Thought for the Week

"A hug is a perfect gift - one size fits all and nobody minds if you give it back."
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'F is for ... '

Football

I know I'm cheating here, but I couldn't decide which photo's to use.

So here a some shots I took last season...




... and here are some shots that I have taken in the last 2 weeks. The lads are playing a couple of 'friendlies' in preparation for the start of the season.



Last year was the first time I had tried to capture sport in photographs, and the first couple of matches I did as a way of practising in case 'movement' came up for our exam.

After much piss taking by the lads, and providing them with bucket loads of amusement in renaming me David Bailey, it wasn't long at all before I heard

'Did you get that?' after every goal or heavy duty tackle!! It even came to be a standing joke that if I didn't capture it with the camera, it simply didn't happen. Therefore, when one of the defence, the captain no less, scored a goal off a corner the team all denied it back at the pub...

'What goal' they all said!!

I also learnt, very quickly, that to capture the moment you have to be permanently ready, and learn the art of anticipation. If you wait to push the shutter button until you see an interesting shot, it's too late, the moment has already happened.

I also learnt 2 other very, very, important things last season:

1. Even if the lads are NOT on the pitch ... be ready!!!

2. Never, never, ask for water, it doesn't always come in a bottle!!!


58 comments:

RUTH said...

What a great set of photos. I found with my little camera when I was trying to shots of the Karate team breaking bricks that by the time I'd taken the shot it was over. These footballs shots are great fun...:o)

Ali said...

Ruth ~ unfortunately a lot of small cameras tend to have a short delay between pressing the shutter and taking the photo. I am lucky enough to have a good camera, without which I wouldn't capture any of this.

Cathrine said...

all wonderful photos :)

Cathrine said...

thank you :) !
cathrine
Norway

Ali said...

Catherine ~ Thanks for stopping by, I have been over and looked at some of your photos, they're great.

bidarlah said...

yes u have a great camera i say. u manage to capture or shall i say...freeze the moments. nice one!

i only manage to capture those occasionally. need to play around more haha!

Unknown said...

My favourite is the last one I think they should throw a bucket of water over most of the players that roll around on the ground!

Ali said...

Bidarlah ~ I have to admit, the first time I tried it I was amazed that I managed to capture the action AND the ball in quite a lot of the shots!!!

Pauline ~ He was genuinely hurt, hamstring if I recall, but it was a funny moment!

Digital Flower Pictures said...

You did really, really well with these. My sports photos always come out blurry which is why I don't take many. Your camera worked really well as did the person directing it.

I always thought football was a different sport ;-)

Ali said...

DFP ~ Aww, thank you for your kind comments. Having a good camera definitely helps.

Hahahahaha, over here, in ENGLAND, we play proper football!!!!! :o)

Akelamalu said...

Great Action photos!

mrsnesbitt said...

Hey, I too went mad today with "F"! LOL!

Love the water pic!

Off to hospital now.....!

Mike said...

The last picture.... So the guy wasn't on fire then?

Great action shots!

kml said...

What a great football series - love the ending photo with the water!

Dan said...

Ali, awesome photos! I love the last one with the particles of water!

And for we Americans, this is "S" for "soccer", right? Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Okay Miss smarty pants - I'm just dying for you to have an 'off day'!

Fabulous shots - you're an inspiration!

Ali said...

Akelamalu ~ Thank you. I love the challenge of sports/action photography

Denise ~ You certainly did. Great read. Hope your finger is better soon. x

Jean M Fogle said...

I love your f pics today. Esp like the finished fishing pic and the football. I wonder what camera you are using, I love my digital slr , no more having to plan ahead to get the action, now when I see it , I get it!
Jean

Anonymous said...

Great shots! Love the last one with the water. The lads look like they can get hurt playing football. Well done!

Ali said...

Mike ~ No he wasn't, but the lads on the touchline were in hysterics!!

KML ~ Thanks. There's always some fun antics when you get all the lads together, on or off the pitch!

Ali said...

Dan ~ Thx honey, I love that one too. I was just paused, waiting for the game to restart, when I saw the sub rush over with the bucket, we all knew what was coming next, so I pointed and shot!

WFW ~ LMAO @ your comment! I have plenty of rubbish photo's too, I just don't post them!!! :o)

Ali said...

Jean ~ Can't beat a digital SLR. My own camera is a Canon EOS 400D, but last week I was trialing a friends Fuji S5 Pro. Good camera, but a bit slow for action shots.

Nicole ~ They're big lads, they can hold their own pretty much. One did sustain a broken ankle last year, other than that, its the usual bumps and bruises.

justawriter said...

you have a very nice blog, Ali...lovely photographs! Thanks for sharing these and thanks for visiting my blog.Tina

Michael said...

She shoots, she scores!

Sports photographer now..is there anything you can't do?

Great photos.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Fantastic photograpy and very well done/captured, I like this way of publucing....


:) joAnn

dot said...

Football is definately a good F word. Love your football photos and the ones of the ducks are really super!

dot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ali said...

Tina ~ Thanks for visiting my little corner of blogworld, and for the compliments on my photographs.

You are welcome anytime ;o)

Ali said...

Michael ~ I shot, but the player scored, I know I AM GREAT, but even I can't get a goal whilst photographing it!!!!

