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