Thom Marshall Photography & Imagery

Collage

2011-06-12T19:35:00.001-07:00

The Collage

I sometimes like to do collage's. This is a pure artistic effort to the photographer, or it can be a teaching tool for the coaching staff of what ever sport is being shot.

A Series Collage is my specialty. A series collage basically is 8.5 fps my camera can shoot, capturing the mechanics and a point in time of an athletes abilities.

The beauty of a series collage is that within the frame rate you choose on your camera, you can either accept the first burst of shots taken like the above collage...

...or you can take several bursts, like the below series, and edit together more frames into the series to tell more of a story, and show more of the mechanics of the athlete in motion.

Collages can be fun and artistic at the same time. They can be revealing and catch what the eye misses.

Here are more of the series collages I have made.

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com ALSO http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

Stop motion vs. motion

2011-05-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

In most sports types such as baseball, football, hockey, soccer and the like, stopping the motion of the athlete on the field of play is almost a must. Stopping the motion while a team player steps into the action against an opposing player during the process of making points for their team can tell a story.

I say almost a must because sometimes when the timing is just right, and the photographer knows the gear they are using, an artistic moment can be shot while following a player as they run past the lens.

In this first image taken at Willow Springs Speedway, the black race car was shot using stop motion. Look also in the back ground, a gray race car is zooming its way around the track.

Stop motion is not always needed in all sports. While the gray car in the back ground definitely looks like it is in motion, the black car looks like it is parked on the track.

Now the next image, this blue race car, is convincing that it is in motion. Slowing the shutter down, center weighting the focal point, and panning with the car, trying to get in focus as it races by the lens is hard to do, but offers another level of story telling if done right.

As a sports photographer, as stated in the guidelines in the beginning of this blog, you must know your sport. In knowing your sport, you also need to have an idea of what images you are after. When envisioning those images, then, and only then, will you know how to execute.

Here are more images taken during the Redline Time Attack in 2009.

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com ALSO http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

Unorganized sports, youth level, school level or pro...it does not matter.

2011-05-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Sports is sports is sports.

The guidelines are the same, it does not matter.

It can be a simple game of flag football with a bunch of people out just to have fun, or it can be at the Rose Bowl shooting the Bruins vs. Ducks, the shots and the guidelines do not differ.

The only difference's are the venue's, the times, and what you are pre-visualizing as to what shots you are
after.

The two sports are basically the same, the action and the anticipation are not.

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com ALSO http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

Black and White

2011-05-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

Color sometimes can be distracting in an image. There are many reasons why...perhaps the color is too flat, or too saturated. Sometimes there may be too much of one color, or too much of one color offsetted by one lonely color. Who know's what reasons why, but the fix is simple. Black and White.

The trick to a good black and white is making sure that you have pure blacks and pure whites and still maintaining texture and detail. If your whites go too far, they will be blown out. If your blacks go too far they will look abysmal.

The three photo's here are examples of BAD, BETTER, and BEST. In that order.

The first image, the back ground is almost hiding the players because of the similarity in contrast. To fix this, when in editing mode, make sure to have a layer fix for the back ground, a layer fix for the foreground, and a layer fix for the players.

The second image is getting there.

It doesn't matter where the pure blacks and whites are in the image, but again, it is important to have texture. The white blob in the background is blown out, probably a reflection on a sign from the Sun. Her hair is abysmal.

The last image is best because, you see pure whites with texture, and even though the blacks are really dark, you can still make out detail.

Here are a couple more from my portfolio.

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com ALSO http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

Back Sides and ear shots

2011-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am not a big a big fan of viewing an athletes back side, I.E. their butt.

I understand that a parent, or a fan, not knowing, or are unable to roam around a venue to try and achieve a great shot other than the back side. I understand that especially parents are excited to see their child come up to bat, or enter a huddle, or are somewhere on the field of play and all they can think about is snapping a shot of their child and not thinking of how to get a better shot resulting in the ugly 'back side' shot.

I also understand, especially at the youth level, that roaming at a venue is easy enough to do.

Facial features are way more interesting. The depth of the face. The thought process, or the stress on the athletes face. The participation and cohesiveness of the athlete expressed upon their face, all contribute to the ultimate story.

An athlete just standing there, back turned to the lens is not at all a good image.

HOWEVER, as all things are said, IF the action dictates that the backside is all you get, and a story is still being told, then, of course, it could be an image that can be exciting when captured.

Think about it...back to the lens, doing nothing but showing numbers and their butt. OR, an action sequence of shots, involving the viewer in the story, even though all you see are numbers and butts.

Ear shots simply, in my honest opinion, suck.

A straight on shot of someones face, looking directly at the athletes ear socket, or their ear hole on their helmet, to me, is ugly.

Again...the face shows so much more. The face tells so much more. The face interacts the viewer to more of the story. Even if the shot taken is just clipping into the other side of the athletes face is more interesting than a straight on shot of someones ear.

It does not matter if that ear is covered by long hair or a helmet of some sort.

If action can not be taken, then the story can still be conveyed from an athlete during the moment.

