Aussie Rules - hang time....

[Barry Johnston]

Here are a few pics of my first (first shoot) Aussie Rules football match. Poor light meant I had to bump up the ISO in order to stop the action, never the less, I was pleased with my first attempts.
(1D MkII N - EF300 f/2.8)

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361382/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361381/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361374/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361373/original.jpg

Regards,
Barry

[Barry Johnston]

I hope you don't mind a few more of the same match. I did find many limitations using just the 300mm lens; either they were too far away, or too close. Would there be a better lens to use perhaps? any ideas on that?

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361380/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361378/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/barryvj171/image/83361377/original.jpg

Regards,
Barry.

[Nill Toulme]

Good stuff Barry! How does Aussie rules differ from rugger on the one hand, and American on the other?

These still look a little dark to me. Basic rule — never sacrifice shutter speed for ISO. I shoot late evening and night games pretty much exclusively at ISO 1600 and 3200 (mostly the latter). What camera body are you using? The 300 is a terrific lens in either its f/4 or f/2.8 manifestations. If you're using the f/2.8 and have enough light for f/4, it works superbly well with the 1.4x extender for more reach.

Good action and timing on all. I would like to see tighter crops in many of them. My mantra for shot selection (both in shooting and later in editing) is face/ball/action/contact. In these shots, for example, #2 suffers from lack of faces, #4 from lack of ball.

Great start and keep it up!

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net

p.s. If you haven't already done so, have a look at my Sports Basics tips here (http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5602).

[Barry Johnston]

Hi Nill....

Aussie Rules is completely different to Rugby.... there are no similarities at all other than the ball being a similar shape. The goal posts are the widest you have ever seen, so I am always amazed how anyone ever misses. Actually I grew up with Rugby and prefer it to AR's, but I live in Victoria which in fact is the heart of Aussie Rules, and in fact Melbourne was voted the 'Sport Capital of the World'....... amazing !! never a shortage of any sport to shoot here.....

Regards,
Barry