The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
A shot from the MAC benefit tournament a few years ago.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Composition and Processing
- So here’s another blocking shot without the ball or the other player, this time in profile. This shot made the cut largely because of all the small supporting cues that this is at the peak of the action: sand flying everywhere, the player’s expression, the shorts billowing upward from the jump, and the strained reach as the player extends as far as possible.
- I cropped just a tiny bit in order to move the player to the right without making making the frame disproportionately narrower.

Original:

May 14 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Casey Jennings passes the ball at the 2009 Houston AVP Tournament.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM (at 70mm)
Composition and Processing
- Passing shots sometimes look a little static when frozen, but I liked this one because of all the sand moving at Jennings’ feet. Conveys a greater sense of speed, as if Jennings was racing to get there in stead of waiting for the ball.
- I square cropped this because at this angle and with the way Jennings’ body is twisted, it’s actually very compressed horizontally. In a wider frame it looked too small (breathing room for the ball to move into is good, but there can be too much).
- Focus point was off again, it really should have been to the left more (this was before I started using the Mark IV; on the Mark III you have to press a button first before you can move the focus point, and there’s not always time to do that when the ball comes back the other way).

Original:

May 04 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Bobby passes the ball at the MAC benefit tournament a few years ago.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Composition and Processing
- It’s a pretty simple passing shot, but I liked the afternoon sun and how it backlit the player (in particular the hair). Bobby’s darker skin tones really help this shot too, making the sand stand out and providing greater separation from the yellow background.
- Had to square crop it simply because I wanted to bring in the right edge and I didn’t have any more room to the left of the ball. Fortunately the ball’s headed up as much as left, so I left in more breathing room at the top of the frame for the eye to move into.

Original:

A pretty simple passing shot, but I liked the afternoon sun and how it backlit the player (in particular the hair).
This darker skin tones really help this shot too, making the sand stand out and providing greater contrast with the yellow background.
April 30 2012 | Photography | No Comments »