golly_wood

<p>Mike & Joshua - many thanks.</p>

<p>Plenty for me to get my head around!</p>

<p>My 1st post.<br />I have a similar question. I am UK based, and have zero camera knowledge, other than a passion to take photographs when at sporting events.<br>

<br />I watch a lot of outdoor football (Soccer) and cricket (I am based in the UK!) and started off taking a basic 3x optical digital camera with me.<br>

<br />I progressed to a Kodak 10x optical digital camera with a sports mode - and was shocked at some of the results I got - really good sports action shots (by a novices standard) - when in clear, sunny conditions<br>

<br />Ive now progressed to a a Fuji Film Finepix s8000fd (18x Optical Zoom) so I can get even close from wherever I am sitting in the stadium....and when conditions are good, the pictures are good.<br>

<br />However my photographs tend to be dull, and dark - especially when its cloudy, as the flash has little impact from where I sit! (There is no restriction on flash photography in the above sports that I mention)<br>

<br />I spoke to one of the professional photographers at these venues, as I noted that none of them ever use 'flash' photography - yet get great results in poor light conditions.<br>

<br />1. How do they do it?<br>

<br />2. How can I best optimise the Fuji Film Finepix s8000fd<br>

<br />3. Ive looked through the manual - boy its tough to understand some of the 'technical terms'!<br />Appreciate any help - and apologies for the long-winded 1st post / plea for help!</p>

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