short.
Like with my G5 opening up even to f/2.8 isn't the same as for a SLR user

Oops! I guess I missed what camera was being used. Sorry about that.

[Addies Granddaddy]

Practice, practice, practice.
Believe me, you will get better.
John

[retroactiv]

Thanks for the tips, I def. agree with what you said. Will a lower ISO compromise the ability to cut down on any motion blur?

No, if you use a lower F/stops, like F/2.8 and you should be good to go. Another problem that I saw if you want to move your photography to the next level is the camera that you are using, I guess I missed it when I gave my critique. Your pictures are great for the camera you are using, Point and Shoot. I don't know how much money you have to spend on new equipment but it might be in your best interest to get a SLR.

Again keep up the good work, and post some more on here so we can make you better.

[SmartWombat]

I'm not sure how similar the S5 is to the G9, but I don't think the lens is fixed aperture and it goes down to F/4.5 wide open at the long end of the zoom.

[Benguk]

No, if you use a lower F/stops, like F/2.8 and you should be good to go. Another problem that I saw if you want to move your photography to the next level is the camera that you are using, I guess I missed it when I gave my critique. Your pictures are great for the camera you are using, Point and Shoot. I don't know how much money you have to spend on new equipment but it might be in your best interest to get a SLR.

Again keep up the good work, and post some more on here so we can make you better.

I know that the camera is not anywhere near as good as a legit SLR, but unfortunately it is all I can afford right now (I just recently got it). I think there are add ons that I can buy for my current camera so I hope to just reach the highest potential of this powershot. I hope that in toying with the settings, I can get some better sports photos - I know I have to timing and hopefully soon will have the skill, but I have to improve with what I have now. Clarity and crisp sports shots are always great, I hope I can get near there with this camera and then eventually buy a new one if I can afford it.

[retroactiv]

Hey we all have to start somewhere, I personally didn't start nearly close to as good as what you have. Along with that I totally understand $$$$$$$$$$$. Keep working if you can learn and get great shots with your Powershot just think what you'll be able to do once you can afford a SLR. I know I surprised myself when I got my first SLR, you will to.

[rovowen]

I feel you got some good advice, here.
If you have any Post Processing software the photos here are not that bad. Run some Noise reduction, curves and some shapening. These photos here, could be a lot better.

[SmartWombat]

Yeah, I started with a massive 2MP on a Casio 2800.
I thought I was getting a few good photos ... out of a hundred.
The S5 IS is far better than what I started out with !

[Benguk]

I feel you got some good advice, here.
If you have any Post Processing software the photos here are not that bad. Run some Noise reduction, curves and some shapening. These photos here, could be a lot better.

I have photoshop CS3 coming in the mail. Does the noise reduction tool work very well?

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Also, I went to the Mets/Dodgers game last weekend. I tried to use a lower ISO, using 80 which is the lowest the S5 IS allows. It was an overcast day and the photos turned out ridiculously noisy and grainy, really irritating stuff - with what I have I am not sure there is much more I can do. Any other suggestions?

At one point I went with a friend to the highest point in the stadium to see what it would be like and ironically I think my best pictures came from up there, I obviously used a color effect here. Other than this, they were good timed shots with tons of noise and poor sharpness.

Here are the decent ones I took from the upper deck (my actual seats were field level):

[Benguk]

Just got CS3, the reduce noise feature doesn't seem to do much - is there something special I need to do besides just use "Reduce Noise"?