(Photo - Oxford v Cambridge Ultimate Frisbee Varsity Match

Sunday 28th Feb 2016 

 Nikon D750 / 24 to 70 mm f2.8 @ 70 mm

1/500th Sec / f4 / ISO 100)

The Story Behind the Picture #1

Sometimes you just need to shoot from the Hip!

(Or, always, always, always keep your eye on the game!)

I wasn't even looking through the viewfinder when I took this shot.  It was getting to the end of a day of sports shooting - it was the Ultimate Frisbee Varsity Match between Oxford & Cambridge Universities.  Even though it was February in Middle England it had been dry & sunny - but my bones were starting to get cold as the temperature dropped.

I was starting to think more about getting into my car and putting the heater on than the Match.  Play had stopped for a moment or 2 and the disc was right at the other end of the pitch.  So I took a few seconds to review the last few shots, in particular to check the histogram for any clipping at either the under-exposed or the over-exposed end.

As my gaze was fixed on the rear screen I heard the steady 'thump thump' of players heading towards me - at some speed!  I knew the lens was set at the 70 mm end and, without even looking up, I swung the camera so it was horizontal and fired off a few shots on the 6 frames per second setting.  By the time I had moved my gaze from the back of the camera to the pitch I saw these 2 players - very close - and I hurriedly moved back!

I didn't expect any of the shots to be any use, but one, this one, worked.  The 6 frames per second setting gave me several bites at getting a good shot.  And thankfully the autofocus locked onto the players.

So, I got lucky!

But it would have been much better to have been watching the Match all the time!

(If you have found this Blog useful, please feel free to leave a comment. 

And if you think someone you know would find it useful, please feel free to share it with them.

And if you didn't find this Blog useful, if you leave me a comment telling me why, I will try to improve it at its next review.)