| Strike one! Strike two! Strike | | | | Glove. Focus your attention on the stars as |
| three!Baseball! America's Pastime, and a | | | | they most likely will make the best |
| sport growing in popularity throughout the | | | | photographs, but don't be so drawn to |
| world, where the Boys of Summer slug it out. | | | | celebrity that you miss a role player making |
| A baseball game is the perfect way to spend a | | | | a crucial steal or diving catch that wins the |
| lazy summer afternoon, plus it provides | | | | game for their team!7) When the opening |
| opportunities to take photos that last a | | | | lineup starts, look at the dugout. If you're |
| lifetime.While many claim the sport of | | | | rooting for the home team, the beginning of |
| baseball is a slow-paced affair, when action | | | | the game is a great time to get player |
| does occur, it can happen very swiftly, | | | | photographs as they are running out onto the |
| almost too fast for an unskilled photographer | | | | field. If not, take photographs during the |
| to shoot the photos they desire. Baseballs | | | | middle of the inning. If you don't get the |
| fly quickly when hit or thrown, and timing | | | | perfect photo, delete bad photographs during |
| the action for when to take a digital | | | | lull times and try later during the game.8) |
| photograph requires split-second reflexes. | | | | To take a picture of a swinging batter that |
| Thus, before you plan on taking photos at a | | | | will last a lifetime, do the following:*) |
| baseball game, you may wish to read the | | | | Preparation is the key. First, before the |
| following advice:1) First, make sure you are | | | | game, know how to operate your digital |
| allowed to bring your digital camera to the | | | | camera. Practice focusing the camera and |
| baseball game. Some ballparks have no | | | | quickly deleting unused photos - sometimes |
| restrictions, others on the zoom length, some | | | | you can delete an unwanted photo before it is |
| on using flash, and some may not allow you | | | | completely saved to the camera's memory.*) |
| into the baseball game at all with your | | | | Before the pitch, focus your viewfinder on |
| camera!2) Change your camera settings to take | | | | the batter's box and try not to cut out any |
| the quickest photographs possible while still | | | | of the batter's body. Zoom in as appropriate, |
| providing plenty of light for the photograph. | | | | but remember the more you zoom in, the slower |
| You'll need to read your camera's manual on | | | | the potential shutter speed needed to take a |
| how to change these settings; for example, | | | | clear photo.*) Anticipate shutter lag. Lock |
| consider saving photos as JPG instead of RAW | | | | your focus before the pitch; this usually is |
| to take photos faster.Just remember that the | | | | done by pressing the shutter button down |
| quicker the shutter speed, the less light | | | | half-way.*) Time it... time it... then as |
| enters the camera to take the picture. Thus, | | | | soon as the ball is about to hit the bat, |
| you'll need to compromise picture speed and | | | | press down fully on the shutter button.*) If |
| the amount of light to take great photos. | | | | the pitch is a strike or the swing is not one |
| That is why baseball games work well with | | | | to be remembered, cancel the save so your |
| photography - many games are played on sunny | | | | picture is not written to memory. This way, |
| days or in well-lit domes or stadiums that | | | | you can save room for other photos.9) Look |
| allow you to take crisp, high-action | | | | around for photo opportunities not directly |
| photos.3) Before going to a big league | | | | related to the action. Take a photograph of |
| ballpark, make sure you know the rules and | | | | the grounds crew cleaning the bases and |
| nuances of the game. Practice taking photos | | | | raking the dirt between innings. Get a few |
| at a minor-league, college, or high school | | | | shots of the crowd. Take a picture of the |
| baseball game. The stakes aren't quite as | | | | scoreboard. Look at the surrounding area. If |
| high if you miss a shot, and taking your | | | | you want to remember the full experience of a |
| camera to a game will give you more insight | | | | baseball game years from now, you should take |
| into when action occurs and when players just | | | | advantage of one of the best features of a |
| stand around.4) Have extra batteries and | | | | digital camera - the ability to take lots and |
| digital camera memory handy and practice | | | | lots of photographs - and shoot photographs |
| switching both out quickly before the game! A | | | | showcasing the FULL baseball experience.10) |
| three and a half hour game can put a | | | | Take a break during the game! You came to the |
| tremendous strain on even the most | | | | baseball game to enjoy the spectacle, not |
| power-miserly camera, and more often than not | | | | just to take pictures, right? Designate a few |
| you will have to switch out power or memory | | | | innings as photo-free time where you just sit |
| in the middle of an inning.5) Don't worry if | | | | back, munch on a hot dog, drink a soda, and |
| you miss a shot! Unless you have tons of | | | | soak in the environment.Remember to study |
| digital camera memory, you may not be able to | | | | your digital camera manual first and |
| continuously shoot photograph after | | | | practice, practice, practice! Follow these |
| photograph. If you miss a key pitch, the | | | | ten tips and you'll be on your way to taking |
| swing of a bat, or a forced out, don't get | | | | "home run" baseball photographs in no |
| angry! More often than not, new opportunities | | | | time.Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek.Andrew Malek |
| will arise for great photographs.6) Study the | | | | is the owner of the MalekTips computer and |
| lineup first. Know who are the key players | | | | technology help site at Want more great tips |
| and those who barely know how to swing a bat. | | | | on buying and using digital cameras? Visit |
| Likewise, learn who has loose hands in the | | | | for more free digital photography advice. |
| outfield and who is likely to win a Gold | | | | |