Its that time of year again!

[Fenman55]

Club cricket season starts tomorrow.

I'm a bit more organised that the past and am now using a 7D with a Canon 100 - 400 and am hoping to "upgrade the quality"

Played the game for 20 years so pretty clued up what is happening on the pitch and now have the equipment that will give me a fighting chance.

So any advice on the photographic "what to do and what not to do".

Problems from the past mostly revolve arround exposure,
1] strong shadows from hats / helmets against bright white kit
2] No other way of saying it, but Asian faces under hats / helmets against bright white sunny clothing.
3] Bright white kit against dark backgrounds
4] How many shots do you take before you get "that shot" - bails flying through the air etc. only got one last year and managed to get some shake on it...gutted.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[KIPAX]

Club cricket season starts tomorrow.

I am on my second week of cricket this season..

I'm a bit more organised that the past and am now using a 7D with a Canon 100 - 400 and am hoping to "upgrade the quality"

The good thing about cricket is that most of the time its played in decent lighting and weather.. its not too equipment dependant for a good shot.. like say ice hockey or other sports in por conditions.

1] strong shadows from hats / helmets against bright white kit

Cricket starts at 1pm here and on a bright sunny day thats terrible... On saturdays I pick my time... 5pm onwards is brilliant for cricket.. just as the suns going down.. its less harsh.. brings out the bits of red and gets under the helmets.. real pleasure..

However sometimes such as today when I had cricket then football.. or sundays when I ahve an early deadline for the paper then theres not a lot you can do... Personally all I have is PP and use the shadow/highlight tool in photoshop to get into the faces.. otherwise as you know.. everyhting bright and dark face.. perfect answer is shoot later in day

2] No other way of saying it, but Asian faces under hats / helmets against bright white sunny clothing.

I dont find it too much of a problem..once you get the exposure sorted then it shouldnt matter.. I nearly always OVER expose slightly because I find it easier to dull the whites to what I want and I ahve a good exposed asian face.. A also over expose slightly for nearly all cricket as mines usualy white backgrounds not dark backgrounds?

4] How many shots do you take before you get "that shot" - bails flying through the air etc. only got one last year and managed to get some shake on it...gutted.

I really hate that question.. My best advice is dont even think about it.. its not important... who cares about the shots you dont use?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Just because you have 400mm .. every sot doesnt have to be a close up.. Yy just posted some in sports critique selection and theres one stand out pic at 200mm .. pic#5 http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=400395


Cricket is a patient sport as you know.. so photographing it should be.. If you went to a fishing event you wouldn't expect to get lots of fish caught in first ten minutes..

I dont know the grounds your going to or the posotions you can get or anything else so can only generalise.. I dont do billy big boys cricket.. but I have hundreds of games photogrpahed at local level

 

[Little John]

I have my first match this afternoon a pre season friendly, I gave last weekend a miss as it was a little soggy out there.
The shadows under hats I had never really bothered about but someone told me I should be working on them in pp so I will be from today but it will be far more subtle than how the guy told me what to do does it.

Getting those shots like bails up or the guy who dives for the catch, I just concentrate on that part of the game till I get it and yes for bails up you shoot a lot of photos you wont use but when you get it its worth it it is a lot easier if you have a strong bowler.

 

[Fenman55]

Ooops, cocked up that reply!!

 

[Fenman55]

I am on my second week of cricket this season..



The good thing about cricket is that most of the time its played in decent lighting and weather.. its not too equipment dependant for a good shot.. like say ice hockey or other sports in por conditions.



Cricket starts at 1pm here and on a bright sunny day thats terrible... On saturdays I pick my time... 5pm onwards is brilliant for cricket.. just as the suns going down.. its less harsh.. brings out the bits of red and gets under the helmets.. real pleasure.. I have noticed that it is easier to get better photos on overcast days, less shadows etc

However sometimes such as today when I had cricket then football.. or sundays when I ahve an early deadline for the paper then theres not a lot you can do... Personally all I have is PP and use the shadow/highlight tool in photoshop to get into the faces.. otherwise as you know.. everyhting bright and dark face.. perfect answer is shoot later in dayI will try and take some throuhout the day today and see how I get on

I dont find it too much of a problem..once you get the exposure sorted then it shouldnt matter.. I nearly always OVER expose slightly because I find it easier to dull the whites to what I want and I ahve a good exposed asian face.. A also over expose slightly for nearly all cricket as mines usualy white backgrounds not dark backgrounds?When you say over exposed, how much are we talking about? I was phographing my daughters football team yesterday and couldn't help notice that the faces were slightly washed out as were some holiday photos from last week [first time out with the 7D] but I did notice that the exposure compensation was set at -1/3 a third (darker) surely it should have been the oposite?

I really hate that question.. My best advice is dont even think about it.. its not important... who cares about the shots you dont use?I have just checked out your website!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh what a long road I have taken the first few faltering steps down!!

Just because you have 400mm .. every sot doesnt have to be a close up.. Yy just posted some in sports critique selection and theres one stand out pic at 200mm .. pic#5 http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=400395

Cricket is a patient sport as you know.. so photographing it should be.. If you went to a fishing event you wouldn't expect to get lots of fish caught in first ten minutes..
Im used to that as I spend a lot of my winter time Pike fishing on the Fens.......Why do I have such time consumoing hobbies!
I dont know the grounds your going to or the posotions you can get or anything else so can only generalise.. I dont do billy big boys cricket.. but I have hundreds of games photogrpahed at local level

Most of the grounds are East Anglian premier and the grounds tend to be more rural, your Lancs league looks like they have more "built" grounds"

Many thanks for your advice, it is greatly appreciated

 

[Fenman55]

I have my first match this afternoon a pre season friendly, I gave last weekend a miss as it was a little soggy out there.
The shadows under hats I had never really bothered about but someone told me I should be working on them in pp so I will be from today but it will be far more subtle than how the guy told me what to do does it.

Getting those shots like bails up or the guy who dives for the catch, I just concentrate on that part of the game till I get it and yes for bails up you shoot a lot of photos you wont use but when you get it its worth it it is a lot easier if you have a strong bowler.

Thanks for your reply, it my first time out with the new gear this afternoon.......back to basics

 

[Little John]

Well I screwed up today, sun was all over the place to start, from blazing sunsine, wind, rain to snow and hail. Still learning my way round the 1D mk4 and dialled in 2/3rd's +ve exposer compensation as shooting the whites it always underexpose's made no difference and I couldn't work it out till I noticed the exposure meter in the viewfinder in the middle ?????? flash exposure compensation doesn't work does it opps the button I wanted was on the other side aggghh. nevermind only a bit of fun today. I tried out the 1D, 300mm and the 2xIII all day and its ok but maybe its how I have the focus set I don't know its not as accurate maybe I need to play with the focus adjustments?