I know I have no pictures to share, at least not at the moment, but I wanted those who are shooting sports, especially the new people on here that are shooting youth sports and have questionsI to know about this.  I've been meaning to put some posts in my sports blog about how to shoot various sports and since it's now football season I thought I'd start with that.  So I just added a post titled "Photographing Football" on my blog.  I would love to hear some feedback on it.  I especailly would love for those who are shooting or plan on shooting some football to take a look and let me know what you think.  Also I'm looking for some critique as to did I cover all the basics and finally is there something you think I should have added.  Thanks in advance.

It was excellent!  I love the photos along with the explanations.  We have our first football game next week - so I took some notes and I'm going to try some things out.

The only question I had after reading that was I wonder if my lens is long enough to "get" the action and facial shots that you get.  I know the equipment doesn't make the photographer but having a long zoom can make a difference - right? 

By the way - your vacation pictures looked like you had a great time!

Thanks for the feedback tlash.  I will add something in it on equipement.  Exactly what I'm looking for.

We had a great time on vacation.  I'm just about finished putting together a dvd slideshow for the family.  We plan on having a pizze night Sunday to watch it.  I would upload it to the photodex website but it's just too big, 45mins long.

Homer,

The blog is seriously amazing!!!  I can tell you put a lot of hard work into it.  I'll just throw a few things out that I may have overlooked or may not be the place to cover but you decide.

1.  Linemen - great position to get during warm-ups also.  Very rarely do I get a good linemen shot during the game so I try to get them warming up, cause their parents pay too...cha ching!!!

2.  Venue - in our area football fields (even the little league ones) are more closely guarded than some of the other sports I shoot.  However, photogs must ALWAYS get league permission to shoot!!!

3.  Perspective - didn't see (may have overlooked) your favorite Mpix subject...Get Down & Get Funky or at least just Get Down!!!

ANY PHOTOG READING THIS THREAD MUST VISIT THIS BLOG EVEN IF YOU HAVE SHOT BEFORE THERE ARE SOME GREAT REMINDERS!!!!

 

Thanks Nate, I agree with all you said and appreciate the look.  My son was a linemen and I really need to add something for them.

Oh, you are absolutly right about the perspective.  I will usually knee when I'm away from the team on the sideline.  If I standing among the players on the sideline I will usually stand so I can move quickly.  Since the players usually crowed the sidelines I don't want to knee and get trapped by them.

As for venue, that is a good topic that I need to bring up and discuss.

Thanks again.

Homer this is absolutely fantastic very imformative I was also wondering about the access to the field but CP covered that now but agreed may want to include that in the blog don't nedd ejections of photogs from the game LOL Looks like you had a blast on vacation The shot of you on the tube is great your daughter has a great teacher though it is expected it would be

I added your blog to my favs so it is easily accesable (sp)

Chad

 Hi Homer,

Very nice post. Would love to know more about your approach on cropping in football (I think this could also apply to when actually shooting). With baseball it's easier sometimes because you only have 1 or 2 players in the frame. I saw on your blog that you decided to cut off parts of players to focus on one player. Are there any hard a fast rules like there are for portraits like don't crop at the knee and don't cut off fingers or is a free for all? Do you have a system you follow? Thanks!

Hi Homer, Your timimg is great on posting this!  My local small town paper has just asked if I would do some high school footballs games for them. I have agreed to try, and have a pass to get on the sidelines, so I  am going to try and soak some of your knowlege up from your blog. All of these games will be at night. I have the Canon 70-200 2.8, flash and bracket and will be shooting with 30D. I have done some baseball for them and got some nice shoots. My question is will that be enough or do you have any sugestions on addition gear? Thanks for you time.

Emily

Nice post Homer. Lots of good info. Was wondering about panning during games , ever do this or is the action to intense. Thanks for taking the time to help us out.

Thanks a TON Homer!  Love all the detail you put there!

Homer, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with all of us.  My nephew is the captain of his football team (jr high) this year, so this will help me sooooo much. Maybe I can get some decent ones of him. I left you some comments on your blog, you have a great looking family that looks like they know how to have fun. 

Regina

Homer, you are awesome!  

Jim, I've tried twice to log onto your blog and it locked me up both times

EBP4:

Jim, I've tried twice to log onto your blog and it locked me up both times

You can get to my blog a couple of ways.  First try typing jimcayer.blogspot.com in your browser.  If that doesn't work just google my name "Jim Cayer" and I should be up top for my blog.  If neither works let me know.

