Teen Soccer

My brother had a game and I took some pictures. It was at the hottest/brightest part of the day but I tried my best. Fun game. Little brother scored 4 goals. Even their goalie said, "damn, you got skills!" when he scored is 4th. AND, he was playing with a fractured wrist. Can you tell I am a little proud?

final was 5-1

Comments and Critiques welcome.

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2052.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2016.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2017.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2048.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2051.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2042.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2044.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSC_2063.jpg

Kit lens. I was paying too much attention to the game and let some good opportunities go by. lol

Unfortunately all of them (but the last one) missed focus, probably due to the wrong lens choice for shooting sports. In all of them the stuff way off in the background is in focus. If the action were in focus I'd crop to it and eliminate a lot of empty space on them all, cropping vertically (or shooting vertically in the first place.)

Yeah, I was using a kit lens. It's the first time I take pictures at a sports thing with a digital camera. focusing is way different and I am still trying to adjust to the auto focus. My old cameras lenses had a different viewing mode when I would look through the view finder. these two little circles I can match up... this kit lens doesn't and I am having trouble adjusting to it. eh, first go around. should be better next time. I didn't shoot any vertically but I will keep that in mind next time I go to a game.

I'd like to have a word with that keeper. First shot, ball is on its way in and he has his hands on his hips. On the focus issue, cheat a little and stop down.

I like all soccer pics, so keep em comin!

I will give that a try also. I have been reading up on more techniques and tips as well as getting to know my camera more. I am actually just borrowing one from a friend for a bit.

thanks.

If you're using autofocus, you have to make sure for focus point is right over your subject.
And if you're using continuous autofocus you have to keep it there all the time.

For most beginners, that means they use the centre AF point (it's also the most sensitive with kit lenses) and the photos end up with the action dead centre in the frame.

The side effect of that is that if the action is not in the centre of the frame, then the active focus point isn't looking at it, and you can easily end up with the focus perfectly on a fence or tree in the background while the action happens on the left or right of the frame

Normally things are moving so fast that if you're following action Single-AF is going to lock focus and then in the short time while the mirror goes up they carry on moving and they are out of focus.

Continuous AF or AI Servo will also predict the movement of the subject assuming it doesn't vary its relative motion, and should give you good results.

If you're not following, but predicting the action, then you can manually focus on a spot on the pitch and wait for the action to get there. Or with practice you can do what we did before AF was invented, focus manually.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SmartWombat

If you're using autofocus, you have to make sure for focus point is right over your subject.
And if you're using continuous autofocus you have to keep it there all the time.

Continuous AF or AI Servo will also predict the movement of the subject assuming it doesn't vary its relative motion, and should give you good results.

with practice you can do what we did before AF was invented, focus manually.

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Thanks! I get what AF-C means now! lol. I didn't know what the C stood for and would just stick with setting on AF-S. I don't have the manual for the camera I am using so I just look stuff up online and ask questions here.

I use my film camera and the lenses have a half circle in them that I just match on what I want in focus. It is a lot easier when doing manual focus. I have trouble using manual focus without it. I am going to practice with it more though.

If I press and hold the AE-L AF-L button while something is in motion will it still give me good results? Does that button still work well when something is moving this fast? (using these pictures as examples)


thanks for the response.