Customer Reviews

Digital Sports Photography Made Simple

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the instruction and training I've received over the years, I thought this was one of the best, if not the best, instructional DVDs I've ever seen. Doug Jensen has really set the bar. Every aspect of it was extremely well done - scripting, structure, use of stills and video, video camera work (I'm a video producer myself, so I paid particular attention to that) audio (often a weak point in DVDs) and the use of graphics (I really liked the 'through the viewfinder' parts - where sports action video is shown framed in a SLR viewfinder) - even the glossary was helpful in reviewing terms and also the explanation of the digital photo histogram. Plus, it was loaded with tons of practical tips and advice - the kind of things that a really experienced photographer tells you one-on-one, when they want to help you out. For someone like me who is transitioning from a film 35mm SLR to digital SLR - it was really helpful to clarify the concept of EV (Exposure Value) and the interplay of ISO, shutter and aperture. Yeah, I knew what they were - but to see the relationship "in action" and how it changes from shutter priority to aperture priority (depending on the shot) really reinforced the concepts. If you buy only one resource for digital sports photography - this should be it. It has a permanent place in my DVD reference library.

I've just begun taking sports photos with a digital SLR camera, an Olympus E-500. I've done all sorts of experimenting with ISO, white balance, shutter and aperture settings, sometimes with good results, but generally inconsistent.
The specific, helpful hints given in this video are most helpful. I like the detailed, but not overly technical explanations of ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds. And the short bits at the end, discussing how to photograph specific sports from football to cheerleading to basketball, are ideally aimed at individual needs. More experienced photographers may find little to help them, but for beginners like me, this is a very valuable DVD!

I'm a professional sports photographer, and often get asked for tips and advice about how to shoot sports images, so I thought I would pick up this DVD to see if it would be worth recommending to folks. Well, it surprised me - it's not half bad. Sure, there's only so much that be covered in this short amount of time, but they do a good job of covering the basics, and if someone watches this disc a couple times, their photos should improve noticeably.

He only covers baseball and football in depth, but the tips for these two sports can be used for almost any outdoor sporting event. The author goes to great lengths to emphasize that the shots shown therein are NOT taken with pro-level gear, but I would have liked a little something in there showing "what's next" for shooters who might wonder what an increase in equipment capability might bring.

This is a pretty good overview, and I'd not hesitate suggesting new shooters view this DVD. Watch it, then watch it again.

This video gives straight forward and useful information on shooting digital photography in various sports settings. I found it very useful.

I have many books about digital sports photography and they don't even come close to this DVD in regard to practical application. The title of this DVD is so on target. It is 'simple' to use the settings suggested and it pays off immediately. This is an excellent DVD and well worth the cost. (I wish the same people made one about digital portrait photography.) To ALL Parents of Athletes: BUY THIS DVD. Only buy the books if you want to go into professional sports photography.

Teaching photography I have seen quite a few how-to videos, and this one is the best so far. It is well thought-out and produced. It takes the view point of an amateur photographer (Mom and/or Dad photographing the kids playing various sports), but has many concepts that could just as easily apply to professionals. Equipment wise he does expect a digital SLR with a minimum of a 200mm lens. Sorry no point-and-shoots allowed. Otherwise I would highly recommend this video!

I'm new to using an SLR and this DVD was the perfect training video. This video tells you what equipment you need, how to set it up, where to position yourself, and how to shoot for the best results. With my new camera and this information, I immediately was able to produce good shots during basketball and baseball games.

Well worth the money.

This video is produced with parents in mind and it's very well done.

If you are a parent of an athlete and want to take great sports photos with your consumer level DSLR there is much in this video to make it worth every penny of the price. Get it, watch it, and go shoot ... your photos will improve.

As a sports photo pro I bought it thinking I might pick up a few pointers and/or ideas. I did get a few things from the video, but nothing that made me stand up and cheer.

If you are a pro with a 1D Mark III and a 600mm f/4L lens, this might be the video for you.

I have been trying to figure out kid's sports photography for 6 mos. on my own, mostly by reading internet forums. I learned more in 70 minutes with this video than the entire aggregate of time spent on the internet (and my own trial and error).

I had long ago given up trying to figure out manual settings for aperture and shutter speed. His instruction on this is the best part of the video. He provides a simple explanation for how to shoot in aperture priority mode, and how to easily balance aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

If you are a parent with a dslr, taking photos of kids' sports, this video is a must.

I just watched this video to become better taking pictures at my son's basketball games. The video helped me a lot in knowing what to look for in capturing good shots and also setting my digital camera in the best way to get these shots. Unfortunately, I also learned my camera and lens are not the best for gymnasium action pictures. But at least I knew what I should work toward!