Just wanted to let you know that I read your blog right before I headed out to our first football game this season. The booster club asked me to take some shots for the program they are making to give out at the games.

I am amazed how much better my shots looked tonight!!!!!! I still have alot to learn but I feel like I really learned something tonight and I am excited about that!

Thank you!!

shootin4fun:

Just wanted to let you know that I read your blog right before I headed out to our first football game this season. The booster club asked me to take some shots for the program they are making to give out at the games.

I am amazed how much better my shots looked tonight!!!!!! I still have alot to learn but I feel like I really learned something tonight and I am excited about that!

Thank you!!

Thanks a lot Becky.  I'm happy that it helped you out.  You'll have to post some shots.

I will look through them later and see if about posting a few.

Great info Jim.  Thanks so much for sharing it.

I read it all...hopefully some of it soaked in....now....the 1st game is friday night and I can't get on the sidelines...so we'll see what I can get from the stands

Homer,

Nice blog.  Great vacation shots too.  A question I had but don't recall seeing it is which focusing mode is best?  Single area? Dynamic area? 

Hi Homer,
I read this over and over....and its great!!!  awesome piece of reference material.

    I see someone already covered equipment....  and the kneeling part is key as well.  Heck at times to get funky shots, I'll get on the ground, lying....and the photog next to me is looking at me what the h..... while he's standing there with his monopod....

if you have the strength to man handle the big A$$ lens.....do it.  Just make sure the IS is on :)

Getting the players during warm ups is a big bonus for the parents.....
and let's not forget the non action shots on the sidelines....capture the emotions and get face shots.  and don't be afraid to move around the field (within limits).  change sidelines to get a different perspective of the linemen and action.  and don't forget to get behind the goal (if you can)..  never know if you're going to catch that aerial over the line.

also a thing or two about flash (I don't use flash).  If the lighting conditions on field are just too horrific, which is most cases is for youth football, I like to bump up the flash compensation, and usually the exposure compensation.  i'll throw in flash once in awhile, but when i do, I usually diffuse it a bit.

good luck to everyone shooting this season!!!

I posted last week and you gave me advise, I read the blog....and because of the hurricanes all of our game were moved up a day...I shot some new ones and not to toot my own horn, but I did so much better! (Can't post now, I am at work) I still need to go back and read it again...I still need more DOF to seperate the background...like you said....seeing cars and houses in the background was distracting. But the confidence level...IMO, really helps!!  I even had a good laugh...ya know when you are standing there...waiting you know they are coming your way with ball...and you are shooting away....and all the sudden you realize...MOVE!  I'm excited just to see over the year how much more I can improve. I found out after the fact that If I would have showed up an hour earlier I could have practiced on the soccer team...but was happy I didn't because Full sun and shadows over the bleachers were a pain!!

THANKS AGAIN.   (SMOOOOOOOCHES)

Homer, I have recnetly started college and have joined both the college newspaper and the yearbook staffs, For yearbook, there are other photographers, but for newspaper I am about it (kinda nerve-racking for a freshman after only a week and a half of school...haha) anyways, the sports editor of the newspaper decided he liked my football pictures i took from the stands and has decided to give me a sideline pass to take pictures from there. The only problem is that all I brought to school was my 10 MP point and shoot kodak...I left my DSLR at home (figured it would be safest till I knew my surrounding) So, besides looking dumb on the sidelines with a tiny point and shoot, do you have any suggestions (espically camera setting wise) that might help inprove my pictures???

Tracy I'm not sure what to tell as I don't have much, or any for that matter, experience with P&S cameras.  My main advice is to have someone send you your equipment ASAP.  As for shooting with the camera you have until you get your gear I would use the same advice I give those with SLR's.  You'll need a high ISO.  Not sure if your camera can go to 3200 or even 1600 ISO.  I'd say shoot at wide apertures but I honestly don't know what your camera is capable of.  You will need to use your flash and wait until the action is close to you.  This will be trial and error for you.  Go out there and take some shots and see what you get.  See what you get and them make adjustments.

Thanks for the info. 

I didn't get the chance to do more than give your blog a quick once over.  I plan to take notes when I have more time.  Thanks and I'll be watching for the wrestling lessons.

I am going to post a few I took tonight at our JV game