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com/default.aspx

2011-05-01T08:47:00.001-07:00

Also check out my web sit at http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com/default.aspx also my artistic stuff at http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

2011-05-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

Also check out my web sit at http://thommarshallphotography.art.officelive.com/default.aspx also http://mostlybaseball.sports.officelive.com/default.aspx

Football

2007-11-01T13:42:00.001-07:00

Sports Action Photography by Thom Marshall. Call 818.618.7076 for bookings.

Baseball

2007-10-29T19:53:00.001-07:00

Sports Action Photography, Call 818.618.7076 for bookings.

I have been inspired by these photos to do a study on candid portrait photography .

I like how the eyes have framed between the mask of the ball players. Each giving a differant expression, and light.

I burned the surround of the face to draw the eye to the players eyes.

These particular close ups I like because of the "bird cage" attached to the helmet.

The bird cage is kind of like a natural frame for the eyes, and the brim of the helmet is a natural cutter.

Candids of kids can be a great way to produce a story.

The close up shot makes for a more intimate way of showing the emotion that is on a players face.

Soccer

2007-10-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sports Action Photography, call 818.618.7076 for bookings.

One sample of a slide show for the whole team.

2007-04-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Strictly sticking to the guidelines.

Candids of players at the youth level can result in cuteness.

Even here sticking to the guidelines is desirable.

2007-04-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

Stricktly sticking to the guidelines when possible.

I try to stick to the guidelines of sports photography as much as possible.

Clean backgrounds, tack sharp images, blah, blah.

As in some of these examples however, a yellow fence line gets in the way.

I can clone out the fence line, or blur out the back ground, but now we are talking a bunch more work for little fare.

I like the action, I hate the fence line. What to do?

Keeping strictly to the guidelines of sports photography.

2006-12-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v29.

2006-12-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

2006-12-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v28.

2006-12-03T18:53:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v27.

When I get the ball to stop in mid air, and the play is being executed, I find that the emotional value of the image is at its greatest.

2006-12-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v26.

2006-12-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v25.

These particular close ups I like because of the "bird cage" attached to the helmet.

The bird cage is kind of like a natural frame for the eyes, and the brim of the helmet is a natural cutter.

2006-12-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v24.

Candids of kids can be a great way to produce a story.

The close up shot makes for a more intimate way of showing the emotion that is on a players face.

2006-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v23.

2006-11-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v22.

2006-11-29T04:29:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v21.

2006-11-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v20.

2006-10-24T04:20:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v19.

2006-10-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v18.

2006-10-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v17.

I think I like to photograph football the most. Besides the obvious drama that occurs from every snap of the ball, there is extreme emotion.

Youth level soccer is a lot of kick ball action. Sometimes can be boring when there is not a lot of air time.

Youth level baseball is a lot of errors, resulting in lost plays. Lost plays usually result in easy scoring opportunities.

Football, on the other hand, even at the youth level, has a built in emotion that guarentees drama from the hard hits, to the resulting score.

2006-10-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v16.

2006-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v15.

2006-10-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v14.

2006-10-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v13.

2006-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v12.

2006-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens v11.

2006-10-03T05:34:00.000-07:00

Story telling through the lens V10.

2006-09-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

Some new pix from the things I have learned for sports photography.

2006-06-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

Story Telling Through The Lens v9.

Knowing the key players, or the impact players, or the star players can make for nice
results in action shots.

2006-06-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Too Dark, Not Sharp!!

These examples are not worthy of print for a couple reasons.
First of all they are not tack sharp.
Second, the football games are a bit underexposed.
These would of been better if I had a faster lens, and a faster shutter speed.
More artificial light would of been nice as well, but I'm not made of money.

This first image is a tad dark and probly could use some dodging techniques
in PS.

2006-06-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Too Blown Out!!

These pix, even though they may seem sound to some, to me seem a bit blown out. Plus, a faster shutter speed could of been used to get more detail.

This image I like, but want to improve on the ball. A faster shutter speed will
make the seams of the ball come out better, giving the whole image
more detail.

2006-06-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Story Telling Through The Lens v8

2006-06-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Story Telling Through The Lens v7

2006-06-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Story Telling Through The Lens v6

2006-06-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Story Telling through the lens v5

2006-06-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

Story Telling through the lens v4.

Some Basic Guidelines for Sports Photography

2006-06-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Some Basic Guidelines for

Sports Photography

These guidelines are just ideas to think about before releasing the shutter of a camera at a sporting event. Sometimes guidelines are meant to be broken, especially if you are a non professional, or an artist.
The guidelines are mainly for those that want to go professional and sell photos to magazines and news papers.
The youth level, however, for the parent, the coach, or the youth player, the guidelines should always be seen as a way to compliment the image, and not something set in stone.

1) Rule of 6= Don't include the whole team in any one picture frame. It looks too cluttered. Use no more than 6 players from the teams to get your point across.

2) Action shots can be thought of as a triangle of elements to capture the best possible photograph. The facial expression, the action itself, and the ball/equivalent. A good action shot should include facial expressions and the ball. If the face or the ball can not be shot, then one of the other two elements must be present. Opposing teams are good to get in the shot, but make sure to get the main player composed before the secondary player. Body language is acceptable and can be substituted if facial expressions are not possible, but, with that, a story should always be told. A player's back to you just standing there is boring. A player's back to you while he is picking his nose tells a story.