Sports photography is exciting to me, I wish I had the opportunity to do more of it.

Lady B ~ Thanks for taking a look.

JoAnn ~ You're very kind, thank you. The displaying in a montage was stolen right off the pages of WalksFarWoman's blog!!

Ali said...

Dot ~ Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed looking at the ducks, I really enjoyed capturing them.

Mahala said...

Fun football...over here it would be foccer...oops...Soccer!
F was a fun one to post.
Mahala

Ali said...

If only they knew how to play the game properly 'over there' lol.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoyed you 'F'ssssssssssssss

Gledwood said...

The top pictures are v entertaining they look v acrobatic!
Hey I've not been here for a while... don't know if I've ever commented (my memory!)... but HI! If not... take it easy... i hopped here all round the houses .. you know if you go through unfamiliar blogs you always end up back somewhere you know!

all the best 2u

take it easy

from

Gledwood
"Vol 2" ...

gma said...

Football and Socer are like religions here. Everyone worships on Sunday!!!Great fotos.

Hin Man said...

An extremely nice series of action shots for your 'F' photo. I especially love the last one for the intensity and the action captured.

KaiBlue said...

diggin' those pics Ali..I love the soaking the last lad got lol..
Great n groovy F shots~!!!

Peace, Kai xxx

Ali said...

Gledwood ~ I have found that myself, start off with an unknown blog, and sooner or later you will be back on familiar ground. Will call over to yours in the morning, have to get some sleep!

Gemma ~ It's the same here, well with the football anyway. Playing in the morning, watching it in the afternoon, and playing again in the evening!!

Hin ~ Thanks very much, hopefully, as I work through the season, my shots will get better and better.

Ali said...

Kai ~ Thx very much. The last photo seems to be the favourite of the majority!

Anonymous said...

Football is all over the news lately so great post. Football season is just starting here. Of course, it's a different kind of football.

Michael said...

I'm going to be bad here but, if you really like the action shots like ducks, SHOOTING UP MEN'S FOOTBALL SHORTS or anything else in motion just try to shoot with both eyes open. Your anticipation will become so much better.

/just saying
//heh

Ali said...

DWQ ~ I love it that the season is about to start, it means every weekend I get to photograph it!

Michael ~ Thx honey, I am always open minded to new advice. I will try anything if it will make me a better photographer. You got a deal, 1st half of next game will shoot with both eyes open, 2nd half my own way!! Good experiment!

photowannabe said...

Great action shots Ali. That last one is a doozy. I guess you have to take the Girl Scout oath and "Be Prepared"

Ali said...

Photowannabe ~ It's a great oath.. dib, dib, dib!!

Momentary Madness said...

Nice photos.
Y;-) Paddy

Mahala said...

How funny. I said you'd say that about it "over here"...you're so right. :)
Mahala

Elaine Denning said...

LOVE that last shot! And the fairground ones too.
And who the hell is that moron up above...? Grrrrrr.

Ali...I'm working my little ass off and covered in paint and artex and godknowswhat and in desperate need of a massage and a good nights sleep. I will be back soon! x

cathy said...

this loony was at my place too. I deleted it.I don't like footie but I love fairgrounds so I won't disown you. LOL.

Ali said...

Paddy ~ Thx sweetie. x

Craftyhala ~ I must be soooo predictable!! lol

Miss U ~ I thought you must be Laney, it wasn't a complaint, just checking you were OK. x

Cathy ~ Phew! I got a reprieve by posting the rides before the footy!!! lol. Is good to see you back Cathy.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Ali,

Sports photography ain't easy - and you've done a terrific job. You might be familiar with the wonderful cricket photographer, Patrick Eagar of the UK.

In my early years I had a lot to do with him - and he is a wonderful human being as well as a supremely gifted photographer.

My choice in this photo sequence would have been the first shot (the diving keeper) and the last shot (the water).

Well done

David

Mahala said...

Did Miss Understood call me a moron?

Ali said...

David ~ Thanks for your picks, I always find it interesting to know what other peoples 'favs' are, it also gives you a good insight into what you're doing right or wrong?

Ali said...

CRAFTYHALA ~ OMG!!!! HOW FECKING FUNNY!!!

Sorry, I am not laughing at you, mereley at my stupidity in having deleted the comment of several pages length from some 'moron' who seems to have been doing the rounds in blogland!!!!

I never stopped to think that Laney, my very dear friend, now looks like a bit of a mouthy cow, (mind you, she has her moments!!) and it looks like it's aimed at you.

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY FOR THAT!!!! I just thought better to 'delete permanently' best things to do with weirdo's, but of course, in this case, maybe not!!!! lol

Mahala said...

:) Oh... Well, I wondered what I said wrong to be a moron.
I feel better.

mrsnesbitt said...

Hugs to Craftyhala and everybody else in the room!

Dxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elaine Denning said...

LMAO! Yes, I can be a mouthy cow sometimes, but not in this case. Hope you're feeling a little less bruised now, craftyhala :)

Gina said...

Those are terrific! Mid action and everything! You are very talented.

Ali said...

Gina ~ Thank you for your kind words

david mcmahon said...

Looking forward to your next post ....