Professional Quality Sports Photographs vs. Picture Takers

I purposely used one of the pictures I took at a recent girls softball game in Monroe, Ohio to illustrate the difference in a quality sports photograph and what the majority of picture takers consider sports photography.

Both images came from the same play thanks to my Nikon motor drive. the picture on the bottom is awkward, tells no story, is not cropped and uncorrected in any way. Now if I'm a Dad or a Mom, I like looking at the snap shot if it's my kid, but it does nothing to flatter my favorite ball player.

We all take hundreds of shots just like this, with an awkward pose or twist, but one should consider every shot the post on a web site as a portfolio picture and take more care.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Monroe Softball Clinic Announced

From The Voice at Main Street Monroe http://mainstreetmonroe.com

I don't normally post community announcements on my blog, but as a result of not being able to think of anything creative to post today and a chance to use one of my sports photographs along with the announcement...

Monroe, Ohio has an incredible pool of talent and talented coaches in baseball and softball. From the youth baseball and softball leagues on up through the highschools, it's one of the better programs I've covered.

So when a Monroe Hornet organization is putting on a baseball clinic or softball clinic, it's sure to be a valuable use of money.




Dear Player and Parents,


Hello and welcome to 2010! What a great time plan ahead, prepare for the future, and work to improve ourselves! On behalf of the Hornet Softball Family, I would like to invite and encourage you to attend our inaugural FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL CLINIC, sponsored by myself, Head Coach Jenni Meier and Assistant Coach, Aimee Tyree of Monroe High School. This is a great opportunity for players from ages 8 to 14 to get the season started in the right direction.

We strongly believe this experience will be a critical investment that will certainly pay off for both players and youth coaches. Players will learn ways to improve their performance, get to know and learn from the experiences of high school players and coaches, and invest in their future as a Hornet softball player. Coaches will learn the philosophy of the program, new drills, and other ways to enhance their instruction to have better success with their teams.

The clinic will include lunch on day 1 and a Hornet Softball t-shirt for participating. In addition, there will be concessions, opportunities to purchase spirit wear, softball equipment, and a raffle for a FREE one on one, private instruction session with the Head Coach.

So, come join our Hornet Softball Family on Saturday, March 20, and/or Sunday March 21, 2010 at Monroe High School. We look forward to seeing you there!


Sincerely,


Jenni Meier
Head Softball Coach
Monroe High School
jenni.meier1@gmail.com



Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Cincinnati Reds Outfielder, Jay Bruce learns from bout with adversity | MLB.com: News

Bruce learns from bout with adversity | MLB.com: News

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Big Fishes

I've been shooting a lot of baseball lately, as my son Zach plays on two All Star teams, Monroe & Eaton. Along the way, you happen to come across some great captures. I've always said that photography can be like fishing at times. If you keep casting your line, you're bound to hook a big one. During a little league baseball game, I will shoot 4-500 images, of which I crop and edit them down to 40-50 of the best.

This is one of those "fish"


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Loading Up

Shooting sports photography over the 4th of July weekend, I had a chance to get some nice shots of my own son, playing for one of his two All Star teams.

I attribute a lot of my signature style in sports photographs to the angle of the shot. I've said before, that at local sporting events I see a lot of "lazy" photographers stand in one or two positions the whole game and very rarely work any angles during the game.

This angle is generally done best with a mono-pod and either sitting or down on one knee.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Stealing 3rd

Shooting sports photography in the Springboro Baseball All Star Tourney, over the 4th of July weekend, gave me some great freeze action Sports Photographs. If I was putting a book together of my best little league shots, this one would be an instant classic.

In a game that pitted Monroe vs. Monroe, the pitcher for the yellow team was throwing a lot of wild pitches.

In anticipation of several stolen bases, I set up at a low angle and waited.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Game Face

Shooting Sports Photography in Cincinnati Ohio, I captured this intense Monroe Little Leaguer with the "Eye of The Tiger", and a mouth full of Bubble Yum.

Too many beginning sports photographers think that every shot has to have the ball in it or a full body in motion shot. When it come to taking sports photographs that sell to Mom and Dad, the ones that capture the personality of the kids are the ones that become instant classics.

This picture was submitted to Capture Cincinnati 2009.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Sheeee's Outta Here!

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Batters Eye View

One of the shots I've always liked in sports photography, weather it's a Cincinnati Reds photograph or a youth sports photograph is the "batters eye" shot. In other words, what does the batter see?

To get this shot, I slipped in behind the catcher during warm ups, after I made sure he had good control that day and let the motor drive run.

One of the keys to being a good sports photographer, in Cincinnati, Dayton or anywhere on the globe, is to have the ability to put the viewer in the game.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Fouled Off

Shooting sports photography in Madison, Ohio at a little league game. During a baseball gam, I usually like to set up down the 3rd base line and try to catch some of the batter turning on a pitch. In this sports photograph, I caught Monroe little leaguer Ryan Keppner, fouling one off.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Beat the Throw

Today we stay on the "Luck" theme. But don't forget, luck can pay well. While doing sports photography in the Monroe and Cincinnati area, I was a beneficiary of a little luck and a good motor drive.

This was the only image that came out during this baseball players steal of 3rd base, but one his Mom and Dad thought was amazing.

When I am shootong sports photography, thes pictures are those "big catches" that I am thrilled to reel in.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Eye on the Ball

Sometimes in Sports Photography...you're just lucky!

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Wind Up

Since I started shooting Cincinnati Reds Photographs and then more predominatly, little league sports photography, I have been asked many times about the characteristics that make for great sports photographs and the kind of pictures that will sell on a web site.

I believe that a couple of the great attributes that a sports photographer can have is, number one, an understanding of the rythim and flow of the game or sport you are shooting, number two, anticipation and paitence to wait on the "big fish" and finally, an understanding of the angles that make for great shots.

This particular sports photograph of a Monroe Little League baseball pitcher would not have been nearly as dramatic with an angle from a standing point of view. The low angle gives the pitcher a fierce and dominating look as he winds up.

You wouldn't be able to judge by the picture its self that this 10 year old probably thre a 45 MPH pitch, but the picture could strike fear into the hearts of any 10 year old batter. (Not my son by the way,he ripped a line shot over the second basemans head)

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

You know it's time for a haircut.....

...I'm not sure that anything needs to be said.

That's the great thing about shooting youth sports photography. You never know what interesting things you'll see at the park. This picture will be one of my entries for Capture Cincinnati 2009 when the contest begins.

I was shooting little league baseball photographs in Monroe, Ohio during my son's game and this young boy took his turn at catcher. It made for a colorful photograph.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Sweet Spot

Traditionally, I am not an over zealous fan of "catching" the ball on the bat in a sports photograph. Personally I think it is very overrated. I do not recall seeing very many Sports Illustrated shots with the ball on the bat barrel. However, I talk to a lot of aspiring sports photographers that consider this type of shot the "Big Fish" capture.

I did like this shot however, due to the fact that the ball is squarely on the "Sweet Spot" of the bat barrel and the kid has very good form in his swing. On this shot, he ripped a long one into right center field and got a triple out of it.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Eye of the Tiger

I think that I may have shot a new favorite photo.

While shooting sports photography for little league in Monroe, Ohio, I was simply getting some good motor drive action on the 10 year old pitcher. It wasn't untill I downloaded all the images that I noticed the incredible stop action in this.

I usually get the best pictures of the pitchers because they tend to be the best athletes on the team. The intense look on this young guy will win him a place in my portfolio of Youth Sports Photography.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295