Some action shots - Criticise to improvise

[nelson_sanjoy]

As it usually happens I took some photos of my fellow colleagues when they were playing just to test my skills and now they want me to take photographs/videos of a Tennis tournament that they are conducting next month.

It would be futile to tell them that I don't have a fast camera for action shots nor have I done this before .Since for them anyone with a DSLR is a great photographer :p.But then I told myself that ,this is my opportunity to learn and grow so I gladly accepted .

So now I request suggestion/help from all you guys for improvement.I know I am being kiddish .I am attaching some of my shots that I had taken as mentioned above.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3846401192_ae6c117b78.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3845615347_24e90b66d1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3846409352_dcc0d22a77.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/3846413592_d56ed27842.jpg

Please feel free to criticise....

[KrishnenduKes]

Critique Approved

It is very difficult to shoot action sports. Tennis is a favourite of mine. Haven't shot much, but I like watching tennis and tennis shots. Try to shoot tennis shots with your subject 2/3 facing you. And mostly facing towards you, with action happening in the opposite direction, or facing away from you and the action happening towards you. I hope you get my point. If I find any shots of mine, I will illustrate the point if you so wish.

In your case here, you are showing a tennis match, but the ball is NEVER seen. How will you show action if you cannot show the ball or at least the person is about to hit the ball or has just made contact? It is an action sports afterall.

Shots 1 & 2 can be totally discounted. Nothing is happening there. Shot number 3 is "almost" interesting; had you taken him 2/3, you would have got him looking away from you and the action terminating towards you as you can see in the follow through of the racket. Shot 4 again two players waiting... nothing happening.

[powerslave]

Hey Nelson, I have a few tips for you. Though I passed up on a couple of chances to shoot tennis (because it was indoors), I would like to mention a few pointers, inclusive of what Ken mentioned.

1. The best action sport shots are the ones where you have the ball near the player - either before or after the action.

2. Try to use your lenses for what they're good at. If you are using a tele like 70-200, focus on the players. If you're using something wider, like 17-50, 28-75, try to get different shots, like include the net and shoot the player on the other side or something.

3. Try to anticipate some action. I think that would be difficult considering the unpredictable nature of tennis, but you could try to read the style of the player. Like if you think a certain player has a tendency to play backhand, train your cam for a good backhand shot where you can see his face and the racquet when he's about the hit the ball or something. Look out for all the "special' moves of a certain sport.

4. Do not take random shots of players, try to follow them and frame it right, cutting only off at the joints of their arms/legs.

5. Also depending on the sport, choose your orientation, like basketball is shot mostly in portrait mode while baseball is landscape (this is far from a RULE and in no way implies interesting shots cannot be had by choosing the reverse orientation for each one). To be honest, I don't know what would be a good orientation for Tennis. A little googling could help.

Tennis is one of the more difficult ones to shoot I think (as is baseball) to get some interesting shots.

The best way to get some tips is to look at some of the shots of professional tennis players. That should answer a lot of questions and give a lot of ideas.

[KrishnenduKes]

Hey Nelson, I have a few tips for you. Though I passed up on a couple of chances to shoot tennis (because it was indoors), I would like to mention a few pointers, inclusive of what Ken mentioned.


Thanks. I was hoping you would pitch in too.

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

it is indeed very difficult to shoot tennis.

both have said right about creating frames out of the sport.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3836396270_deeb4eb70e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3836396048_ddd15295be.jpg

clicking at the right time is indeed difficult.

u can try again taking those shots.

anvancy

[nelson_sanjoy]

Sorry guys for being late - The thread was lost because of my inactivity.

Kenda - Really appreciate your comments. I will try to portray some action in my shots next time .I really need to take more shots to perfect it. BTW the tennis match starts this weekend so I will put some shots here.

@Powerslave - Thank you for those tips and tennis indeed is a hard game to shoot specially gauging movement.

@Anvancy - Those are very good shots .Now I am getting some ideas as to how and which angle I should shoot tennis.

I really need to figure out which lens should be appropriate for the shoot. Till now I was shooting with my Tamron 28-75 and Canon 100mm macro occasionally. What say guys???

[nelson_sanjoy]

Some shots that I took this weekend. Brick bats welcome :))

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4734.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4734.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4753.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4753.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4743.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4743.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4867.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4867.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4756.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4756.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4764.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4764.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4813.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4813.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4817.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4817.jpg)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/th__MG_4854.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc136/nelson_sanjoy/tennis/?action=view&current=_MG_4854.jpg)

Edit : Now that I have posted in Photobucket, it has badly robbed resolution.