feeling like i'm going backwards

Photodiva

Photodiva

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Carol
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Didnt have the best day on Sat. Ive got stitches in my left hand so i took the monopod to take the weight of the lens. Prob part of the problem, an away game, searingly bright sun, the focus seemed to be off on a lot of pics and not the best of games either. Came away a tad dissatisfied with my efforts. Am I expecting too much?

On the plus side t'other chap didn't get a free pass so moaned he cld'nt go. None of the officials minded! Got some serious praise of that goal shot which made the front cover of the last match which was nice but felt I was getting pics like a numpty and Im glad no-one but me saw them. Theres prob enough to get by but they dont satisfy the perfectionist in me.

Cld the bright sun affect the auto-focus?
 
I was at an FAC 3rd qualifying Saturday. Although i only have a D5000 and a kit 55-200mm lens i had all sorts of trouble - same question really, can the sun affect the auto focus. Usually my pics are reasonably sharp and in focus. However Saturday i was extremely disappointed with my efforts with only the images i managed to fill the frame being in focus.
 
Yup, bright sunshine can certainly affect the AF (or more usually the IQ making it look like soft focus) depending on the kit colours.

Don't stress about it too much. Everybody has crap matches occasionally, and the fact that you can still pull out enough usable shots speaks volumes. :)
 
Hi Carol, one of the issues surrounding the recall of thousands of MKIII's was their inability to track in bright sunlight so i would imagine its possible a 50d with its "lesser" AF system will struggle from time to time, i personally prefer to shoot during overcast or floodlit conditions.

You will find that when shooting objects from about 30 metres away and further that Haze has an effect on your images, you might not physically be able to see the haze but its there and the lomger of a distance your subject is away from you the more of a "softening" effect it will have on images hence Alans comment about only the images he managed to fill the frame with being in focus
 
Carol - totally off topic but.

My youngest was playing an U14s match yesterday morning at Dartford's home ground. Soon as we got there I realised it's "your place".

Nice clubhouse with the rugby on the TV and coffee available at 9:45am - excellent.

The 4G pitch is good quality as well.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Hi Carol, one of the issues surrounding the recall of thousands of MKIII's was their inability to track in bright sunlight so i would imagine its possible a 50d with its "lesser" AF system will struggle from time to time, i personally prefer to shoot during overcast or floodlit conditions.

You will find that when shooting objects from about 30 metres away and further that Haze has an effect on your images, you might not physically be able to see the haze but its there and the lomger of a distance your subject is away from you the more of a "softening" effect it will have on images hence Alans comment about only the images he managed to fill the frame with being in focus
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Thanks,everyone. I think the 'haze' is certainly an issue. First time Its really been that noticeable. Wasn't the best of matches, I felt pretty lonely in the first half! Consequently not many 'fill the frame' opportunities! My team played in away colors of red/navy (most likely burned the red channel). Strangely, the unavoidable shots in the shade (the only stand casts a huge shadow in a large rectangle in the middle of the pitch) which were underexposed seem somewhat sharper even after rescuing in pp.

Chalk it down to experience, I guess. Probably won't be many more bright sunny weekends until next year now ...

Glad you liked the ground, Rob. Compared to others I've been to, its top class.
 
I had a team with luminous yellow kit yesterday :(
 
I know the feeling, red hot first half for me at Whitby on Saturday shooting into the sun. I had to move so I was shooting out of my preferred location to start with, got the action shots which was good but a nightmare all half

Second half was in the shade, freezing cold with a coat on after having short sleeved first half

Don;t get to stressed about your shots, look forward to the next one
 
Thanks for those comments Gary. For the last few months i have been wandering why a high percentage of my shots were looking "soft". Your explanation has just summed it up perfectly and now i know where i can try to improve.

The penny has just dropped so thanks for that. Unfortunately my team play in a dazzling orange and with the bright yellow backs to the stand the image colour jumps all over the place.
 
ams99 said:
Thanks for those comments Gary. For the last few months i have been wandering why a high percentage of my shots were looking "soft". Your explanation has just summed it up perfectly and now i know where i can try to improve.

The penny has just dropped so thanks for that. Unfortunately my team play in a dazzling orange and with the bright yellow backs to the stand the image colour jumps all over the place.
Click to expand...
Alan, if you find yourself struggling in bright sunshine especially if the kits are of a day glo Orange/Yellow then try moving your position relative to the sun, most folk try to shoot with the sun at their backs which while giving the best light also creates its own problems, try shooting at 90 degrees to the sun then part of the shirt/kit will actually be shaded, youll still have good light but the slight, and it will only be slight shade that shooting at 90 degrees offers also brings a little more contrast into the scene/focus area and im sure we all know AF systems works at their very best when it has contrast to pick up and lock onto, OK granted the shade only offers a very slight increase in contrast but every little helps, try it next time and i guarantee that your keeper rate will rise significantly. :thumbs:
 
Excellent. Thanks for that Gary. I'll give that a go at the next home match. Although i can guarantee i'll have to wait until next April for the next batch of sunshine :)

The next challenge will be shooting in snow :):)
 
In low bright sunlight I will usually shoot into the sun so the stands in the background are shaded and the rim-lit players pop nicely. Expose for the shadows, dont worry about blown highlights and youre sorted. Leave it in manual to keep things consistent.

Bright sun and shadow across the pitch is a nightmare though.

Stick with it - we all get bad days.
 
You forgot to mention how few focusing problems you get with your M9! :p :lol:
 
Yes. Good point. The m9 focuses extremely accurately, if a little slowly, limiting its use for action sports somewhat :-). At least it is light though it does look awkward on top of a monopod.
 
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