CanonPhotoBlog.com

River Plate Soccer

2012-02-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

I used three cameras for this game...EOS1 Mark II, 50D, and a 7D. The Mark II, although quite old, seems to shoot faster than the other two cameras, but it has some other limitations. I used the following configurations: Mark II with a 50mm f1.8, 50D with a 300mm f2.8, and 7D with a 70-200 f2.8.

Backyard friends

2012-01-22T10:44:00.000-05:00

Notre Dame Football Photography

2011-09-14T22:41:00.001-04:00

When attending a major college sporting event there are typically rules regarding lens size. So I normally take my 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 lens which provides a broad range of coverage. I also remove my vertical grip to lighten the load and reduce the physical size of the camera. Of course being a Notre Dame fan, it was a bit painful to watch the outcome, but what a thrill to experience 114,800 fans.

Sleeping Bear Dunes MI

2011-08-28T21:31:00.000-04:00

What a steep hill....I used my Canon 17-40mm f4 lens for these shots. It proved useful for capturing the vast scenery.

High School Soccer

2011-08-20T19:38:00.000-04:00

Michigan High School Soccer is in full swing for the 2011 season. Pre-season games are almost complete. I'm using my 300mm f2.8 lens on my 50D and my 70-200mm f.8 lens on my 7D. I use this "cross-combination" to get the best photos on each camera. Take a peak....

Under the Dome

2011-05-17T07:39:00.001-04:00

River Plate Soccer Champions

2011-05-02T22:09:00.001-04:00

Ultimate Frisbee - Notre Dame Girls

2011-04-20T19:58:00.001-04:00

Well....taking photos of an Ultimate Frisbee match is a real challenge....especially in 25 mile an hour wind. Below are some shots of the University of Notre Dame Girls playing in the 2011 Sectionals. I used my 2 camera approach here as well...Canon 50D (70-200mm f2.8, neck strap) and Canon 7D (300mm f2.8 mono pod). The 70-200mm was the most useful by far since the field is a bit smaller than a football field, and the game moves very fast.

Two Canons when shooting sports

2011-04-03T09:09:00.004-04:00

I almost always use both my Canon 50D (with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens hanging on a strap) and my Canon 7D (on a monopod with a 300mm f2.8 lens) when shootong outdoor sports. This works great for soccer especially...the big lens captures the action on the far end of the field while the 70-200 allows me to shoot the closer side of the field.

Canon 7D with 300mm f2.8

Canon 50D with 70-200mm f2.8

Super Moon

2011-03-19T23:41:00.004-04:00

Canon 300 f2.8 with a 2x Teleconverter

Spring Soccer in Full Swing

2011-03-19T15:25:00.001-04:00

Windsor Castle

2011-01-29T15:06:00.004-05:00

An amazing giant sitting in the middle of Windsor, England. I used my Canon 7D with the 17-40 f4 lens.

"Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror, and since the time of Henry I it has been used by a succession of monarchs; it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish, early 19th-century State Apartments are architecturally significant, described by art historian Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste".[1] The castle includes the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by historian John Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.[2] More than five hundred people live and work in Windsor, making it the largest inhabited castle in the world". (Wikipedia).

ND and MLK

2011-01-13T19:10:00.002-05:00

Notre Dame and the Good Year Blimp

2010-10-10T14:01:00.003-04:00

The Seniors

2010-10-06T21:28:00.000-04:00

Always capture the seniors together in multiple poses...

50D, 24-70mm, ISO 400, f2.8, 1/000 shutter speed

Shanghai Skyline

2010-10-06T21:17:00.001-04:00

Canon 7D, 28 - 200mm, f4, ISO 2000, Shutter 1/10

Night Soccer

2010-10-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

As my friend over on Lens Extender writes, Black and White images work well for night soccer photos taken with high ISO. Remember, the higher the ISO, the more noise occurs in the final result. One way to help hide some of the noise is changing the photo to black and white.

