Shooting rugby/football in landscape & portrait with a monopod.

bigrob

bigrob

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Robin
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I find that most of the time if I take landscape shot I still end up cropping to portrait.

So I wondered if anyone else prefers to shoot mainly in portrait?

I should hopefully be getting a 300mm F2.8 (non IS) next week and wondered what I would need to go on a mono-pod to easily switch between landscape and portrait?

Need to go and hunt in the loft now as I can't remember which Manfrotto mono-pod I have !!!
 
The 300mm f2.8 comes with a tripod/monopod ring mount which when loosened allows you to rotate the camera & lens. So you can very quickly switch from landscape to portait or vice versa.
 
Yep - it's a collar that attaches to the monopod, and the lens rotates within it. Most longer lenses have it for this very reason.

I'll generally shoot in landscape until the subject comes too close to fit into the height of the frame at which point I'll rotate quickly to portrait. Of course, with rugby this is a waste of time when the guy dives in for the try as he goes back to landscape format as he's horizontal - always one to watch for!
 
How quick would it be loosen, rotate and tighten?

Not having done it, seems like it would take a while.

Guess I'll find out at the end of next week.
 
Just leave it loose all the time you are shooting. You need it loose anyway as when you move to follow the action, you inevitably end up off-vertical and need to slightly adjust the rotation of the camera to keep the horizon straight(ish).
 
Its just a big thumb screw really. Sometimes I leave it loose and sometimes I dont bother rotating at all.
 
Ok thanks for all the advice chaps.
 
I tend to leave mine semi loose and swivel between modes when needed.. However I am just used to landscape and cropping to portrait later.. I only use portrait to shoot if shot is too close....
 
I used to leave mine slightly loose but found I kept leaning a bit heavier on one side and had to do a lot of straightening pp. I find that it's easier for me to shoot with it tight and only straighten the odd one or two but as I'm shooting low league rugby and football, I move with the game so don't do much swivelling - if that makes sense
 
Yes I see what you mean Kelack.

It's really my kids rugby/football/hockey that I shoot and know what you mean about moving around.

However I want to try staying in one place for a certain amount of time, using a portable chair to sit down low and get better angles.

I should be getting a 300mm F2.8 non IS on Weds or Thursday (fingers crossed it gets here on time) as my youngest has his first warm up match of the season.

It starts at 6:45pm & the weather forecast is good, so I'm looking forward to trying out the lens.

I've never done any MA so I'm hoping it's pretty much spot on with my Mk III.

I also want to try it with my 1.4x extender but for some reason it never went back in to my camera bag when I last used it in June & I can't find it for the life of me !!!!
 
I tried sitting down once but it didn't last! I like to move up and down with the game (cue the sports togs saying that I'm doing it wrong by not getting low down perspective!! lol )
 
Kelly, I move up and down the sidelines which is accepted at the level I am shooting but at the next level up it is frowned upon...I still try but I am getting my collar felt more and more.

Its a total different shooting experience when you have to remain in the same loaction. More pressure on getting the shot when the scene presents itself...especially on fast moving sport.
 
'Following' the game up and down the sidelines won't help you to get shots of everything, it'll only help to ensure that you actually end up getting less (at least going by the results I've seen from other people who've done it) because you're never settled and focused on what you need to do. With the right kit you can often get at least something to show key events (goals\celes etc) even at the opposite end of the pitch from a position behind the goal.

I appreciate it can be easy to get caught up with it and want to try and keep up with the flow, but if you are wanting to work at a higher standard it would be best to try and get used to sitting IMHO (yes, you need a lower perspective, certainly) in one place and focusing on getting the shots from there.:) Although feel free to ignore what I say of course, this is just how I see it.

Apologies for taking this thread a fair bit off topic.:rules:
 
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Sorry for keeping it slightly off topic but taking photos is only secondary to me watching the game, both rugby and football so I tend to follow it up and down the pitch but I do know what you're saying :) And plus I shoot for the rugby club and football club I belong to, and until I can learn to focus, there's no way I'll be moving up lol

(Sorry BigRob for off topic bit)
 
It's ok with me to go off topic.

I do want to sit this year rather than following.

However I want to try sitting at different places during the game, so that can get photos of all the players ( as I want to sell the photos to the parents).

What I may do, is one half for the strikers/midfield from one side of the pitch and then the midfield/defenders/goalie from the same side. The next match at the opposite side.

I've got an old small fishing rucksack/chair from my shed, so I'm going to see how comfortable it is.
 
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