Rugby - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/18/2005 08:49:00 AM · #1

I have been asked to shoot a local rugby team on saturday afternoon, any body got any suggestions please.
I just hope the weather is good.
(I will post a few next week.)
Thanks in advance.

roadrunner

Canon EOS-20D

10/18/2005 08:52:45 AM · #2

hey congrats ben... and have fun....
i have no suggestions, as i have only ever done these kind of things for fun.....
and i ll keep my fingers crossed for the weather for you... can't wait to see the pics.....

bjallen

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/18/2005 09:10:19 AM · #3

Rugby should be fun!I shoot Football. First what are pictures being used for?

10/18/2005 10:36:03 AM · #4

Originally posted by bjallen:

Rugby should be fun!I shoot Football. First what are pictures being used for?

They are just for club members and possibly their web site.

modprod

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/18/2005 10:59:28 AM · #5

Try to get close ups of the scrums and mauls.line outs to can provide some excellent opportunities.Good luck.

modprod

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/18/2005 11:01:02 AM · #6

PS,Rugby Union or League?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/18/2005 06:34:36 PM · #7

Originally posted by modprod:

PS,Rugby Union or League?

Union

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/18/2005 08:24:47 PM · #8

Hurro,

If you're able to, cover the game form the dead ball line and sideline.

I pick the end and sideline that is with my back to the sun, and stick with those. Unless the game is really one-sided you'll get both offensive and defensive shots. Working into the sun is too hard for sports stuff, you'll miss a lot of shots due to high contrast and/or flare. (Unless you've got no option of course... That's a whole other topic.)

I tend to stay on the dead-ball line for the first 20 minutes of each half, and within the 22 on that end of the field, then work up and down the sideline for the last 20. From the sideline you can get the open running game shots, the halfback feeding off a ruck/srom/maul. Backs coming up the sideline, lineout shots.

Don't get disapointed if you don't get any shots of tries etc happening. With only one person on the field it's really difficult to catch everything. I've taken thousands of shots on rugby fields this year and got maybe 50-60 of someone actually scoring points.

Be realistic about how many 'keepers' you're going to get from a photographic point of view. Of all the sports photos I've taken there are maybe 10 or 20 I have printed in my commercial portfolio. That's typical from what I understand. An article I read about Sports Illustrated said their 'keeper' rate was 1 in 1000 for publiction, and on a really good day it was 1 in 300.

That's not to say that you can't get 50 photos in a game that they'll like... Sports teams don't care much for composition, lighting, busy backgrounds, noise, harsh shadows etc.. They are looking for a bit of action they remember, someone they recognise getting stomped by the 300lb prop.

If there is another photograher on the field, wander up and introduce yourself. As long as you don't actually push another photographer out of the way to get your shot you will be able to work right on top of each other without any problems. We're a fairly courteous bunch.

Develop eyes in the back of your head to keep watch on the linesmen. I got run over once last season by a linesman who was comming down the sideline watching the game and not looking out for dopey photographers. The Ref & linesmen will generally ignore you as long as you don't get in the way, but do watch out for them. I shoot with both eyes open now! :-).

Have a look at my rugby stuff here there might be some inspiration.. Or not. :-).

Just my 2c worth. :-).

Canadian_eh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/18/2005 09:00:50 PM · #9

just some hints on great shot oppertunities... when they do their pyramid off the throw in, its a great oppertunity for a shot. Juring the kickoff, if you follow the kicker, and take the shot on a moderate shutter speed, you'll get great results! will you be working with any lenses? because in that case you have so many more oppertunities! try to follow the reciver off the initial kick, if you follow them all the way, it will give you an amazing shot (assuming they are playing the pick twards you. rember to get alot of shots near the end of the game, because as in every sport, the last couple minutes, the emotion is great because the current winners are playing their hardest to keep the lead, and the under dogs will be fighting to gain it! As alwayse i'd shoot with a UV filter, and just get down and dirty! get down in the dirt, try different angles, especially off the throw!~

scrum8

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/18/2005 09:27:24 PM · #10

Tip #1: Shoot all your photos the first half so you can play the second half when everyone is tired.

Tip #2: Don't take your camera to the after game party. I had to get my Rebel exorcised after the last party.

Tip #3: Shoot an Old Boys game for warm up. They are slower and easier to track. Plus they have more color in their faces.

Check the Fotki link on my profile page. I have about a dozen rugby albums there that might give you some ideas.

riot

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Helios 40-1 85mm f/1.5

10/19/2005 08:16:32 AM · #11

I shoot rugby and football for the Edinburgh Student, but not had THAT much experience with it (and i don't really care much for most sports anyway)... i'd say all of KiwiChris' advice is pretty much spot on, except possibly...

Originally posted by KiwiChris:

Working into the sun is too hard for sports stuff, you'll miss a lot of shots due to high contrast and/or flare.

I actually try to shoot towards the sun when i can, i get far more dramatic results, the grass looks much better with the sun sparkling off it, and the highlights just accentuate textures. My meter has never had any issues with this scenario - it's funny, all the people who i meet who tell me i should shoot with my back to the sun all use nikons :)

Oh, and try to keep your shutter speed above 1/1000 at all times - although it can make for decent effects in football shots, motion blur never adds much to rugby shots in my experience.

tonyv

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/19/2005 02:58:54 PM · #12

Plenty of good advice already. Just don't try it from corporate boxes (suites) that are the equivalent of seven stories up. You end up with players with no legs or torso and no sense of depth:

But you are high enough to get a good picture of the celebratory balloons released at the beginning if the game (in the colours of the team that eventually lost):

And very occasionally you actually get a good picture (and yes, I know I need to do a bit of cloning):

Cheers
Tony