Crad1998

I am fairly new to photography and I have to photograph the first pitch at a minor league baseball game next week for a company event. I will be allowed on the field. I am looking for advise on what lens to use and any other tips to make this successful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No pressure there, huh? Only one pitch can be the first - no do-overs. You'll get excellent advice here, but also Google baseball photography or pitching photography. There's no such thing as doing too much research ahead of time.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Think about where you will stand. If you want the ball in flight stand along the first base side of a right handed pitcher so you have a chance of getting his face at release. Anticipate shutter lag and get your first shot of the pitcher at mid-windup. Alternately, stand behind the batter a little to the side with the ball incoming. Continue shooting with your camera set for rapid burst. In either event frame so you will have the pitcher, batter and ref. You can crop later if you have to. Use a tripod and cable release. Good luck.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Can you tell us what you will be using to take this picture? A point & shoot? A super zoom? Maybe a dSLR?

A couple of things though. Shutter speed is important. Do you want stop action, e.g everything in perfect focus with the thrown ball hanging in mid air? That requires a very fast shutter speed. Do you want motion blur so there is a sense of movement? That requires a somewhat slower shutter speed. Most cameras have something called a burst mode. Its intended for sports or action photography so you can fire several shots per second. You should find out how to use it on the camera you will be using. You can take several bursts. Perhaps one burst in the wind up, one burst in the release of the ball and one n the pitchers recovery. You need to test out the cameras burst ability ahead of time so there won't be any surprises. If you fire 5 or 6 shots at the release you're bound to get a good one, if they are in focus of course. If you don't use burst mode the chances of getting the shot you want is very low. I'll repeat what I said above. Practice ahead of time. Be confident you know how to control the camera. You won't have time to think during the pitch. You'll need to just react.

Beagleman Loc: Indiana

Better use "burst" setting and hit the shutter as the pitcher's arm comes around to get as many images as possible to select from.

--Beagleman

treadwl Loc: South Florida

I have taken a number of these "first pitch" events in the past. Generally the person throwing out the pitch wants a shot of them self. I generally give them TWO photos. After the pitch (sometimes before) you can get a quick shot of the individual standing with the catcher, generally with an arm over the shoulder. This needs to be quick as the game needs to get started. When the throw the actual pitch I always shoot vertical I position myself just to the third base side of the catcher for a right hand and to the first base side for a left hander. I always first a burst starting when the throwing arm just begins to come forward. I shoot at the fastest shutter speed the light will allow and shoot until the ball is well into its flight. I use a 70-200 mm zoom be sure to leave enough room at the top to get the height of the throwing arm.

Shoot a couple of pre shots to get the light right.

PaulB Loc: Alabama

Suggest you find some neighborhood kids and do a practice series or two to get the feel of shooting in the burst mode, camera settings, and shooting positions. That will eliminate many of the surprises at the actual event.