Rugby 7s with the 70-300mm VR

[dubaiphil]

There have been a few threads recently about the Nikkor 70-300mm VR, so I thought I'd share a few images from the Dubai Rugby 7s tournament with you.

To anyone who doesn't know about Rugby 7s, it's a shortened form of the game of rugby, played on a full sized pitch with 7 players per side over a shorter time period. It's faster, end to end, and equally complicated to explain the rules - wikipedia is your friend!!!!! Players tend to be smaller as there's less emphasis on the power aspects of the game. No-one in the Pacific Islands takes any notice of that though, as there's plenty of larger specimens from Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand playing!

As for the 70-300mm VR, it held up pretty well. There are times when you get some slightly strange bokeh and obviously you can't get the isolation of a 300mm f2.8. Luckily I was able to get some pitch side access for the games played by amateurs and local/regional/invitational sides as well as the full International teams on the main pitches. Coupled with a D700 it handled the lower light as the games went into the evening well.

I used Aperture Priority (yes, I know, not Full Manual and not Shutter Priority) with a minimum shutter around 1/500th to 1/640th and let the auto ISO ride (very liberating!). Most people claim the 70-300mm VR is good stopped down and as long as you don't go too long, but most of these are at or near wide open for reference. Here are a few from my shoot:

1. f5.6, ISO2800 - Argentina on the attack vs. France




2. f5.6, ISO3200 - Argentina vs. France scrummage




3. f5.6, ISO2000 - Fijian on the break against England




4. f5.6, ISO200 - lineout in an Invitational Semi Final




5. f5.6, ISO200 - Wales on the break vs. Argentina




6. f4.5, ISO200 - A little Samoan losing the ball in the tackle vs. Canada (early group match, hence the empty stands)




7. f6.3, ISO200 - South Africa on the attack




8. f6.3, ISO200 - Fly Emirates - The United Arab Emirates team's only try of the tournament




9. f6.3, ISO250 - A Fijian offloading in the tackle (I don't think he felt the tackle much!)




10. f5.6, ISO200 - my favourite of the weekend because of their facial expressions. A member of an old boys team (who I used to play against when I was at school) breaking the tackle to score

[Stagecoach]

Phil,

As someone living in Fiji I HAVE to say they are excellent pictures. Seriously, a superb series of photos and I love the B&W conversion.

[dubaiphil]

Thanks Grahame

Fiji lost to England in the end, but were looking fantastic all the way through the tournament.

I was trying to build up my portfolio over the past year and trying different types of photography. Luckily I was able to get good access at the Rugby and Beach Soccer (literally on the sidelines - fantastic!). This sort of thing is quite accessible in Dubai which is very fortunate. I did feel a little under-endowed compared to the 200-400s, 300s, 400s, and Canon equivalents in the 'pro' community but the 70-300 held its own well!

[pnodrog]

Phil they are a superb set but with the notable shortcoming of not showing any of the NZ players. Gear wise very interesting as I intend to go full frame shortly.

[dubaiphil]

Thanks Paul

What can I say? I covered one game but all the action was at the far end. New Zealand didn't progress to the final so I never shot their game again!

[mammarazzi]

Fantastic set of action packed photos in my favourite B&W. Love the expressions on their faces and so pleased to see Wales represented amongst your inspirational images.....more please

[dubaiphil]

Thanks Joanne - Wales did pretty well but had a young side out.

[oldgreygary]

Sorry mate, but my problem with these is a lack of colour. For me anyway it's an absolute must for sports photography. The way I see it is, it's the way I identify teams That's what I would initially look for. but it seems to me anyway it's something that's quite important for the viewer.

That's the negative out of the way. As said before I enjoy sports photography and rugby sevens is a particularly fast moving game which makes it difficult to capture. But, these images have certainly captured the spirit and energy of the game.

Cheers for now

Gary

[dubaiphil]

No problem, Gary - I have colour too

[oldgreygary]

For me anyway, that makes a huge difference. Just to add to my thoughts. I guess were I'm coming from is that I see B+W as a more contemplative, thought provoking way to take photographs. If say, it was in a full rugby game and a kicker was about to take an important penalty. Then maybe in B+W an image of his/her face deep in concentration would work better. But, for something like rugby sevens which is a dynamic, intense and fast moving game then I think for me anyway it's better reflected in colour.

I think that your B+W work works really well in the other images that you post of people and places which I think lean towards a more reflective, contemplative and thoughtful approach. That's how I view B+W working at its best. That's just my opinion though. As other people in the post enjoy the B+W shots.

Cheers for now

Gary