Notre Dame Football

2010-09-06T10:11:00.001-04:00

Indoor HS Soccer - a dark encounter

2010-08-29T16:41:00.001-04:00

Indoor soccer is really tough to get clear pictures. Until I tried using by 7D (set at ISO 2000) with my 300mm f2.8 lens, I never really took anything worth saving. ISO drives the graininess of the pictures....the higher the number the less clarity, but the 7D performs well up to ~2500. They are not the same as a sunny day outdoors, but they're not too bad. Take a look!

HS Soccer

2010-08-24T20:38:00.000-04:00

Eiffel Tower

2010-07-18T10:04:00.003-04:00

Red Bull Air Show - Detroit

2010-06-05T19:51:00.002-04:00

I used my 300mm F4 lens and Canon 7D. The sky was fairly bright and overcast, so the shots are a bit washed out.

Hand holding the moon with a Canon 7D

2010-05-23T16:45:00.001-04:00

Almost an impossible method for getting a good shot....however, I handheld my Canon 7D with a 300mm f2.8mm plus a 2x teleconverter. About 15 pounds....f5.6, ISO 400, 1/60 shutter speed. A little washed out, but not too bad.

The "Ultimate" Dive

2010-05-10T10:50:00.001-04:00

Don't try this at home.....

The Golden Dome - night and day

2010-04-30T14:06:00.002-04:00

Capture the soccer ball in-flight

2010-04-26T12:34:00.002-04:00

Capturing the ball in mid-flight is fun and challenging. I used my Canon 7D with a 300mm f2.8 lens for these shots.

Ultimate Frisbee

2010-03-28T22:20:00.001-04:00

Canon 50D - capturing the action

2010-03-20T11:50:00.001-04:00

I like this shot because I was fortunate enough to capture the side line referee signaling to the player that he is good to go for the goal...hence no offsides. Canon 50D, Canon 300mmf2.8, ISO 640, 1/2000 shutter speed.

Canon 50D, 300mm f2.8 Soccer Action

2010-03-20T11:30:00.007-04:00

Soccer Champions

2010-03-08T21:38:00.002-05:00

Spring soccer has begun....River Plate U16 Boys win the Louisville, KY soccer tournament. I used both my Canon Mark II and Canon 50D cameras with a 70-200mm f2.8 and 300mm f2.8 lenses, respectively. I shot in aperature priority mode at 1/5000 shutter speed. Below are a few shots:

Big Air - Getting ready for spring soccer....

2010-02-21T13:10:00.004-05:00

Then and Now

2010-02-21T12:52:00.002-05:00

The Great Outdoors

2010-01-02T17:45:00.003-05:00

I captured this hawk in my backyard using my Canon 50D and 300mm f4 IS lens. I simply took the picture through the window, so I wouldn't frighten the bird. Settings were ISO 400 and shutter speed 1/1000.

Indoor Soccer

2009-12-20T20:53:00.003-05:00

Well, I tried using my Canon 50D set at ISO 1600+, 1/1000+ shutter speed while using both my 70-200mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.8 lens (typically used for basketball). I got mixed results, but average pictures are better than no pictures at all....

Skateboarding Photos

2009-11-29T12:49:00.001-05:00

Capture the big air at the height of the jump. This freezes the skateboarder in mid-air allowing for clearer shots. My son's friend took these shots with my Canon 50D and 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 lens.

The Moon

2009-11-25T21:13:00.002-05:00

I took this shot with my Canon 20D, 300mm f2.8 lens using a 2X Canon teleconverter sitting on a tripod.....not too bad (ISO 400, f5.6, 1/500 shutter speed). I took about 100 shots using different parameters until I achieved the desired picture.

Closing of the MEs Zoo

2009-10-16T21:25:00.001-04:00

Well, the economy has taken its toll on the MEs Zoo in Parker City, Indiana. A wonderful place with wondeful memories....

