Line Out

Today’s post is another shot from the Terenure v Lansdowne rugby match on Sunday afternoon, and I suspect this one might divide the room, so to speak, as I’ve pushed the processing even further than I did with the image of the scrum that I posted a couple of days ago.  On that occasion I merged two exposures of the same RAW file to bring out detail in the sky while holding it in the shadows.  Today’s image is a similar technique, but with 4 exposures merged.  The effect is more pronounced, and probably not to everyone’s taste.

This pseudo-HDR approach is something I like to try on images where I’ve lost detail in the highlights.  It’s easier to recover detail in that region that it is to recover detail in the shadow areas, at least without adding noise to the image, especially at high ISOs.  So for a shot like this where the sky is blown out in parts, for instance, processing the RAW file at -2 stops, or even like I did here at -3 stops (which means 1/8th the amount of light as in the out-of-camera exposure) can pull back that detail.

In this case I merged the -3 stops exposure with a -1.5 stop exposure, the out-of-camera exposure and a +1 stop exposure.  I tried to keep the overall effect as photo-realistic as possible rather than overdoing the painting or cartoon-like effect some HDR processing can produce.

A technique like this is the only way you can realistically get HDR images from sports photography.  The standard approach of taking multiple frames in quick succession at varying exposures won’t work due to the movement that will cause all sorts of unsightly effects when you merge the shots.  As to whether it is a technique that is even suited to sports photography is a matter of individual taste I think, but I’m finding that the rugby shots from last Sunday are well suited to at least a hint of HDR processing.  I think part of the reason is I want to keep detail in the mud, and in the shadow areas that can be so dominant in areas of the photo where groups of players are in close proximity, as happens at most of the photo opportunities that a rugby match offers.

As for the content of the shot itself, the timing works with both players in the air at full stretch for the ball.  I’d have rathered a better shooting position, and later moved to align myself with line outs, although the touch judge was often positioned where I wanted to be.  The presence of two sets of posts is a little jarring I think, and due to the fact that there are two pitches end to end.

If I recall correctly this was a Terenure line out (they’re in the purple and black) but it looks from the shot as if Lansdowne might be about to win it.   I was probably too busy checking that I got the shot to notice who did win it!