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In my opinion this is my best football shot even though it's from a training session rather than a match. Originally uploaded to the main gallery where it didn't do too well so I thought I would get some honest feedback. I know the voting system is flawed, and I am certainly not driven by votes, but it is hard not to be disappointed.
I showed it to a colleague at work and he said that whilst it was a good shot I could have tried a bit harder to get the background in focus!
Thanks again for all the great advice on my last shot.
Phil
| Brand: | NIKON CORPORATION |
| Camera: | Nikon D90  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | 70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 4 Jul 2012 - 7:08 PM |
| Focal Length: | 200mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/2.8 |
| Aperture: | f/3.2 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/2000sec |
| Exposure Comp: | 0.0 |
| ISO: | 200 |
| Exposure Mode: | Aperture-priority AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | No Flash |
| Title: | One On One |
| Username: | 
Philo |
| Uploaded: | 29 Jul 2012 - 7:23 PM |
| Tags: | Football, Goalkeeper, Methley United Under 13's, Sports / action, Training |
| VS Mode Rating |
102 (100% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
Comments
Hard one to call Phil.
Personally, I can't really see anything wrong with it.
Some people will tell you that the action's too central but then, which side do you crop?
The ball's moving from right to left, yet the goalie's looking from left to right, so there goes that theory!
If anything, I might crop just a little from the bottom but that's being picky. In reality, I'd leave it alone.
(I won't mention the background!)
Bren.
Just as a possible version the mod was blurred with a graduated mask so the grass is gradually blurred towards the b/g. The b/g was also desaturated slightly and a graduated mask applied so the effect was increased the further into the distance you looked.
Alan.
I'm not sure if an OOF b/g can be made to look more in focus later on, even with the power of PS.
Imo it would be better to take a series of photos at the time of the event that have a greater DOF, then combine the players with the in focus shots of the football field. The trouble with using a smaller aperture to increase the DOF is you don't get the high shutter speeds to stop the action as well as this.
I'm sure you know all this looking at your portfolio, but I thought I'd say it anyway
Alan.
I remember this from your first post - I liked it then and still like it as it is.
Its a pro looking sports shot but with kids as subjects - really cute. A back ground out of focus is the look for these shots - if you had it in focus you'd detract from the kids and have a much noisier shot at a much higher ISO.
Look at the mud flying off the goalie's boot - perfect.
Advice above is great and as is it great too. The only thing that might be better is a cloudier day so that there is less shadow to light contrast on the kids faces. But nothing you can do do about that on the day.
You captured them and their dedication perfectly.
The thing with sports is that you can't really control surroundings and weather conditions.
I think as is, the shot itself is fine, the problem is the lack of context. Because its a training session, you have no goal or other players to show the moment in the game. This is often reflected in other players expressions. Good shot as is though.
Nick
Im thinking along the same lines as Nick, Phil.
It is certainly your best sports shot, no question.
The background, nothing to do with focus, but you can see long grass which detracts from the idea its a serious sports shot, as its a local field. Theres no spectators or stadium visible, and no other players, so it could well be two kids playing alone as far as the image is concerned.
So as a sports shot, for the members who vote on sports action shots, it likely leaves out important elements. As a shot of the young platers, its technically excellent.
Regards
Willie
It is a cracker Phil, if anything I would crop a little from the right or prefereably add a little to the left as dictated by the body language shown by the two players.
Your 'tongue-in-cheek' comment about your workmate seems to have been taken seriously by some, but it does go to show how the general public can, on occasion, give a 'kick in the teeth' to our attempts at art.
FRank
Thanks everyone, I think the key learning point here is context: I can now see how this could be construed as just 2 kids on a field. The problem is I can't use actual match shots yet as I need permission from the parents of every child in the image. I am working on a solution to this though and parents will be more amenable due to the age of the kids.
Quote: Your 'tongue-in-cheek' comment about your workmate seems to have been taken seriously by some
Wish I had never mentioned this now, Frank! I just found it very funny and ironic as I have struggled for the last couple of years with too much dof. I finally get a 70-200 to get the effect I desire and the first comment I get is from my colleague. I should have just used a compact
Anyway, I have a couple of potential goalkeeper shots if I can persuade his parents to let me post them
Phil
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