NFL: Texans vs Steelers - 10.02.11

[groovehouse]

A few weeks ago, I posted about my first NFL shooting experience. This past Sunday, 10/2 was my second game, it was the Texans fourth game of the season and their second home game.

I shot my first game for our local alt weekly, but recently picked up shooting the Texans for a local radio conglomerate. If all goes as planned, I should be shooting the rest of home games for this season.

During my first shoot I used three camera bodies, 5D, 5DMII and my Rebel XTi along with my 70-200, 24-70 and my 15mm fisheye. Since that first game, I have acquired a 300 f/4 and feel I have made a very good decision. I also opted to bring my 50mm which I left on my Rebel XTi and swapped out with my 15mm on occasion.

The new lens is a Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM. While a 400, 500 or 600 would be even more awesome, none of those are remotely in my budget. While I could rent one, the expense would come out of my pocket and I feel I'm doing fine with my current set up.

I was worried that the 300's f/4 limitation was going to be an issue, but I see it only being an issue and probably not really a big issue if I had to shoot a night game, which I won't for the rest of the season at home. The rest of our home games are all at noon, broad daylight. While our stadium has a retractable roof, the top is translucent and natural light combined with stadium lighting is ample.

Throughout the day, on my 70-200 which is f/2.8, I noticed that I never dropped below f/4.0 and sometimes shot up to f/5.6, therefore, the 300 at a constant f/4.0 was just perfect. I was impressed with the sharp shots I got from this lens and would recommend it to anyone who was shooting sports in broad daylight. I cannot yet attest to its usefulness at a night game.

For my published photos of this game, check out the 61 image gallery on the radio's website.

Below is a sampling of my work:

1.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5658b by groovehouse, on Flickr

2.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - XTi_9978b by groovehouse, on Flickr

3.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5D_5700b by groovehouse, on Flickr

4.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5860b by groovehouse, on Flickr

5.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5804b by groovehouse, on Flickr

6.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5790b by groovehouse, on Flickr

7.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5923b by groovehouse, on Flickr

8.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5919b by groovehouse, on Flickr

9.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5786b by groovehouse, on Flickr

10.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5DII_5819b by groovehouse, on Flickr

11.

Texans vs Steelers - Houston, TX - 10.02.11 - 5D_5828b by groovehouse, on Flickr

[Cathus]

All i can say is I'm dead jealous, I'd give someone's right arm to shoot the NFL.

[donoreo]

We could do without that last photo.

[groovehouse]

Originally Posted by Cathus

All i can say is I'm dead jealous, I'd give someone's right arm to shoot the NFL.

Who's right arm?

Originally Posted by donoreo

We could do without that last photo.

Awww... come on. LOL!

[Cathus]

groovehouse,

ANYONE's! except mine as I need it to shoot with.

Tell you what, you can borrow my 600mm if I can come & shoot the Texans with you.

BTW, I run an online UK American Football magazine - http://www.insideamericanfootball.com, you can see photos of the British game in each issue (lots of which are mine). I used to play the game and run my own team in the 1980s.

And I spent last weekend shooting the British American football championship games.

I certainly appreciate your photos!

[Darren Wilson]

Would be a dream come true to shoot either the nfl or nhl over in the states as I follow both sports,great photos too

[Darren Wilson]

Would be a dream come true to come over and shoot either the nfl or nhl as I follow both sports,and great photos too so jealous

[OldBoy]

Cracking series of shots but love the first one best. It looks so natural.

Originally Posted by groovehouse

Throughout the day, on my 70-200 which is f/2.8, I noticed that I never dropped below f/4.0 and sometimes shot up to f/5.6, therefore, the 300 at a constant f/4.0 was just perfect.

I'm very surprised at this statement. I don't have these Canon lenses but do have the Nikon versions except the Nikon 300mm F4 hasn't got VR. I find the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR is a lot better than the Nikon 300mm F4 in most situations and is the one I use daily as a carry round lens, sometime with the 1.4 or 2x converter attached.

[groovehouse]

Originally Posted by Cathus

groovehouse,

ANYONE's! except mine as I need it to shoot with.

Tell you what, you can borrow my 600mm if I can come & shoot the Texans with you.

BTW, I run an online UK American Football magazine - http://www.insideamericanfootball.com, you can see photos of the British game in each issue (lots of which are mine). I used to play the game and run my own team in the 1980s.

And I spent last weekend shooting the British American football championship games.

I certainly appreciate your photos!

Thank you very much Cathus. I wish I had the ability to share this experience with others. It is amazing. Your site is awesome and I will check on it frequently to see your photos!

Originally Posted by Darren Wilson

Would be a dream come true to come over and shoot either the nfl or nhl as I follow both sports,and great photos too so jealous

Thanks, this is a dream come true and one that I do not take for granted. I am very lucky to be able to do this and am very happy to share this experience with the message board.

Originally Posted by OldBoy

Cracking series of shots but love the first one best. It looks so natural.

I'm very surprised at this statement. I don't have these Canon lenses but do have the Nikon versions except the Nikon 300mm F4 hasn't got VR. I find the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR is a lot better than the Nikon 300mm F4 in most situations and is the one I use daily as a carry round lens, sometime with the 1.4 or 2x converter attached.

Well, for one, the lighting was so good that day that the fact that lens was f/4 didn't even factor into the situation. If I had used an f/2.8 lens, it wouldn't have mattered because I probably would not have had to shoot below f/4.0. The real problem comes when I have to use the lens during a night game.

I feel that my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 without IS is just as sharp as this 300 f/4 with IS, of course, in broad daylight. The L series of lenses by Canon are just amazing.