Shooting Sports

[MaskedRider83]

Hey guys... Maybe, this is more fit for the 'critique' forum.

However, I just wanted to pull down some games I shot and see what you guys think..

Thanks!

MR83

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgV22...3&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIadS...8&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7kaB...6&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyzrt...0&feature=plcp

[cyndygreen]

First one was okay - nothing remarkable. WHY did you start w/that shoe shot though?

Muleshoe - Frankly I would have started w/the siren & lights and then on to the game. The mascot didn't quite make it. Too dark and not up long enough to ID. Tighter shooting/better. The shot of the cheerleader tossing didn't say anything to me...good follow on the long run.

Texas Tech - No excitement at all in the beginning...a series of shots. You need to punch it more with enthusiastic shots (Muleshoe was better). The cheerleader shots were bland - no sense (again) of enthusiasm.

Texas Tech Take 2 - First two shots don't push your story enough/should have started with the hands pointing/cut tight and a series of other shots.

What I'm seeing - you are following the ball/your sports shots are good. Your cutaways don't seem to tie in with the sports/game theme...they are bland or not quite focused on the game. Children...sides and backs of cheerleaders...mascots who kind of stand around but aren't over the edge with team spirit. Unless these games were that calm, you need to find the spirit o the game and shoot it. Get in front of the cheerleaders...don't just grab shots and put them in between your game shots.

If these were edited to a script, let me know...you may have been tied into something a sports anchor wanted, which makes a difference when viewed w/o the script.

[MaskedRider83]

Those shots were placed in just to go in between plays...

Except for HS sports, nothing went in that order on air.. It was just me putting down what I captured on YouTube.

I just started w/ the shoe shot b/c it was eye candy. Saw purple shoes reflecting on the hardwood, and thought it'd make for a cool/different shot.

For Muleshoe/Merkel, that was more about the way I shot the game. When the cheerleader was laughing after she threw the ball and missed, thought it would go for something different.

The Tech/ISU game lacked entusiasm because they were getting drilled 41-7 (which explains the empty seats there at the end).

The K-State game was put in, more for the way I lucked out. Put it on the ground, got a blocked FG... Put in on the ground again, got a 101-yard kickoff return come right at me.

[MaskedRider83]

Speaking of writing to script, here's one that's complemented by writing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7f0S5zBp0A

OUT TO PIRATE STADIUM IN WOODROW. FOLKS AT THE CONCESSION STAND GETTING READY FOR THE MONANANS-BORGER SHOWDOWN.
FIRST QUARTER, MONAHANS' PEDRO CANO CAN TASTE THE END ZONE AS HE HITS THE CORNER. DOES HE GET IN? REF SAYS YES... 7-0 LOBOES.
FANS FIGHTING FOR THE BALL, HERE IN THE STANDS... THEY'RE LOVING IT.
SECOND QUARTER, 14-0 MONAHANS. BORGER'S TERRANCE BROWN GOES UP THE MIDDLE TO CUT THE LEAD IN HALF.
BORGER TRIES TO TIE IT UP AT HALF, BUT PEYTON MARCUM HAS OTHER PLANS.
THIRD QUARTER, 14-7 LOBOES.

[cyndygreen]

Originally Posted by MaskedRider83

Those shots were placed in just to go in between plays...

Except for HS sports, nothing went in that order on air.. It was just me putting down what I captured on YouTube.

In covering a game you need to have every shot tie in with your theme...whether it be enthusiasm or giving up hope. Don't just place shots in to go between plays - it makes more sense to just edit the plays against each other. Again, nice game shots/good follow.

[cyndygreen]

[QUOTE=MaskedRider83;259982]Speaking of writing to script, here's one that's complemented by writing.QUOTE]

Script helps explain order of shots - nice work on that one.

[MaskedRider83]

Thanks!

There were extra cutaways spliced on for the YouTube version...

But, for the one that made air, it was pretty straight-forward...

[WHODEYinKC]

Overall, its good stuff. I like how you tried different things. Don't be afraid to! I appreciate setting the camera on the ground for the punt return. Its hard to do. I really like the framing of the blocked FG with the pylon in the foreground. Like everyone, we all have stuff to work on, I freelance as a ground cinematographer with NFL Films...here is what I've learned from them.

#1. Head to toe and follow the ball. Only the best of the best shoot that super tight spiralling football, and there's only a few who do it well (I'm not, one of the few on that level...yet). They tell us, shoot head to toe and follow the ball. The most important thing is to not miss the play. If you see any of films work, you'll notice that even when we shoot that super tight spiral, 9/10 times there is a pull out to see the recievers feet when its caught. Thats because viewers want to see feet in bounds. Also, when a player is crossing into the endzone, pull out so you can tell they are. Most everyone knows when someone stops running like that, they are probably in the endzone, but it makes for a better shot.

#2. Follow the ball. The whip to a reciever is a crutch (and mainly for low-endzone hard cams), and looks bad if you don't do it super smooth. If your shouldering the cam, tilt and follow the ball.

