Football help

[Duncan16]

Hi
I have been asked to help out by taking some photos at a five a side tournament.
I have never done anything like this and would like some advice please. I have a 450d and a 70-300 lens.
The tournament has fourteen teams and will be played outside there will be three games being played at any one time. Any suggestions on how to go about the photography, kind of settings to use would be a great help.
I don't wish to let the teams down, as there photographer has already let them down.
Any help would be great.

 

[Phil1974]

Hi Duncan,
Welcome to TP. If you have a look through my old threads I asked a very similar question a while ago. Got some good responses but didn't shoot it after all as it was cancelled. The general feeling was some good fast glass would be essential if floodlit. Not sure the 70-300 is fast enough in these conditions. There are a lot of sports photographers around here so i'm sure one will be along to help you out soon.
I would post a link to the thread but am on my phone.

Good luck

 

[Duncan16]

Thanks Phil, ok the next question is can anyone explain the difference between a fast lens and my 70-300 canon lens.
I cannot justify going for a new lens just for this event? But how is there so much difference ??

 

[AD_Capturs]

Thanks Phil, ok the next question is can anyone explain the difference between a fast lens and my 70-300 canon lens.
I cannot justify going for a new lens just for this event? But how is there so much difference ??

The term fast lens means the f number is lower making it better for low light situations... So if your lens is say f5.6 a faster lens would be f2.8... Hope this answers your question.

 

[Little John]

Your 450D is up to it but the lens may not be accurate at focusing with moving subjects due to its maximum apperture so thats your weakness.

A sugestion of where to start it is all about capturing an infocus and frozen image, to do that you need the fast shutter speed, depending on the age group the older players move faster and the ball moves faster. the 450D I had was pretty good ISO wise up to 800 so don't be affraid to push the iso to get a higher shutter speed I would be thinking 1/500 to start if you can get it but that is just a guid you may need a faster shutter if you have a better team playing. remember to keep an eye on your images with the screen looking for movement and bluring.

Given settings centre point focusing and AI servo.

How are you going to cover 3 games at once? ideally you want to get a photo of each player in action (thinking from a sales point of view) if you don't have a photo of them you can't sell them a photo. I don't know your agreement if your selling photos or what. The best photos that sell are those with the 3 B's ball body and bonse, so make sure all the body is in the frame arms and legs cut off are less likley to sell, ball in shot is a given shows they were involved in a game of football and the bonse is their head and its got to have a face on it not the back of the head.

Covering the games, if its split in to groups plan it so you shoot each team at least once at the groups stage that should mean you get everyone, if thats not happening then shoot the first half of one game and the 2nd half of the other or run about even more and shoot a third of each game. Once you have shot each team once you can then take it a little easier for the knock out stages.

Let me know if its local and if you need some help and if I am not doing anything I have no problem popping along

 

[Duncan16]

Your 450D is up to it but the lens may not be accurate at focusing with moving subjects due to its maximum apperture so thats your weakness.

A sugestion of where to start it is all about capturing an infocus and frozen image, to do that you need the fast shutter speed, depending on the age group the older players move faster and the ball moves faster. the 450D I had was pretty good ISO wise up to 800 so don't be affraid to push the iso to get a higher shutter speed I would be thinking 1/500 to start if you can get it but that is just a guid you may need a faster shutter if you have a better team playing. remember to keep an eye on your images with the screen looking for movement and bluring.

Given settings centre point focusing and AI servo.

How are you going to cover 3 games at once? ideally you want to get a photo of each player in action (thinking from a sales point of view) if you don't have a photo of them you can't sell them a photo. I don't know your agreement if your selling photos or what. The best photos that sell are those with the 3 B's ball body and bonse, so make sure all the body is in the frame arms and legs cut off are less likley to sell, ball in shot is a given shows they were involved in a game of football and the bonse is their head and its got to have a face on it not the back of the head.

Covering the games, if its split in to groups plan it so you shoot each team at least once at the groups stage that should mean you get everyone, if thats not happening then shoot the first half of one game and the 2nd half of the other or run about even more and shoot a third of each game. Once you have shot each team once you can then take it a little easier for the knock out stages.

Let me know if its local and if you need some help and if I am not doing anything I have no problem popping along

 

[Duncan16]

Hi Little John,

thanks for the tips not to sure re servo, I will be out on Sunday 10-13.00 in Stockport at Bakery Bridge sports fields.
I am not sure how to work three games at once??
I guess the only way would be to go by the teams in the first place and work for a half per game on one team then change etc.
I am not selling any(even if they turn out good enough) these are for me to try and get some experiance
I just wish I could get to grips with the basics. :bang: I found a guy at a day out at oulton Pk and he introduced me to the site. in the brief half a day the guy showed my a lot and the people on the site here are also fantastic at helping I just wish there was a meeting place where we could get together and gain more experiance. I am not a reader so i am better at working things through or being guided.

Thank you for the tips I will p[ost any photo's that come out

 

[Little John]

Sunday is difficult as I need to be at the Reebok.

AI servo maintains focus on moving objects, so select your centre focus point and half press your shutter and it will maintain focus while you track the subject. Not using AI servo you half press and your focus locks but your subject keeps moving and you end up out of focus by the time you press the shutter release.

If I was shooting to sell I wouldnt concentrait on 1 team shoot both teams, sit on the half way line you will get both teams running towards you at some point then swap pitches at half time, if you see one team is more dominant then move closer to the goal they are attacking or you will just get backs of heads but on the other hand you will find you will get plenty of chances to shoot that team in later rounds. In later rounds when you have most of the teams shot then you can sit at the goal line and capture them running direct towards you for one half and get the other team in the 2nd half. It is all about seeing what is happening.

But you can ignore that as your not shooting for sales but it will help you get better shots.

Ohh remember to shoot from as low a shooting point as you can so take a small stool. £3 from go outdoors I think is what I pay for mine.

anyway Im off home from work so may reply more later on.