Girls softball - Homage to MikeMac

Mitchell · Apr 18, 2007

Inspired by Mike's great photos and even better advice, I went out yesterday to shoot some of my daughter's softball game. The midday florida sun once again was my worst enemy with blown highlights and shadowy faces. I still perservered in an effort to emulate Mike's great sports portraits.

I'm not close, but I'm definitely getting better!

#1

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#2

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#3- I caught it!

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#4

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#5

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#6 - Don't look at the ball!!!

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#7

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#8 - Soft, but I finally got the elusive "ball on bat"

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#9 - Fastball! (Through the backstop fence)

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Gale · Apr 18, 2007

Lookin good mitch

don't be afraid to try shadow/highlight in PS:>))

mike mac · Apr 18, 2007

There you go nice tight shots thye look great as gale metioned in post you can try shadows/highlights or a levels adjsutment but you got the hard pert down some very nice captures

Mitchell · Apr 18, 2007

Gale said:
Lookin good mitch

don't be afraid to try shadow/highlight in PS:>))

Thanks, Gale.

Maybe it's me, but I always seem to get a strange, brown cast when I use shadow/highlight. I've never been satisfied with the colors after I use this tool.

mike mac said:
There you go nice tight shots thye look great as gale metioned in post you can try shadows/highlights or a levels adjsutment but you got the hard pert down some very nice captures

Thanks for looking, Mike! I never shot softball with the 300mm before yesterday. It certainly forced me to think about my composition with each shot.

Peter G · Apr 18, 2007

Super stuff Mitch and a ball on bat shot to boot! I like the tight crops of faces/action.

Does your daughter play on an ASA team in FL? First tourney of the season for my youngest this past weekend. Photographer and Dad had to miss it to though :frown: . Oh well, long season and lots of time to catch up with pics.

Thanks for sharing the series.

nuccifamily · Apr 18, 2007

Nice emulation of Mike! They are definitely bright, but I think you did an excellent job!

topher04r1 · Apr 18, 2007

mitch .... you did a fantastic job .... i really like the last of the series and shot 2 .... try some levels and layer mask's to pull some of the shadow's out and that may help a bit .....otherwise they look great .... dangit thats it.... i'm ordering the 300 2.8 this weekend and its all your MOT)%&#% fault mitch !

Mitchell · Apr 18, 2007

Peter G said:
Super stuff Mitch and a ball on bat shot to boot! I like the tight crops of faces/action.

Does your daughter play on an ASA team in FL? First tourney of the season for my youngest this past weekend. Photographer and Dad had to miss it to though :frown: . Oh well, long season and lots of time to catch up with pics.

Thanks for sharing the series.

Peter,
She plays on her school softball team. This is not affiliated with the ASA. We play other middle schools in our area and (fortunately) do no traveling.

Thanks for the kind words.

Mitchell · Apr 18, 2007

topher04r1 said:
mitch .... you did a fantastic job .... i really like the last of the series and shot 2 .... try some levels and layer mask's to pull some of the shadow's out and that may help a bit .....otherwise they look great .... dangit thats it.... i'm ordering the 300 2.8 this weekend and its all your MOT)%&#% fault mitch !

Hey, thanks for looking at these. I was hoping you would chime in.

I did the PP on all of these in about 30minutes at 0600 this morning. I was just so excited to see these and get them posted. I will go back on some of these and see if I can selectively lighten some of the shadows.

You sold your 300mm, f4 lens. What are you waiting for?? I thought you would have your f2.8 by now. Sigma or Nikon???

Gale · Apr 18, 2007

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You do no have to accept the default. Play with the sliders

Mitchell · Apr 18, 2007

topher04r1 said:
LMAO ..... Im holding off a few days because my new car comes in today and that should hold the lust at arms length for a bit....... honestly i think i'm going to go nikon ... im not thrilled about paying almost 5 grand for a 300 2.8 but EVERY used lens i have gotten so far has needed something and the warrenty is worth it i guess ......... Do you use a monopod when you shoot with your 300 mitch ?? i think im giong to pull the trigger on that and a 1.4 tele also ...should prove helpfull for football season ....

I do use a monopod with this lens. There's no way I could hold this lens steady on a D2X for an entire sporting event. I just don't have the guns for it!

I'm now wondering why I bothered to get the VR version of this lens. I shoot mostly sports (like you) with this lens and try to keep the shutterspeed above 1/1000 where VR is just not an issue.

niknd501 · Apr 18, 2007

Mitch you did a very nice job with these...I have been having the same thoughts as you with my approach to pics....I just don't have the reach you guys do yet...Someday ...

4labs · Apr 19, 2007

Mitchell, these are great. There is a free fill flash action on Action Central that does a great job with shadows without changing colors...I think most of these are just fine the way they are..

Mitchell · Apr 19, 2007

4labs said:
Mitchell, these are great. There is a free fill flash action on Action Central that does a great job with shadows without changing colors...I think most of these are just fine the way they are..

Thanks for looking at these, Eric. I'll have to check out that action you recommended. I haven't had much luck with the standard PS shadow/highlights tool.

topher04r1 · Apr 20, 2007

mitch ... are you telling me i should save my 2000 bucks and get something w/o VR ?

Harry Lavo · Apr 20, 2007

You've got a good eye....

....some wonderful shots there....facial expressions, action obviously are carefully chosen, and your shots are clear and well-framed. I'm not experienced enough or technically proficient enough to give advice on the shadow problem...but perhaps you can convince them to play without hats? :wink:

Mitchell · Apr 20, 2007

topher04r1 said:
mitch ... are you telling me i should save my 2000 bucks and get something w/o VR ?

Topher, I've had this lens now for only 6 weeks. I've used it primarily for shooting sports on a monopod. With the high shutterspeeds required to capture sporting events, I've had the VR turned off the entire time. The VR just gives the lens a bit of lag and in no way helps with the shooting.

I'm beginning to ask myself whether I should have saved the money and looked for a minty 300mm, f2.8 AF-SI or II instead of the new VR version. I just have not had the need or the opportunity to use the VR on this lens. I truly wonder if you will ever use it. It does have the new "nano crystal" coating (whatever that is):biggrin: . I doubt I will be selling my toy, but in retrospect, I am certainly second guessing my decision.

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Girls softball - Homage to MikeMac

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