#3. There are tricks to following the ball. On a pass play, put the QB in the back 1/3 of the frame. (i.e. moving right to left, frame QB in right 1/3 after snap, on a pass play) This gives you 2/3 of the frame to see the ball as its released, and makes it easier to follow.

#4. If you can, and the camera allows it, shoot with manual zoom. Its much more controlled than you think. All of our cinematographers shoot manual zoom. Its tricky to learn, and hard as hell to get good at with football, but it saves you if you need it. The way I do it, is zoom with my index and thumb, and focus with ring and pinky fingers. Some guys use the little zoom stick, but I can't.

Keep working at it. Your stuff looks good so far, and with some practice it will only get better! Good Luck!

-AP-

[MaskedRider83]

WhoDey, thanks!

As far as catching plays, do you usually shoot behind the end zone, or there on the sidelines?? I was just told if you shoot behind the goal post, you have a better chance of the TD's coming at you..

What are your .02??

[WHODEYinKC]

I tend to move around....alot. I go up and down the sideline, shoot from the endzone some time, go everywhere I can...just for different looks. I like to shoot behind the offense up untill they cross midfield or so and then when an offensive team gets inside about the 30, I go to my "spot". I like to sit/kneel on the ground, about 8 yards deep in the endzone. This keeps the official watching the goal line out of your way, and the backjudge (whose watching the back line of the endzone) out of your way.

I only sit, because NFL Films gets to be in front of all local and still photogs at NFL games, and I don't like to block others' shots.

Another thing I do, that involves tons of movement (and lots of work), is I like to have the QB's throwing arm on my side. I think its easier to follow the ball. It may seem difficult to understand, but I'll switch sidelines depending on a right-handed/left-handed QB. So, if its a RH'd QB, I'm on his right side all the time. Which means if the other team is playing with a RH QB, I'll switch sides with every possesion (if time allows) to make sure I'm always on the right side of the QB.

If your covering the same team alot, (I live in KC, so I shoot about 99% of Chiefs home games for NFL Films) you'll kind of get a feeling for where a QB throws it. After a number of games, you'll notice which side has more TD's on it, and you can account for that. The real fun is...just when you think your on the right side....they go the other way.

To really answer your question...I don't like to stand by goalposts at all. If they go to the back of the endzone, on the opposite side your standing on....when you pan, you'll get a viewfinder full of goalpost...not a good shot!

Hope that helps! Any other questions...feel free to fire away!

[Silverado61]

I agree alot with what Whodey said. I avoid the back of the endzone at all costs when shooting college or NFL but I like going to the back of the endzone with high school because where I am there is not alot of passing in high school so if they are with 5 yards of the endzone it's most likely going to be a run. My fav spot for the end zone is between 8 yards deep and the endline because if the play is on the other side of the field you can still get it. The other thing is if your lens or camera has an extender USE IT. It does take a little getting used but if you can master it your football will look really good. I also use the manual zoom, my reasoning is because when I started shooting the servo's were just too slow to keep up with the action and used power we didn't really have. Then when I got a really nice Canon lens with a variable speed zoom, but I just couldn't get used to it. Good luck with shoooting sports...it can be tough but when you start getting those spiral shots it's pretty awesome.

[Shootblue]

Please tell me that on occasion even the NFL films guys just get faked out, can't see the guy with the ball, etc, especially on the sideline cams.

Also, any tips on following the ball? For instance, I had a hell of a time shooting golf approach shots until I learned that if I started my pan up the same time as they started their downswing, the signal would have had time to go from my brain to the muscles and they would have reacted...rendering me pretty much on time for ball going up. Then I learned other factors such as how far it was and how the club angle would affect the angle of the ball coming at me, speed of the ball, left/right movement, etc.

[Silverado61]

I've heard that for shooting golf the photogs turn the the contrast down to see the ball better. It's also easier if you have a big viewfinder.

[Shootblue]

A lot of it is auto iris on traditional eng cams due to the ground/sky/ground exposure issue and the fact that your brain is working full-time just to tell your body how to move to follow the balls. I have made the viewfinder very contrasty before, as well as jacking up the peaking. That seems to help a lot. Harder on these new color viewfinders though. The large cam viewfinders have individual color channel manipulation, which can bring out/hide certain colors depending on how the channels are selected. That in itself would make a world of difference for following. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the hot shot mlb cam big cam ops who do the ball follows, etc do some of the same things.

[WHODEYinKC]

Shootblue,

Sure, on occasion we all get faked out now and again. The key is quick recovery. Also, when there is play action...whether the QB hands off or not, really watch the QB/RB. If you really pay attention, you can usually tell in the first few moments, if the RB has the ball or not. Sometimes, you just screw it up...but shooting manual zoom, you can whip out, and find the QB much quicker than shooting with the servo.

As far as following the ball, my tips in previous posts should help...i.e. don't frame the QB up in the center of the screen...put him in the back 1/3 of the way they are going. Just like golf, if you follow the QB's arm up with a pass, its much easier to never lose it out of frame. This works the best, if they are throwing that fade to the corner right in front of you. Any other pass, again, with manual zoom, you can slightly zoom out (just a touch) to follow the ball, and then start zooming back in as you have it.

Good Luck!