(7/12/2006)
- Andrew Malek
 
The bases are loaded....
 
There's the pitch...
 
A swing! It's a long fly ball deep to right field...
 
It's over the fence! A grand slam!
 
An electrifying event in the game of baseball, a grand slam instantly changes the pace and outcome of a game. With one swing of the bat, the long ball with the bases loaded lets a team instantly take a commanding lead of the game.
 
You can change the outcome of your game - shooting digital photographs - with these digital photography tips as well as my previous article's "Home Run" digital photography tips.
 
1) Arrive early at the ballpark and reward yourself with enormous opportunities to take pictures of your favorite players at batting practice. Shoot photos of your favorite college, minor, or major league baseball stars as they loosen up for the coming melee. Since all of your attention is focused on your favorite stars at the plate rather than potential plays on the diamond or in the outfield, this is a perfect time for player close-up shots and photos of baseball players swinging at the ball.
 
And, to quote the legendary Yogi Berra, "it ain't over till it's over". Even if a baseball game seems to be "in the books", unless you're worried about traffic leaving from the stadium, stick around till the end. An error here, a successful bunt there, and suddenly a blow-out becomes a game again. Wouldn't you want to be around to take photos of a brilliant comeback?
 
2) Creating a photo journal or scrap book of your trip to a minor or major-league ballpark? Don't get so caught up in getting to the baseball game and winding through the crowds afterwards that you forget to take a photo of the stadium!
 
Before the baseball game, use a wide-angle lens and look outside the ballpark for unique angles to photograph. If a high-rise or garage is nearby, see if you can use the taller building for impressive pseudo-aerial shots. Just make sure not to trespass on private property.
 
3) Don't be caught "off base" by the seemingly slow pace of baseball. When action occurs it happens fast. While adjusting your digital camera's shutter speed is essential to taking lightning-quick photos that remain crisp and clear, another technique is to increase your camera's ISO settings.
 
Raising your ISO settings makes your digital camera more sensitive to light, allowing for even quicker shutter speeds. However, your baseball photos may show visible grain (noise), and not be as clear as you would like, especially above an ISO of 200 to 400, depending on your digital camera. A digital SLR camera, if you own one and can take it to the ballpark, allows you to bump the ISO up to 800 and possibly higher without adding too much noise to the photo.
 
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