Sports Action Shots

[patmoore]

I just returned from my tenth NASTAR National Ski and snowboard Championships in Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. Because of a broken leg I was unable to compete but I affixed spikes to my crutches and hiked up the race courses. This is a sample shot I took of three time Olympian Kaylin Richardson. Over the next few days I may add a few more.

[Autumn]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Very Good and Well Done for your efforts and not letting things get you down. I trust that you are making good progress and wont be too long before your pot is removed.

[Mowgli]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Super action shot

[Ian]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Pat - there is no stopping you, eh? Attaboy!

On your photo, a peek at the exif data shows f/9; were you concerned about depth of field? I wonder if sacrificing some depth of field in favour of a faster shutter speed where you really need to freeze the action would have been preferable. Also I wonder if at f/9 you will start to see some diffraction softening with your Rebel?

Ian

[patmoore]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Thanks Ian.

The day before I had been trying to follow Devilgas' suggestion of using manual focus a on a specific point and then grabbing the shot. The weather was terrible but I was able to get this shot of a remarkable young lady whom I encouraged to take up racing. She lost her leg in earthquake in Pakistan when she was four years old. She is now 13 and has developed into a powerful ski racer. It was shot with a 300mm lens at F5.6 and 1/500. The result was washed out (I have a lot to learn) but post processing resulted in this.



The next day the weather improved and I hiked quite a ways up the race course with an 80-200mm lens. I rested my arms on the crutches and used a monopod for the camera. My aim was to take several shots of my roommate who is a two-time defending age group National Champion. I used the camera's Sports setting and shot about 20 images in rapid succession. Just before he went, Kaylin ran the course as a pacesetter so that was how I got the original shot posted in this thread. Kaylin is a terrific broadcaster too having covered the Sochi Olympics for the Weather Channel. I did a pencil drawing of her and gave her the original. Here's a scanned view of the drawing.



I don't know how many of you follow alpine ski racing but I was thrilled to pose with four-time Olympian AJ Kitt and current World Cup GS Champion Ted Ligety fresh from his Gold Medal performance in Sochi.



Each year at the Nationals I put together an online album of assorted shots. If you like, feel free to peruse this year's effort.

[patmoore]

Re: Sports Action Shots

One more shot from my trip to Snowmass. I was riding a chairlift when I grabbed this shot of a Big Air Competition.

[Barr1e]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Oh to be fit and as young as you.

Great action - keep them coming please Pat.

Regards. Barr1e

Plaster off yet?

[patmoore]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Yep. The cast came off Wednesday. I'm now in a velcro boot and am free of crutches! My golf league starts May 1st and I'm optimistic I'll be ready. Can't speak for my skill but I should be ready physically.

Despite the broken leg I had a decent winter season and wound up ranked 11th in my age group in the US in ski racing and 1st in snowboard racing (I think I've outlived most of my competition in that event). In an odd coincidence, my ski racing handicap is virtually identical to my golf handicap. Room for improvement in both sports but there's something to be said for consistency.

In ski racing it means I'm 9.7% slower than six-time world champion Ted Ligety.

[Barr1e]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Congratulations Pat.

Plaster. .

Regards. Barr1e

[patmoore]

Re: Sports Action Shots

The leg is healed and I'm back to shooting pictures. Here's a montage of shots I took of a surfer in South Carolina two weeks ago.

[patmoore]

Re: Sports Action Shots

Couple more. I was at Saratoga last weekend.