Sports Photography - Field Hockey

First game of the season.  Not much to report since the game was 10 - 0, and I was definitely rusty.  Thing should improve from here.  The goal remote worked well, but this is a low percentage option and it proved low percentage today.  Through the season I should be able to get something out of it.

Diversion - Calm Before the Storm

A little side trip up to Mount Cardigan, NH for a long weekend before the Fall season really hits. It is good to try something different, to go outside of sports. The only problem is that with sports there is only one chance to get the shot, and if you miss it then you move on. With landscape, etc, how do you know when you are done. I find that there is always one more angle, one more shutter/aperture setting to try. And with the family impatiently waiting to move on it can be tough.

View from the top of Mount Cardigan, New Hampshire

The fire tower at the top of Mount Cardigan, New Hampshire

Cairn markers at Mount Cardigan, Hew Hampshire

Newfound Lake, Bristol, New Hampshire

Profile Falls, Bristol, New Hampshire

Newfound Lake, Bristol, New Hampshire

Equipment - Ground Level Remote Camera

In getting ready for the Fall season I decided to get another remote camera for soccer, behind the goal.  Remote cameras are low percentage shots, but when you do get something they add a lot to the usual types of photographs.  Instead of buying a setup from a store, around $90, I make my own taking inspiration from a SportsShooter article.  Total cost is around $30.

The basic parts are:

1. One lawnmower wheel, 8" diameter or larger
2. One 3/8" bolt, 3" long
3. Four 3/8" nuts
4. Two 3/8" lock rings
5. Two 3/8" washers
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Start by placing one washer and lock ring at the head of the bolt, put the bolt through the axle hole in the wheel, and then add the other lock ring, washer, and nut. Tighten this down.  
  

Next, add additional nuts to the top until you have a small amount of the bolt remaining for the ball head.  Finally, drill a 1/2" hole in the edge of the wheel.

 









The reason for the hole is that normally you could place the (Pocket Wizard) receiver on the ground, as long as you were not too far away when triggering the unit. However, I am typically on the other side of the field, so I need a greater range. This means the receiver needs to be up in the air for better reception.  
 
To do this I create a pole with:

1. Wooden dowel 40"+ long, 5/8" diameter
2. Flat black spray paint
3. Hook
4. Carabiner key chain

Start by whittling one end of the dowel down to a point. Not down to Boy-Scout-Stab-Everything sharp, but smaller than the 1/2" hole you drilled in the remote base.  Next, I paint the dowel flat black to help it blend in to the background.  Finally, screw in the hook to the top of the dowel, bending to a closed loop if needed, and attach the keychain to the loop with the "key" part. 

To use the remote setup attach the camera to the ball head and adjust as needed.  Attach the remote pre-release cable to the camera and receiver, and hang the receiver from the carabiner.  Finally, if the field is grass I put the dowel into the ground as far back from the camera as possible, but if it is turf I insert it into the hole in the base wheel, making it a self contained unit.

Camera settings are manual focus and exposure, high framerate.

Event Photography - Westborough Triathlon

Getting ready for the start of the Fall season so a little event photography is in order.
This is one of those gigs were there is not a lot of editorial freedom.  You are there to get a shot of everyone so they can buy online.  Some times you are even told where to stand, but not in this case.  I was assigned to the bike leg, so I had that for the day.  Other photographers will get swim/finish or parts of the run.

For the bike I like to shoot with the 400, sometimes with the 1.4TC attached, since I can get more working space.  Swim and run legs are usually good with a 70-200 since they can be more crowded.  The preferred shooting position is down low for the bike, since the head is usually down, while running and swimming can be higher.

You do what you can with what you got.

You get the serious

The really serious

The not-so serious

And some are there to just have fun