Monday, September 28, 2009

Boys don't cry

Don't think, shoot.

My World - Ramsey Rugby



Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time and better still you have your camera with you. Forget the light being too low for the speed of the game. Forget it's raining casting that misty glow. Forget the light breeze knocking you off balance. Forget you have no tripod. No excuses. If you take images of people, sport photography, your kids school games, listen up. You get one chance and like that rugby ball you had better grab it with both hands and just have faith in your manual setting, and most of all yourself and just shoot the scene in front of you. One second later you've lost the shot, so don't pussyfoot around just point the damned camera and get that classic pose. One second either side of this shot and you've lost it and they are not coming back around for you to create the right conditions. You get the shot. You're onto the next one.


Ramsey are the boys in blue. Unfortunately we lost(well I do actually support them being an honorary Ramsey girl) I still don't get this game in the way I get football(soccer to my American friends out there) but I have an instinct for what is going on. Enough anyway to follow the action and just know when to shoot. If you really want the best advice on how to get this shot other than getting you speed right to freeze the action(novices try sport mode), setting the right ISO for the conditions, choosing the right weather setting remember this. Footwear. You don't wear killer heels(leave those for the pub) you wear your trainers and you run your ass off and follow the action. OK, not for the whole game but, not that committed but you get the gist. So what if you get a ball in the face, you also get the shot. Black eyes lasts for a week, the image lasts a lifetime. Rugby, like photography is not for wimps! Only joking.

Ooh it's good to be back.

More my world images can be seen here.




33 comments:

Mojo said...

Ah my Babooshka have you ever nailed it on the noggin with this post. I've taken more photographs of ice hockey games than I can ever count and usually shooting in high speed continuous drive. Because it's not a second on either side of the shot, it's a fraction of that when the game moves that fast. This, above everything, explains two of my Pillars of Photography. Specifically the one that states: "Never take one shot when two will do the job." And the one that states: "Film is cheap when put beside the value of the image you got because you shot the extra frame." Update that to the digital age, and it applies in even more force. And you could also cite the one that reads: "If you get the right shot at the right instant, nobody is really going to care if it's a stop under."

Sorry your boys took the gas in this one. I suspect there'll be a few times I'll have to endure that myself this coming season. But in an 82-game regular season, you have to expect some disappointments along the way. Both athletically and photographically.

mannanan said...

What a CRACKER. I was supposed to go and watch this game as one of the lads from work was playing for the visitors but I was busy elsewhere. Like you I would have supported Ramsey.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Typical. The light was really bad and the rain didn't help but you would of got some great shots.

Erin said...

i am so hesistant to shoot in the rain...and really haven't. missed out on many beautiful captures a couple weeks ago because of the pouring rain i refused to go out in. there really was not any cover nor anyone to hold an umbrella for me. so missed the ops.

enjoyed the post.
have a great tuesday.
erin

Anonymous said...

Most of the really good photographers I know say much the same - it's not a cocktail party job, it's an adventure. Your clothes will wash, your bruises will heal, but you'll never have the chance at that exact shot again.

Bravo!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Great shot, Babooshka. Really evocative of cold, damp, northern game of rugby! But everything you said - now I know why I like landscape photography!!!
Janice.

Carver said...

That's an amazing shot. I am in awe at your skill in capturing an action shot like that in those conditions.

Anonymous said...

Perfect shot. Pity Ramsey not in the driving seat. Next time.

Jack and Joann said...

Oh, Babooshka, you go girl. Great shot. I don't think I would want to tangle with you or your team.

Sylvia K said...

You do know you made Mojo's day, don't you? Terrific shot, does look like fun! Have a great week!

Sylvia

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Babooshka: What a great shot of that moment in time, very fleeting.

Unknown said...

I'm not into sports photography, as I don't like sport. One phrase though that sticks in my mind goes "If the shot isn't good enough, you're not close enough" Not sure who said it though.

Jim Klenke said...

Great shot. I had the chance to be on the sidelines of our American Football game a week or so ago. I found myself ready to get that great shot, then see the action coming towards me. Almost all of the shots were blurry because I was trying to get out of the way and shoot at the same time. I hope to have better luck at this weeks game.

ninja said...

lol at the first paragraph, so true.

brattcat said...

Absolutely fabulous shot.

Anonymous said...

Great shot and great advice on how to shoot it. Those boys look really sturdy!!!

Anonymous said...

that's what my husband always say, take the shot, don't wait.

have a great week.

dianasfaria.com said...

I love the colors and mood of this photo. These guys look serious, great shot!

Gaelyn said...

Welcome back. You're in fine form girl. Great capture.

Oman said...

the title reminded me of the song by the cure. and it certainly applies to that sports. great job.

magiceye said...

wow! well done and said!

Reader Wil said...

I don´t know anything about rugby, but I like this shot of yours:it's very impressive and it shows that you are an excellent photographer!

LadyFi said...

Great shot! But what on earth were they doing in that pyramid formation? That's not really rugby - more like, acrobatics perhaps...

Jane Hards Photography said...

Lawstude- Yep it was from the Cure song. Mojo always an absolute pleasure to read your in depth comments. Lady Fi it is a weird formation isn't it but that's what I love, may never get a shot like that again. Cheers all for the welcome back.

eileeninmd said...

Great shot of the action and colors. Thanks for sharing your part of the world.

Mo said...

Great action shot with great advise on how to get it. (although easy said than done).
Good to have you back btw.

Paul said...

Don't be away so long next time. Kidding B. How did you get them to do that? I have never seen a Rugby shot like that, ever.

Coffeedoff said...

Wow Great shot, the photo and your description makes me feel I experienced that game myself!

Virginia said...

Thanks for the good advice. Thankfully I don't have to make a living at sports photography or I'd starve to death. What a great shot B. Glad you're back my friend.
V

Tom said...

Excellent picture... Jane thought so to... but I'm sorry to tell you it had nothing to do with the artistic shots or the skill to get... it is simply big men in shorts... :O)

Halcyon said...

Nice picture.

Chuck Pefley said...

Yep! Shoot first, ask later. Good advice along with a wonderful image! Hard to find more peak action than this!!

Unknown said...

Our boy in town seldom play rugby but anyway it's an interesting game which one need to have a highly physical attention.

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