Blogging Stats

2009-10-16T07:55:00.002-04:00

I use eXTReMe for tracking the hit stats on my CanonPhotoBlog. It's a simple yet robust tool. Below is a summary report it provides. A few interesting facts include:

Google is the leading search engine used as the source to finding my blog
"Canon" is the word most used when searching
Almost 6000 unique visitors in a little over 2 years

Canon 50D High ISO

2009-10-14T21:58:00.004-04:00

I set my Canon 50D to 3200 ISO for the first time this week while shooting the local high school soccer game. I set the camera in Av mode while using my 300mm f2.8 lens. At ISO 3200, the shutter speed hit a maximum of 1/320 - 1/400.....just fast enough to make the noise levels are satisfactory.

Canon 18-200mm Lens

2009-10-14T21:42:00.005-04:00

I just received my new "walk around" lens.....Canon's 18-200mm f3.5-5.6. It's not the best lens for capturing sporting events, but if you only want one lens while traveling, this is it. The 18mm provides a nice wide angle for landscapes, while the 200mm zoom capability provides just enough reach. It also includes IS (Image Stabilization) capability.

High school soccer at night...in the rain

2009-10-10T17:40:00.008-04:00

Well, it starts with protecting your camera and lens. I use AquaTech's camera rain gear. It's perfect for the hardest rain. These are not cheap, but they really work great. I own one for my 300mm f2.8 and one for my 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Lens Extender blog highlights a much less expensive option.

I set the camera (Canon 50D) using my normal soccer settings....Av mode, f2.8 (using my 300mm f2.8 lens), ISO 2000 and shutter speed 1/640+. Here are a few shots from the very wet game. Canon's 50D produces great shots at ISO 2000. The noise level is more than acceptable.

High School Volleyball Photography

2009-10-09T21:56:00.004-04:00

A tricky sport to photograph.....

I used my Canon 85mm f1.8 and 70-200mm f2.8 lens to capture these shots. My settings were similar to basketball since the indoor high school gyms are not well lit.....ISO 2000 and shutter speed 1/800+. Although capturing the players faces is ideal, it's not always possible in volleyball.

Canon Professional Network

2009-10-07T20:30:00.001-04:00

A very nice article and some great soccer pics from the Canon Professional Network.

Picasa Trick

2009-10-07T20:14:00.002-04:00

Just a little trick in Picasa and many other digital photo lab software packages. Simply retain the focus on a single object and over-blur the rest.

A Good Day

2009-10-04T17:56:00.001-04:00

Freezing the soccer ball in mid-air

2009-10-04T17:47:00.003-04:00

Capturing the ball in mid-flight is easier than it might look. The trick is timing the shot when the ball reaches zero velocity. If you have a high-end SLR, this should be no problem....shooting 4 - 8 frames per second. I use this simple timing technique for basketball as well.

Ultimate Frisbee Photography

2009-10-02T08:50:00.004-04:00

This was my first time shooting ultimate frisbee. These were taken in Ann Arbor, MI where the University of Notre Dame were battling the University of Michigan..........N.D. won :)

This is definitely a sport which requires zoom capability (versus simply a prime lens) since the player movement is fast, and the changes in the depth of field are even faster. I used my Canon 70-200mm for these shots.

After 6 long games....ND beats MSU

2009-09-20T14:57:00.005-04:00

University of Notre Dame

2009-09-18T19:14:00.003-04:00

The University of Notre Dame.....a great place to take pictures. Similar to shooting sports, I leave my Canon 50D in Av mode, keep the f-stop at 2.8 to maximize the depth of field, then manage the shutter speed according to the amount of sun light.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan (tough day in the big house)

2009-09-13T11:20:00.004-04:00

Notre Dame football is Canon country

2009-09-06T20:39:00.005-04:00

Notre Dame vs Nevada

2009-09-06T18:09:00.011-04:00

Capture every aspect of the game. I shot these with my Canon 50D and walk around lens, 28-135mm. I set the camera in Av mode while keeping the shutter speed close to 1/1200 plus.

The game

The Leprechaun

The fans

The band

The craziness

Narrow Crop

2009-09-04T18:14:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I like to crop my shots a bit more extreme than the standard 4x6 ratio. Since the action in these shots were completely vertical, I tried a narrow crop to elongate the picture.

