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