Question for sports shooters...

rgiller

I was at Croke Park on Sunday, with a good seat in the Hogan stand only 10 rows back from the pitch and thought it would be a good idea to bring the camera with me (first time). Anyway, over the course of the two matches I ended up with about 300 photos, although I took less in the second game as I was a bit caught up in cursing at Cork's forwards, useless bastards.

I've never taken so many shots before and was just wondering if this is anywhere close to how many you more experienced snappers take. I'd imagine that quite a small percentage of them are any good (haven't looked through them yet) and it's almost a requirement to take lots to increase the chances of nailing that wonder shot...

Paulw

I don't think I've had my camera in Croke Park for a GAA game, but I have been to a few rugby games. I would say that I'd take about 200 or so images during the game. Of these, 10-15 would be good enough to show off. I've just added a new gallery section of sports on my own website.

I don't see any disadvantage to taking so many images, aside from viewing/processing them later.

Borderfox

In something like that at Croker where you are on a deadline I would say you wouldnt be taking loads of shots, you have to read the game well and be lucky too. Keeper rate will be very low too

Eirebear

I tend to rattle off around 100-150 shots at a game, but im writing a report at the same time so it would possibly be more if i wasnt.

As paul said, the only problem is trawling through them afterwards.
Sports pics dont take much processing apart from cropping and resizing though so its not too bad.

How many of your shots turned out?
I generally aim for around 10-15 useables

Borderfox

Eirebear do you no record the report on tape or mp3 thingy? I tend to use the recorder on the phone to remember the names of the scorers.

Eirebear

Borderfox wrote:

Eirebear do you no record the report on tape or mp3 thingy? I tend to use the recorder on the phone to remember the names of the scorers.

I use a dictaphone thingy at times, but i find it a little fiddly, especially in windy weather and you find yourself shouting into the mic to try and get your notes down.

I always have pen and paper as a back up tbh. Especially for gaelic matches because im not completely clued up on that strange game...

nilhg

Obviously how many you take depends on whether you are doing it as a pro or are more interested in the ebb and flow of the game.
For anyone interested in the way one pro approaches the process from match to newspaper office. The sheer volume of shots he gets through is staggering.

Eirebear

Thats an interesting read, cheers.
He makes it all sound soooo easy!

soccerc

It really depends on the importantce of the game though I've found a good knowledge of the players and style of play of the different teams can also influence.

For example, at Ireland internationals I would tend to take 300/400 but delete many on the hoof hoping to finish out with about 30 usable and 5/6 really usable.

is an example, this version is not the best copy but only one I can post atm.

At League of Ireland games I'd take less and even less os at lower level matches as I knowI'll only need 2/3 shots for the paper as I've also to file a match report.

FYI To get the best pics you really need to be pitchside.

mervifwdc

Depends on the sport.

Tennis Tournament, I could take over a thousand per day if I'm trying to get good shots ever every players forehand and backhand.

The least I've ever taken at football batch was about 20, and that's when I only need 5 or 6.

Least ever at an event was 2, that was golf :-)

The real trick is the notes / captions, and I use the microphone on the back of the canon cameras (1 series only I think) to make notes as I go. Then in PhotoMechanic as you review the shots, it shows up an icon on the shots with some sound, and you can play your notes back as you look at the shots. Way I see it, if I loose the card and images, I dont really need the notes any more, so having them stored and saved with the images is perfect.

Merv.


Merv.

Biker.ie

If memory isn't a problem, carpet bomb the action @ whatever fps your camera is capable of and you'll always end up with a few crackers.

It doesn't take long to look at / delete a few excess pics.

Stephen

Carpet bombing, I like it

I took about 250 at the Faugheen road races a couple of weeks ago, ended up with about 20 useable (but put 39 on flickr anyway ).

leinsterman

Well I'm lucky enough to have a GAA press photogrpaher pass for Croker (and other stadia) .... typically I'll shoot around 100-200 ... with the 20d (5 FPS) ... in my case I'm happy with 5-10 keepers and 1 or 2 really special ones ... now I have the 1D Mk III (10 FPS) I expect that to increase a lot ... and assuming the AF works as good as it should I also expect to have more keepers ... but about the same number of really special ones ... since that is less about kit more about skill and practice (which sadly this season I have not been getting!!)

I usually set up near to goal at the Hill end ... the trick is to keep the shutter speed high and know the areas on the pitch where your lens will be at its best ... wait for the action to come into these zones and shoot then rather than randomly shooting everything ... and don't forget to point the lens at the crowd also ... you get some real charachters at these games ...

I use a 100-400 zoom (surprisingly some of the pros are using this also ... thouhg most are using the big primes) ... next time I plan to try to 70-200 on the 20d and 100-400 on the 1dMKIII ... but there are very few weekends left and I've been busy as hell ...

leinsterman

... should have added ... I also set a highish ISO to allow a lower F-stop ... this gives you a narrower dept of field so you can isolate the action form the crowd ... but that is easier said than done sometimes ... I tried shooting with the 100-400L at the Dublin - Tyrone floodlight game ... it was way too slow at the 400 end (F5.6) ... you need F2.8 ...