Using Smugmug

2009-08-29T08:38:00.005-04:00

Smugmug is my choice for publishing and displaying photographs for friends and family. Below is a screen shoot of my homepage. Smugmug allows you to organize your photos with the ultimate flexibility. To get the most from this application, a little HTML experience can be a great advantage.

Check out that soccer ball!

2009-08-19T19:09:00.006-04:00

Tall and Small

2009-08-13T23:42:00.002-04:00

The Goalie Reach

2009-08-13T23:31:00.004-04:00

Another great shot of the same goalie can be seen here on Lens Extender.

Blue Angels using Canon 50D and 300mm F4

2009-07-20T13:29:00.003-04:00

Amazing Canadian Sun Rise

2009-07-16T20:43:00.005-04:00

Well, when you can get out of bed around 5:00 am, you can capture a great sun rise. These shots are from Ontario, Canada. It's Ice Lake, just outside Gore Bay, Ontario. Although I didn't have a tripod (which would have been very useful), I simply held on tight at 1/40-800 second shutter speed, ISO 640, 28mm focal length and aperture F5.0. I also like grabbing a tree branch in the foreground to help give the pictures some depth.

Pow-Wow

2009-07-16T20:33:00.005-04:00

I attended a Native Canadian Indian Pow-Wow in Ontario last week. This was a great experience overall and a wonderful chance to catch some great shots. I used my Canon 50D and 28-200mm f5.6 lens (my normal travel lens).

Notre Dame....here we come.

2009-07-10T20:32:00.005-04:00

These first cousins are heading to the University of Notre Dame this fall as incoming freshman....their dream come true.

Detroit Fireworks

2009-07-10T20:16:00.011-04:00

I carried my 28-200mm lens to the Detroit city fireworks a couple weeks ago. It's not the best quality lens, but it gets the job done for the occasion. I used my Canon 50D and held the camera at my waste and let it rip....primarily keeping the lens open at 28mm to capture the widest view.

Center, or not to center?

2009-06-16T12:07:00.006-04:00

Placing the main object in the center of the photo is not necessarily the best approach.....

The Last Soccer Game

2009-05-30T09:26:00.011-04:00

Well, after 8 years of chasing my daughter around the soccer fields across the Midwest, it has finally come to an end. Several years in premier club soccer plus a 4 year varsity starter...including captain during her senior year. Outdoor games, indoor games, games in the blazing heat, games in the falling snow....we've seen it all!

The photography has obviously changed as well.....from my first Canon "point-and-shoot" to my 50D with a 300mm f2.8 L series lens. I moved from standing still to full action. After over 100,000 shoots, 500 games, and several thousand dollars worth of camera gear....you get pretty good :)

The good news is that I will still be chasing my son around:

Colorizing

2009-05-10T19:46:00.004-04:00

Using Photoshop Elements, you can turn an average picture into a striking piece of art.

Soccer ball in-flight

2009-05-03T09:53:00.003-04:00

Soccer Referees

2009-04-23T07:30:00.004-04:00

The referees can add some character to your shots.....

Dolphins in Flight

2009-04-20T22:30:00.004-04:00

I used my Canon 50D to capture these Dolphins in Cancun, Mexico. Mid air shots are the best! I used my 28-135mm IS lens, ISO 400, F5.6, and 1/2500 shutter speed.

From Behind the Net

2009-04-05T07:17:00.004-04:00

When shooting soccer games, it's tough to find new positions to capture the action in unique ways. Next time, try standing behind the net. Sometimes the auto focus picks up the net instead of the players, but if you're lucky, it might just pay off.

Girls Varsity Soccer

2009-03-15T13:32:00.005-04:00

You simply cannot beat the bright sun. I used two cameras this weekend.....Canon Mark II with a 300mm f2.8 on a mono-pod and a Canon 50D with a 70-200mm f2.8 around my neck.

