Your last is my FAV. Does not get much better than that. Really nice shooting

@Tshift. - agree with the hold. Actually, I think it is more than one offensive player doing it (look hight and low)

Hi Shooter41

First, really good shot. Nice composition. Nice and tight (though from this device I don’t know if that was SOOC or cropped). Focus was spot on. That you had and used f2 contributed nicely to the shot, and brings even more attention to you spot-on focus given the extremely shallow DOF

Agree with the comments that 3200 SS may be more than you need, and you may be able get away with less. If you were to gain back a stop, you could then decide if you wanted to use it to lower ISO or got to a higher f stop for slightly more DOF. It also depends on how your image will be used. If shrunk down for online publication might give a different answer than a blown up print

If you can get to another practice, you might do a controlled experiment with all 3 combinations (your current and the two above), compare the results, and see what YOU like best for what you want to accomplish

Keep shooting, and I (we) look forward to hearing more from your journey

Love the first photo - the very dark background of the stands vs the brightly lit white jersey. Ball silhouetted up high.

Awesome photos.

Hi

Assuming that the 2nd shot posted is close to what you want to put in your book (assuming is dangerous, I know), then the biggest issue to noise you have is that you are cropping and throwing away at least 80% of your pixels. You note that the lens is set at 109mm, which is not nearly close enough to “fill the frame” with the desired subject matter.

As 109mm is not a prime lens, suspect you are using a zoom, but you don’t say how long the long end can be. My guess is that you need to be over 200mm, and possibly in the 300-400 range depending on how far you are from the action. This will do more for your noise issues than the f stop change.

Some of the much more talented sports shooters here, like Jules or Thomas, will undoubtably have much better advise and guidance

At worst, try some shots (not even during the game) at different settings on the same subject matter (say casual group standing around before the game) and then compare the results between them.

Good luck on your journey

Hi Jules

I am with Tom - in awe of your skill with these shots. I do envy the amount of sunshine you get out there. Seems I shoot half the time with dark clouds (or worse -rain 😱).

It looks like you uses a “reverse vignette” on one of the shots - have not scene that before - nice effect.

These are really sharp. I agree with Jules that I’d guess the last 2 of the volleyball shots are the ones, but I do like #4 regardless. #2 (setter) is awesome

On the football, overall -great, 3-5 especially, and #4 is the best of the set

Really nice work on both games

Hi

Question for clarification.

the picture you showed I thought drove the in-camera software on how it processes the RAW picture into the in-camera jpeg, so it would definitely impact what you see on the LCD, and also the jpeg downloaded (if you do).

But would it impact the RAW file in any way? No sure it does (but not sure it does not, hence the question)

Thanks in advance

David

Great sequence

Would see like the appropriate answer to the above question is “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!”

Very nice

Really well done

Great work.

Great shots. Like them all, but #5 is near perfect

Hi

Peak in Shelburne has just started, so let that help be a guide. You can google “peak fall foliage” and get tracking maps.

Overall, I think your ideas of southern VT is likely good, especially staying off the upper elevations and nearer to the the Lake.

Sounds like a good trip. Have fun.