Eluding the Grasp

If there's anything amazing about this photo, it's that this shortstop

rarely makes an error. Actually had a bright day with a little cloud

cover to minimize the shadows. Appreciate feedback and/or discussion.

Three 3/3s and not a bit of criticism or discussion. Hmmm...

 

Okay, I'll try beating myself up over it to try and stimulate a discussion: Can't see the player's face well. Not particularly indicative of anything competitive, in that I suppose it could have been taken during warm-up. Questionable crop (full-frame, reduced resolution above).

 

Why did I post it, given the above? Well, I liked the precarious position of the ball on the glove, the lighting was nice, and wanted to break the record for 3/3s on one of my photos... Okay, just kidding on the last one, though I expected it would overall be lower rated than some of the shots I've posted. :-)

 

 

I think the original that you posted above is a better capture of the moment. The photo shows action frozen in time. Cheers!

I much prefer the tight crop as posted. I know very little about softball but I think your photo demonstrates very well what can happen if a player doesn't follow the cardinal rule of, "keep your eye on the ball". My impression is that she is looking to her left and not following the ball right into her glove.

 

Photo.net's guide for rating states that"photos should be rated relative to other photos on photo.net"; and furthermore "a sports photograph should convey the excitement, peak action, emotion, drama or skill of a sport or the qualities of the athletes" I think this photo is sharp, very well exposed with nice selective focus and therefore no background clutter. In other words, technically very good. I would say this sets it immediately above average for photo.net sports shots.

 

Although not conveying a high degree of excitement,drama or emotion, it does convey peak action and skill (or lack of in this instance). The photo does this from an unusual angle and in a subtle way; it has a fair degree of originality in this respect. We have to look twice at the girl's head and hands to find out what is going on. The tight crop allows us to do this more effectively than the full original.

 

We are not rating relative to newspaper or sports magazines or relative to the best sports photography on the net in general; just against what is on photo.net. For my money, this photo cannot be said to warrant 3/3 on that basis.

 

After that long winded analysis, I give it 5.5/5.5. Kind regards, Neil

 

 

 

 

 

Neil,

 

I very much appreciate your "long-winded" (I would say "thorough") analysis.

 

Part of the 3/3 could come from "fatigue" as I've recently paid my fee to become a full member. I want to use P.N as a tool to help me become better as a photographer, and part of that, I think, is to post shots that you don't have great expectations for, as it relates to ratings. So I've been putting up shots at a somewhat faster rate than I have in the past.

 

I actually think a 5.5/5.5 is a pretty generous score. I do think that technically there isn't that much I could do to execute the shot better, but asthetically it leaves a bit to be desired, though it does tell a story, which I think you have relayed quite accurately.

 

The girl in the photo is a great shortstop, with impending major D1 NCAA scholarship to testify to that. She did make a mistake, and I think it was due to looking away, then we see her in the middle of trying to look back, all the time worried about the speed of the batter who hit the ball (which was considerable). It's an attempt to capture that "oh no" moment.

 

Thanks to Sachin as well for taking the time to post his opinion. If someone else has a different suggestion as to crop, do take a shot at it.

I must not understand the rating system. The picture as posted is great. You can she the SS is losing her grip..you don't need to see full face to sense the anguish!Looks like a 6 to me.