Screen Pass (This is not cropped or posed ... just lucky.)
by sigs10

Comment:
Yes, handheld no monopod. I do use a pod on occasion but its pretty pointless on this lens even though it does have a tripod collar. This is the f4.0 lense not the f2.8 lense. the F4.0 weighs 48 ounces compared to the f2.8 which weighs 108 ounces. My 80-200 f2.8 weighs 54 ounces and doesn't have a collar (it's one of the older push pulls).You don't want to mount a monopod onto the camera with lens of that weight. It will cause torque damage to the bayonet mount. If I can heft the 80-200 w/o a monpod, the 300 f4.0 is cake. Plus, it was 5:00 pm and shooting at ISO 400, I had plenty of shutter speed to stop action.

Screen Pass (This is not cropped or posed ... just lucky.)
by sigs10

Comment:
Hello Folks, Thanks for your votes on the Sports Challenge. I had several people comment on my title being too verbose. The orginal image was "Lucky". Well,the new title came from an earlier challenge that was finishing up about the time this one was posting. Several people had posted questions whether that photo was posed or not. So I decided to nip those questions in the bud. Personally I always crop even if it is about 1 percent but this image was just as tight as possible. I have attached a link showing the sequence of the shoot. The first photo is of the Quarterback as he is passing, the rest are the receiver. I had quickly swung the camera towards the recever and fired blind over my shoulder. I didn't even figure I had that shot until later that night when I went home to review the photos. That is when I saw it for the first time. I went back the next day with a copy and gave it to the coach and got the players name. Lucky
I did mark most comments helpful and some I did not. I appreciated all of your comments. I did not take any offense to any suggestion I did not mark as helpful such as coloring or cropping or etcetera, not because I felt offended but I did not agree with your prognosis. I received comments that suggested opposite edits (crop looser, crop tighter) Well, who is right? Do I say "oh, gee your right I didn't see that. Oh your so smart!" to both? That would mean that I don't take their comments seriously, that I am pandering, and have no spine. Each suggestion is constructive, but I can't agree with both without being a wishy washy hypocrite. Honestly, I felt more crop was neccessary, but that shot is so tight that it stands on its own without any editing. I didn't even adjust levels or tonal values to maintain the evidential truth of the photo.
As to to the title, If I hadn't said it, I would have received half as many people even commenting on my photo and half of them would have been "Is that posed?" No. but does it matter? Some people made statements that they were docking me points for my title. Well, that is just spiteful, but live free or die we are all human and have a right to an opinion. Many people gave kudos for the work that had no technical information or critique at all. Praise is not criticism, but is very influential in inspiring a person to continue to excellence and I thank all who said "good job!". I had very little negative comments but critism is always good if it constructive. Plain derogatory comments like "that is hideous" is well ... as wise sage said "if you got nothing good to say then say nothing at all".
I wish there were better ways to respond beside is it helpful or not helpful. may be "Thank You" "Good Idea" "Thank you, but I don't agree" "Well, if you say so" and maybe some other curt statements, maybe in a scale similar to the votes recieved.
Again, thanks to everyones votes.