Some Canon 50D Soccer Action

2009-03-08T21:01:00.006-04:00

B-ball photography, landscape vs. portrait

2009-02-14T14:33:00.010-05:00

I normally shoot in portrait mode for basketball since the game is played vertically, but every now and then I shot landscape. Take a look at all of the photos.

Canon 50D, 70-200mm f2.8, ISO 1600, 1/500 shutter

50D and Basketball

2009-02-08T22:47:00.004-05:00

Canon 50D with an 85mm f1.8 lens works well for basketball. The 50D ISO performance is much improved over my older 20D. I shot these at ISO 1600, f1.8, and 1/640 shutter.

Big Air: Capturing the heights of b-ball

2009-01-29T22:04:00.005-05:00

Canon Mark II, 85mm f1.8, ISO 1250, shutter 1/1000

Basketball Photography

2009-01-16T12:34:00.006-05:00

I took a several hundred shots (good thing about digital) at a Michigan girls high school basketball game recently. Lighting continues to be the biggest challenge that any photographer faces when shooting indoor sports....especially a fast sport like basketball. Fast shutter speed is a must for me since I strive to eliminate the blur factor. But fast shutter speed requires higher ISO (usually around 1000 or higher which produces more noise in the pictures) and an aperture value of f2.0 or better (expensive lens). The resulting shutter speed should be 1/500 or better to ensure a clear photograph.

These shots were taken with a Canon Mark II, ISO1250, shutter speed 1/640 and aperture f1.8.

B-ball

2009-01-10T13:33:00.006-05:00

I took these middle school b-ball shots this past week. I used a Canon Mark II with a 85mm f1.8 prime lens. The f1.8 enables a lot of light into the camera so that I can maintain a reasonable shutter speed (1/800). The ISO was set at 1000.

SI 2008

2009-01-03T15:01:00.001-05:00

Catch these awesome photos from Sports Illustrated for 2008.

Mia Hamm

2009-01-03T08:52:00.006-05:00

I took this shot a few years ago, but it's still one of my most favorite photos. I remember it well.....shooting with a Canon Rebel and a 70-300 mm lens at the time. Mia was taking a corner kick against the Women's Canadian National Team in an exhibition game in Minnesota. It just goes to show that high end camera gear is not always required (but it sure helps).

The Backyard

2009-01-01T00:15:00.005-05:00

Never forget about the animals in the backyard.....there's always a little excitement. I used my 300mm f4 lens for this shot (f4.0, 1/1600 shutter speed and ISO 400).

Canon 28 - 135mm IS Lens

2008-12-31T20:29:00.007-05:00

I recently picked up a Canon 28-135mm IS lens in place of my older 28-200mm that I sold. This lens has advantages of lighter weight plus image stabilization. The reviews are mixed; however, it seems to be a great walk-around lens and will probably be the single lens I carry when traveling.

The MEs Zoo in Indiana

2008-12-31T20:07:00.005-05:00

I took a few shots over the holidays at the MEs Zoo in Parker City, Indiana. I used my Canon Mark II with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens.

Meet Bobbie ...... a male white tiger with awesome eyes.

Then there's B3 (pronounced "Bee-Cubed")......a 1 ton American buffalo:

And finally, Prince Charles, a Siberian tiger.....a bit shy with very sharp claws.

20D - Sold

2008-12-29T18:41:00.006-05:00

Well, after about 4 years and 50,000+ images, I decided to sell my 20D. I still have a Mark II, but now I'm down to one camera. Should I have two D-SLRs? I sure enjoy having them both at my side during sporting events. Plus the "X0D" series all have built in flashes, so I don't need to lug my 580 flash unit around. I'm looking into a 50D, but probably won't pull the trigger until later in the spring when outdoor soccer begins.

Footlocker Midwest Regional Cross Country Meet

2008-11-30T22:24:00.004-05:00

A few pictures from this weekend's Midwest regional CC meet in Racine, WI.

Fourteen hours in a car for 20 minutes of excitement.....well worth it. Eleven states were represented on this winter wonderland course. I took all of these with my 70-200mm f2.8 lens on a Canon Mark II body. You can check out all of the pictures here.

