Corner Kick
Photographers are always seeking to capture drama, conflict and tension in their photographs.
The field changes from being still and waiting to a battle in a matter of moments on a corner kick. (St. Pius X failed to convert this one for a goal.)
Back Outdoors!
Last week was not only the official start of Spring, but was also what I mark Spring with: returning to Outdoors sports after several months of indoor sports. My first assignment this spring was back to Greater Atlanta Christian School to photograph a Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer doubleheader.
The 300/f2.8 – the All Purpose Lens
While most photographers might say that a 24-70, or 50mm lens is their all purpose lens – let me make the case for the 300mm, f2.8 lens as the all purpose lens.
I’ve loved Canon’s version of this lens (and in particular, the Image Stablized version) since picking it up in 2007. It’s been a workhorse lens, seeing action in nearly every sporting event I’ve shot since.
And it has flexibility. In daylight, for field sports like soccer, I pair it with the Canon 1.4x teleconverter to give me the 420mm focal length that reaches out to, and beyond midfield for action.
Looking for Special Light
Beyond capturing great action, it’s always challenging to find the best light, and light that will help set off the subject from everything else in the image. It also brings variety to what is available showing a single athlete.
The sun moves across Greater Atlanta Christian School’s pitch from the spectator side to the bench side and then drops behind the trees. With the thin foliage of March, this lets the light filter through the trees. Take the right angle, and your subject is fully lit, and the background in the shadows.
Boys Soccer Takes a Win
The Spartans Boys Soccer team fared better against AAA St. Pius, taking home a victory.
Girls Soccer at St. Pius X
I’ve photographed a number of football games at Atlanta’s St. Pius X High School over the past three years, but this was the first time I was there for soccer. They have a great Sprint Turf articifical surface, which means no rain outs (or cancellations after rain).
This was an out of classification match up for the Spartans – St. Pius X plays in Georgia’s AAA classification and GAC in the AA. It meant the Spartans were a little overmatched and ended up losing 5-2.
During warmups I laid down behind the net on the turf and shot through the net, and the goalkeeper’s feet as players took shots on goal.
First Glimpse of Spring (Part III): Boys Soccer
The February weather was in full effect by the 7:30 PM start time of the Boys Soccer match with The Walker School. Temperatures were in the forties and destined to be in the 30′s by the end of the game.
Regulation ended after eighty minutes with the teams locked at 1-1. Several rounds of penalty kicks later, Senior Chris Thomas scored the fourth and decisive goal to put away the victory (4-2).
