Where to stand on football sidelines

<p>Just wanted to hear what your opinions on the best place(s) to stand on the sidelines for best photos during a football game.<br>

I am with the press so I can pretty much go wherever I want as long as it's outside the 30s. Most of the time I walk up maybe 10 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage for my shots hoping for a sweep or end around to be called to my side. Other times when the team is about to score, I head to the end zone.<br>

I see certain photographers staying put and not moving much but I think my legs are the best zoom available.</p>

<p>What are your thoughts and tendencies for shooting football games?</p>

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<p>and one more....</p>

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<p>Wade,<br>

For me, it really depends if I need shots for offense, or defense. I'm also shooting for press, so...<br>

If I need defense shots, i'm approx 15 yard behind the Offensive play/line of scrimmage. This allows me to get Opposite defensive ends, linemen rushing, and linebackers, all with their faces visible, pass rushing or making tackles.<br>

For offense, it's the opposite. I'm approx 15 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage, so that i can get running backs coming out of the backfoeld, and breaking thru the line, as well as turning the corner around the ends. Also, you get good QB shots from that area making passes.</p>

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nice capture of facial expression on that QB!

Do you use point autofocus or group autofocus?

 

I find that I sometimes switch back and forth..I'm usually good enough to keep the center on the subject but sometimes if I'm in the end zone, I prefer to get the group as a whole since action is very fast in front of you and you don't know which way the play is going.

 

Any thoughts?

Do you use point autofocus or group autofocus?

 

I find that I sometimes switch back and forth..I'm usually good enough to keep the center on the subject but sometimes if I'm in the end zone, I prefer to get the group as a whole since action is very fast in front of you and you don't know which way the play is going.

 

Any thoughts?

<p>Wade,<br>

90% of the time give or take i use 21 point. The other 10% i use single point.<br>

THe 3d Trackiing is too slow, so i NEVER use that. 9 point is ok for some other sports and 51 seem to be too many.</p>

<p>Hope this helps</p>

<p>My kit is typically for football daytime D300 with 300mm f2.8 and a D700 with VR 70-200 f2.8<br>

Nightime is the same, but with 2 D700's</p>

<p>Hi Wade, I am shooting a lot of football right now, both for the press and for the schools. I agree with John, it all depends on what you are shooting, offense or defense. I usually shoot action (meaning the ball carrier) from the sidelines. Sometimes I cover a particular player that is not usually carrying the ball and that can be tricky. If you have a good long lens, say 80 to 400 and are shooting offensive plays, go to the end zone that the offense is trying to get to. There (if the team is doing well offensively) you'll get good head on shots of the ball carrier running for a touchdown with emotion of their faces. Check the attached photo.</p>

<p>As always, I advocate renting the stuff you can't afford like a 70 - 200 f2.8 or the longer lenses such as 80 - 400 or even a straight 600mm (you can usually rent high end bodies as well). Check your larger photo stores to see if they rent.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Cheers, Dave<br>

info@mccollphoto.com</p><div></div>

<p>nice!</p>

<p> <br>

I usually position behind 5 - 10 yds behind the offensive line until the team crosses midfield. This allows shots of the defense and pass rush.<br>

<img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/gaelson/photonet%202009/090919-CLU-PLU-023.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Once the play reaches the 50 I zip around and usually position myself by the back judge. He will usually back down field and away from me and not in front of me. This gets the running backs and QB rolling out and coming toward you.<br>

<img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/gaelson/photonet%202009/090919-CLU-PLU-062.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Once the play gets into the red zone I usually move behind the end zone to get the play coming straight at me.<br>

<img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/gaelson/photonet%202009/090919-CLU-PLU-027.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> I spend the first quarter trying to watch the teams to see who the stars are. Then I wander around the field looking for those player and try to get to thier favorite spots. Most running backs favor a right or left side. A tight end likes short or medium passes and will cut right in front of you if you time it just right. Wide outs head for the end zone. I usually stay near the 30 yard line, next to the teams box, but once a team gets near the 25 yard line, I head for the end zone and stay near the goal post. If you're lucky they might run at you.<br>

<a href="../photo/8215715"></a> <a href="http://www.photo.net/sports-photography-forum/photo?photo_id=8215715&size=lg"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/8215715-md.jpg" border="0" alt="Dale City Sports Club Eagles vs. Hurricanes-2" width="679" height="479" /></a><br>

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e-iShlWdc7k/Suc2gk3hAwI/AAAAAAAAAtk/p6D3MZCAtbw/s576/Ian%20Simon%20vs%20d%20payne.jpg" alt="" width="414" height="576" /></p>

<p>Yes, I usually stand 10-15 yards ahead of the offence or the opposite if I'm shooting the defence. Night shots are a completly different game technically:<br>

Here are examples of my first attempt:<br>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_val/sets/72157622706927284/</p><div></div>

<p>You press guys have a nice Field view into players eyes, I like this conversation keep the info flowing for new guys like me. I input the more you know when a coach has set up his big play I anticipate and wait in the endzone knowing its coming by a running play or a favorite receiver. Roland. </p>

<p>Hey folks, here's a shot from a High School championship game last Sunday. I like the shot but used a low end Nikkor 80 - 400 mm f4.5 - 5.6. It's what I call a slow lens and I should have listened to my gut and rented a 70 - 200 mm f2.8, much faster with my D3.<br>

It was about 3:00 PM up here in the Great White North, so the sun was in a helpful spot. I was restricted to the southeast corner of the field as I really wanted to avoid having the crowd in the background.<br>

Hey Roland, knowing the sport and anticipating the play, that's a big help in successful sports shooting. Cheers, Dave.</p><div></div>

<p>I mainly shoot night games for high schools. This one was shot from about 10 yards forward of the scrimmage line. The photo made the leading page in the local newspaper.</p><div></div>

<p>Nice shot.</p>