Sports Photography - Softball

[ndiginiz]

There are a couple of well known softball tournaments coming up in the new year. These two tournaments share a good history of competition and involve some of the elite men softball players in New Zealand. Rosedale Park North Harbour is the usual venue for one of the tournaments and Norana park has yet to be confirmed as the venue for the other.
Anyone interested in photographing some softball action let me know.



Marty Grant pitching for New Zealand vs Samoa 2005 Rosedale Park, North Harbour, Auckland

[Photocol]

Hi
I might be interested, something I've never tried to photograph. What is the date?

[ndiginiz]

Vic Guth
Jan 29 - Feb 1st 2010
Fowlds park
Mt Albert, Auckland

Dean Schick Memeorial Tournament
February 12 - 14th 2010 (NOTE: date amended)
Rosedale Park
North Harbour

Both tournaments are played over a few days given the amount of teams from all over New Zealand that enter. 200mm in the least is probably want you'll want. Anything longer is definitely going to be an advantage shooting this type of action sports and worth the dollars you paid for it if around 400 or 500mm..

[Mark Vuleta]

I would be interested, never shot softball, done a bit of cricket & rugby.

Norana Park, I didn't think it was still being used. The last time I went there (to look at a plumbing job), the place was just about falling down, I assume that there has been some work done on the site since then

[ndiginiz]

Mark, by all means come along if your not doing anything. Norana Park (Lion Red Ball Park) has yet to be confirmed as the venue and I'm fairly confident the Vic Guth tournament will be played at an alternate venue. I'll update that info when it comes to hand.

Softball is a fast and exciting game to photograph, if you've got long lenses then half your worries are over. But you can set-up to captured runners sliding into bases and infielders trying to get them out with single or double plays. There's just so many angles to photograph softball from and if you're patient usually you can get a few really good actions shots. Not that I consider this to be a good action shot but it is an example.



New Zealand Womens 1st Base Fiona Timu alludes the tag as she slides in second base against New South Wales in the 2006 Trans Tasman Series at Resthills Park Hamilton

[wirehunt]

Both of these look like very good action shots to me.


I like how your doing the copywrite with these photos, very subdued but there.

[Russ]

What FL lenses would you typically use?

[Mark Vuleta]

Certainly a little more "confined" for the want of a better term.

Also looks like a remote triggered camera could also be utilized.

I'm keen, just have to remind me closer to the time.

[ndiginiz]

@ russ
If I had the finances I'd be using a 400mm and/or a 500mmm. Unfortunately I'm not that financial and I have to make do with a highly underrated 70-300mmG F4.5-5.6 kit telephoto lens and an old 180mm F2.8 prime. I try to get the best photographs I can from whatever limitiations I have to work with. I'll go to wide angle close to the dug-out to get close-ups of players and coaches. I hope to have a 70-200mm F2.8 by the time of these tournaments, I hope....

[ndiginiz]

I like how your doing the copywrite with these photos, very subdued but there.

Unfortunately it's a case of having to, more so with sports action photographs. Very recently I have had to do some searching to find a person who was in breach of copyright laws, using a sports action photograph of mine without my consented permission and the photograph had no attribution (directed at me) attached to it either.