back to baseball…another shot at homeplate action & post-game fireworks

I honestly expected to be shooting a lot more baseball this year. Last year I was pretty much the only person at the newspaper who would shoot the games. This year I have been busier and the newer staff photographers have been more inclined to shoot sports.

Anyways, I shot UC Irvine’s win over UC Davis on Friday. The game was at 6pm and I got there at 5:30pm. I was supposed to meet up with an intern at 5:45pm who was going to tail me at the game. When I got to the field I hadn’t planned on setting up a remote camera, although I did bring all my equipment just in case. Good thing I did because as I walked in I saw the new bleachers that they just put in. These bleachers provided a new and higher angle to shoot from. I remembered back to when I last set-up a remote camera and how there were a lot of people blocking the shot because I was at ground level. I knew that this would be a much better angle that would result in more keeper-shots. I quickly took out my mounting equipment (magic arm, super-clamp, quick-release plate) and set up my camera. Once I had the camera in the right position I hooked up my pocket wizard remotes and adjusted the settings on my camera. Here is what I was seeing.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1250iso, 2.8, 1/8000th

At this point, Lee, the intern had arrived and was waiting for me to finish setting up my remote camera. The last thing to do was to tape down the zoom and focus rings. I ran back to my car, got the tape and ran back. Once I had everything taped down, myself and Lee headed down to the third base photo well. Below, a shot of my remote-camera setup taken from the third base photo well.

The setup was good. The angle was good. In theory this should have produced a very good shot. But I was reminded once again that a remote camera is nothing more than a remote camera. Its not something you can rely on because either the action happens or it doesn’t. And well, the action happened that night, just not as I expected. The shot that I was trying to get was a runner sliding into home plate with the catcher trying to tag him out. I got half of the shot but the catcher just standing there pretty much killed the photo. Below, UCI’s Ben Orloff slides into home plate while the Davis catchers waits for the ball.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1250iso, f2.8, 1/6400th

The only other logical shots to be taken from this angle were hitting shots. Below, UCI Senior Sammy Donabedian connects with the ball on offense.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1250iso, f2.8, 1/6400th

Below, UCI’s Tommy Reyes prepares to hit the ball.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 70-200mm @ 200mm, 1250iso, f2.8, 1/6400th

The rest of my shots during the game were taken from the third base photo well with a Nikon D2hs and a 300mm f/2.8. Below, at third base, Eric Deragisch prepares for the pitch to be thrown.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 320iso, f2.8, 1/5000th

Below, short stop Ben Orloff makes a diving catch.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 320iso, f2.8, 1/5000th

Below, Assistant Head Coach Pat Shine stays focused as he surveys the field.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 320iso, f2.8, 1/3200th

Whenever I can, I like to get some interesting shadows in my shots. Below, Corey Olsen catches a ball that is hit deep into center field. And although he had already caught the ball, I like the clean background and shadow.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 320iso, f2.8, 1/3200th

Below, Corey Olsen makes a huge diving catch in center field.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 640iso, f2.8, 1/2000th

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 640iso, f2.8, 1/2000th

Below, at second base, Casey Stevenson prepares to catch a ball and throw out the hitter at first base.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 320iso, f2.8, 1/5000th

Below, Ben Orloff runs from second to third base after a teammate gets a solid hit.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 1250iso, f2.8, 1/3200th

Below, spit flies from the mouth of one of the umpires as he waits for the pitch to be thrown.

Nikon D2hs, 300mm, 1000iso, f2.8, 1/1000th

After the game ended I quickly headed back over to my remote camera. I was going to set it up and use it to shoot the fireworks. As I was switching lenses from my 70-200mm to my 17-40mm, all the lights went out the the fireworks start immediately. I repositioned my camera towards the fireworks, and adjusted my settings in the dark. I didn’t have time for test shots so I set my settings to what I though would work and then I started taking pictures. I shot in blub mode and did long exposures by holding down the test button on my pocket wizard remotes. Here are the good ones.

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 17-40mm @ 17mm, 100iso, f7.1, 10 sec

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 17-40mm @ 17mm, 100iso, f10, 21 sec

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 17-40mm @ 17mm, 100iso, f10, 24 sec

Canon 1D Mark IIn, 17-40mm @ 17mm, 100iso, f10, 61 sec

There’s only one more home game. I’ll be there.