3) Focus all your shots to be TACK SHARP. Anything less is not a good picture. The sharpness of the image should be done in camera...always. Trying to sharpen the image in a photo editor does not work because the photo itself has to be somewhat sharp in the first place. Of course, if motion is introduced in the image in a purposeful way to tell a story, than this is ok as long as the subject is sharp while the back ground shows motions.

4) Compose your frame to have all of the players limbs in the frame. Try not to cut limbs off.

5) A player running twords you is a better picture than a player running away from you.

6) Keep your back ground soft, and don't include ANY advertisment. Banners of the teams or the league are ok, but Nike, or Burger King is distracting unless you are going after ad shots. If that's the case, then these guidelines don't matter. Also, recon your venue. Find the back ground you like best and use it. A blank wall is better than a parking lot. The score board is better than the sports fans.

7) Crop tightly...again, crop tightly. If you can't do it out of camera, then do it in editing. Your after a story, and minimal distractions. Crop tightly.

8) Anticapate your shots. Especially on a long lens. KNOW YOUR SPORT. Focus your lens on a part of the playing area where you think the most plays will be, and let the action come to you.

9) Wide lens shots are great for full team shots, full stadium shots, fan shots, fields shots.

10) There is more to sports than the competition. Look for stuff before, during, and after any game. The lone ball, the hash mark, the tossed baseball cap, the deranged fan, the drunk owner.

11) I mentioned this, but I can not stress enough but KNOW YOUR SPORT. Anyone, including grandma with her point and shoot can photograph a sporting event, but if you don't know when to anticapate the action, then why are you there. If it is a new sport to you, start watching ESPN and go to that sporting event. Ask questions to people that do know the sport. Baseball is differant photographically than football. Baseball you are limited to where you can stand, football you can roam up and down the field.

12) Find out who the stars are, or the impact players are before the game. These people will be more in demand from editors, and/or they will be the players that make the great plays.

13) Know your peramaters with the sport. Youth sports usually has no problems of where you can be to take pictures. But, when you get into college, and pro sports, there are guidelines to be aware of to not interfere with the coaching staff and the players.

14) Bring a flash with you, but ask first if you can use the flash. Sometimes coachs don't like flashs to be used, or the flash may be distracting to the player; e.g. the fast lens.

15) Bring extra everything with you especially batteries, you will need it.

16) Avoid fence lines going through your players image if possible. A player being impaled by a fence line looks like they are being impaled.

17) Make sure your horizon is level. If it's art your after, then this guideline is up for grabs. If it's a good photograph your after, then this is an important guideline.

18) When editing your images, never edit out, or crop out the chin of a player. The eye's and above are OK to edit out but never the chin and below. Make sure skin tones are realistic and consistent. Remember to keep a story in mind weather it is an action shot or a simple head shot. Head shot too can tell a simple story, weather its dirt on the face, a tilt of the helmet, a blink of an eye...

19) Shooting in the RAW format gives you more flexibility when shooting and especially when editing. Shooting JPEG is faster, but RAW is better. Learn RAW.

20) Carry a second camera with you with a lens set that complements the first camera. Bring appropriate camera gear you will need to get the appropriate shot. Once your at the venue, it is a big pain to go back home to get something you forgot. Being prepared is key.

21) Bring business cards, especially if you are shooting other peoples youth players. Parents are curious to know who is taking photo's of their kids because there are a bunch of sicko's out there exploiting the kids on the internet. At the very least, carry business cards so you can trump up business, get your name out there in the market and get clients.

2005-12-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v3.

2005-12-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens v2.

2005-12-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

Story telling through the lens.

2005-12-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

Above and beyond the basic rules of thumb for a great sports pix, my personal opinion is that trying to antisapate the shot to create a story is a value that is overlooked.

Throwing the ball doesn't tell me much, but throwing the ball and having a defender go for an interception tells me more.

2005-12-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

My background and experience.

2005-12-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

I am a semi pro sports photographer, meaning, I have been paid for some of my work.

I use a Canon 1d Mk.2 digital camera as my main body, and I have a Canon 300d digital camera as a back up, and secondary body.

My lens sets are all Canon, and are either L quality telephoto, or prime.

I usually hand hold the bodies, rarely using a monopod unless I rent a big ass lens that demands support.

I know how to rig, so, occasionally I rig the bodies in a venue and either remote trigger, or manually trigger the shutter to get the shot I am after.

I was the Hart Pony Baseball and Softball League photographer from 2002 until 2010 when I retired that position. I did not like the politics.

I have been shooting stills since high school and through most of my college education.

My bread and butter is in the motion picture industry in Hollywood, working as a set lighting technician, but mostly I have been finding myself rigging shows and enjoying that a lot.

Currently, I have been teaching sports photography through the city of Santa Clarita, CA. You can find my class schedule through their Seasons magazine.

Please enjoy this blog, tell your friends and family about it especially those that have kids and want to have some sort of a clue to capture images during sporting events.

Please 'LIKE' the blog in FaceBook.

Thanks.