Cricket and bright sun

[KIPAX]

Cricket at lunch time on a day like today with bright sun is a pain to photogrpah.. white kits.. white background and helmets wiht the sun high..

NOTE: Pics posted as examples not for crit.. not supposed to be good pics.. just examples..


Pic one is with the sun behind me.. look at the shadow.. however look at the players face.. no matter how much you brighten his face the kit will blow out.. you could just brighten his face but would look a bit odd and time consuming depending on what the pics for..Also if he raises his arm in front of him as often happens that casts a dark shadow over his face..


Pic two shooting towards the sun ..same player, simmilar pose .. the shadow is now in front of him ..I am compensating for the shadow.. Its brighter and over exposed but you can see the face...


I am certainly NOT saying my method is best.. I am only saying its an option and for me I would rather all bright than bright and dark areas..


#1

#2

 

[seriousrikk]

I've not shot much sport - but I've always found photos in the style of shot 2 where the face is visible much more appealing.

You have the dark wall behind so the direction of the sun is actually highlighting the player against this (for want of a better term) with a kind of rim lighting. Sure, the highlights might be blown but it doesn't detract from the shot.

I take it you prefer 2?

 

[KIPAX]

I did a couple of overs and decided I needed to see faces So the hr or so i had at the match i shot towards the sun.. I only used those as examples.. I got some good clear face shots that i deffo wouldnt have got wiht the sun behind me..

Reason to post is that most people would position themselves where I did when i arrived... so just wanted to highlight another option .. but you do need to compensate.. i was between 2/3 and 1 stop over

 

[Tugster]

I was shooting a footy tournament today Tony, I had the same issue as I was shooting two pitches end to end at the same time. The sun was in my face for one pitch whilst it was behind me for the other pitch. I had to compensate 1/3 to 2/3 stop into the sun...

I have some blown areas but the faces were pretty much spot on . It was even harder as some of the shirts were bright green and whit ...Doh !

Hard work especially with the heat too !

 

[bigrob]

Yes I much prefer to see faces.

Just looking at the time now - I guess you're not too far away from London and to treating me Julie

 

[Tobers]

Similar nightmare at Twickenham today. England in white kit and the Barbarians in white and black stripes, bright sun, harsh shadow. Yuk.

I put myself at the sunny side to shoot towards the shaded stands, exposing for shadows. Bloody hot though! Very annoying when the play was on the left of me and fully lit by the sun - lots of twiddling of the dials, and always hard when using two bodies to keep them in sync.

Oh, and the 2nd pic is the better of the two I think.

 

[Mark_Fletcher]

Definitely no 2

 

[Little John]

It certainly was tough out there yesterday

I shot most with the sun behind me as the background facing the other way is the carpark and the sun off the windscreens was unbearable. And spent a bit of time shooting side on.

Does everyone get the sun tan/burn with the white crease at the elbow?

 

[kelack]

I hated shooting yesterday, I had a morning kick off with only two places to stand, couldn't sit as the officials wouldn't let me inside the barrier and that was chest height.

I would have had the white creases if I had not spent the afternoon in the beergarden with my arms straight (ish)

 

[Yv]

Given cricket is pretty much the only sport I shoot these days, I would concur, much prefer shooting into the sun than with it behind, much more even light, even if results in some blown backgrounds occasionally. If I have no choice, I do have a PS action for lightening those dark areas, especially on faces under helmets, but that is only any use if you have the time to edit them, not if you need to get them off to the press. It is also time consuming of course, so I only do it on particular shots I really like otherwise.

 

[andyred]

Cricket at lunch time on a day like today with bright sun is a pain to photogrpah.. white kits.. white background and helmets wiht the sun high..

NOTE: Pics posted as examples not for crit.. not supposed to be good pics.. just examples..

Pic one is with the sun behind me.. look at the shadow.. however look at the players face.. no matter how much you brighten his face the kit will blow out.. you could just brighten his face but would look a bit odd and time consuming depending on what the pics for..Also if he raises his arm in front of him as often happens that casts a dark shadow over his face..

Pic two shooting towards the sun ..same player, simmilar pose .. the shadow is now in front of him ..I am compensating for the shadow.. Its brighter and over exposed but you can see the face...

I am certainly NOT saying my method is best.. I am only saying its an option and for me I would rather all bright than bright and dark areas..

#1

#2

Hi Tony

Was good to meet you and thanks for the advice, as you say, it is the opposite of what you think you should do, worked for me as well - will pop a few photos up tomorrow.

And to think Steve doubted you :-D hahaha

 

[KIPAX]

And to think Steve doubted you :-D hahaha

"what does he know?" is what he said hahaha

did you go around the other side after i went ...to see the difference?

look forward to seeing your pics.. mine are low priority and way down the list.. got the ones to paper rest will be online late in week.. they used the one i showed you where batter was ball dodging.. cant remember what else they used..

yeagh always good to meet people in real life

 

[andyred]

"what does he know?" is what he said hahaha

Well he was sat on the wrong side for a start

...

look forward to seeing your pics.. mine are low priority and way down the list.. got the ones to paper rest will be online late in week.. they used the one i showed you where batter was ball dodging.. cant remember what else they used..

yeagh always good to meet people in real life

Here you go, just a few quick ones - working my way through the others and wil pop some up for crit soon.

1.

2.

3.

Virtually straight from the camera - think the 1st one could do with a bit of p&p, but generally happy with them, esp considering the light and being on the wrong side

Was good to meet up, hopefully see you again sometime...

Andy

 

[Bluesman graham]

Some nice captures Andy , & as you've already stated they need a little P&P!.
With your permission I've had a quick edit on #'s 1&3.
#1

#3

 

[KIPAX]

Andy..I was over exposing by a full stop.. you where only 1/3 and steve was 2/3 ..i think you needed to be a bit more adventurose and over exposed more

 

[andyred]

Some nice captures Andy , & as you've already stated they need a little P&P!.
With your permission I've had a quick edit on #'s 1&3.

thanks, no problems at all with the quick edit

 

[andyred]

Andy..I was over exposing by a full stop.. you where only 1/3 and steve was 2/3 ..i think you needed to be a bit more adventurose and over exposed more

Yes, was upto 2/3 and a full stop later on and you can see the difference in the results.

Cheers

 

[pauljs]

Thanks for this tip Tony, I normally try and keep the sun to my back, but I will certainly give this a go, should we ever get bright sunshine again!

 

[pauljs]

Well I gave it a go at the weekend, not quite directly into the sun, but near enough, and not from the end I normally set-up. I am pleased with the results, get a much better result in so much as seeing the players faces. Here's a couple of examples:

#1

#2