A Little Color

2008-11-08T19:36:00.005-05:00

I used my friend's advice from Spot Meter Sports to add just a bit of color using Photoshop Elements 5.

Michigan High School Soccer

2008-10-04T18:05:00.002-04:00

A couple shots from Michigan fall soccer.

(Canon Mark II, 300mm f 2.8)

The Mascot.....don't forget it

2008-09-27T17:06:00.001-04:00

Canon Mark II, ISO 1000, f2.8, 1/320, 300mm

3200 ISO - Canon Mark II

2008-09-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

I tried a few high school football shots with my Canon Mark II set at ISO 3200. A little granny, but much sharper (faster shutter speed) than ISO 1600.

High School Football Photos

2008-09-14T16:00:00.002-04:00

Here are few shots from this week's action in Michigan. I started at ISO 600 and slowly cranked it up to 1600 as the sun went down. It's always important to capture the entire game.....fans, cheerleaders, band, coaches and, of course, the action. See the rest of the shots here.

50D ISO Performance

2008-09-14T14:10:00.001-04:00

The new Canon 50D ISO performance looks impressive...even at 12,800.

Sunny Days and Soccer Photography

2008-09-11T19:18:00.002-04:00

What a great combination....sunny days and high school soccer. These were captured with my Canon Mark II and 300mm f2.8 lens.....ISO 400, 1/8000 shutter speed. You can check out the rest of the pictures on my web site.

2008-08-30T15:30:00.001-04:00

Cross country is back in action. When the clouds roll in, I need to crank up the ISO a bit to maintain a reasonable shutter speed. These were taken with by Canon Mark II and 70-200mm f2.8 lens. The settings were ISO 1000, aperture f2.8 and shutter 1/800. See the rest of the pictures here.

High School Soccer Photos

2008-08-23T08:18:00.004-04:00

Well, it's that time a year again. Michigan high school soccer started this week, and we had a lot of great sun along with a game starting at 5pm which always helps...

I used both my Canon 20D and Mark II with a 70-200mm f2.8 and 300mm f2.8, respectively. You can see all of the photos on my Smugmug web site.

Muskie on Line

2008-07-25T21:56:00.002-04:00

A few shots of a 42 inch, 25+ pound Muskie in St. Clair lake near Detroit, Michigan.

Big Bass

2008-07-04T14:41:00.001-04:00

Blurring a Stream

2008-07-04T07:43:00.003-04:00

I tried my first attempt at a common photography trick that's been seen in photo magazines for years........blurring the water in a running stream. It was easier than I thought. Simply set your camera on Shutter Priority and lower the shutter speed until you reach the desired affect. This shot was taken in Northern Ontario at ISO 400, f22, and 1/8 per second shutter speed. Also, it's important to find something in the picture which is stationary (like a rock) to help emphasize the running water.

Photographing Fireworks

2008-06-28T14:50:00.002-04:00

I have decided that camera settings really don't matter when shooting fireworks. The reason is because the lighting changes instantly from bright to dark, so speed is all that counts. Just hold the shutter down and let it rip.

Canon Ad in Warsaw, Poland

2008-06-22T21:37:00.002-04:00

Easiest Sport to Photograph

2008-06-20T10:51:00.001-04:00

Well the results are in.....with an overwhelming response to the "Easiest Sport to Photograph" survey, BASEBALL was the big winner with 57% of the vote. I would also agree by the way.....it's a slower sport giving you plenty of time to react and get into position. The biggest challenge I've found is location on the field. Knowing the coach is helpful so you can walk in and out of the dugout and also sit inside the fence line.

Castles along the Rhine River

2008-06-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

Wow....some awesome countryside along the Rhine River in Germany. There are so many castles.....

I used my Canon 20D and 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 lens (basic travel lens) for these shots.

St. Petersburg, Russia

2008-06-04T17:46:00.000-04:00

Some amazing architecture in Russia. I used by standard travel lens: Canon 28-200mm f3.5-5.6 with post editing in Picasa.