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Clean bowled II
Shooting at out-grounds (those grounds not normally purpose built as stadiums with seating capacity) is difficult because invariably the backgrounds are full of unwanted distractions. I discovered in the right conditions when players are wearing whites that with the right background you can achieve this graphic look. Of course you still need the action to take place. Here the ex Surrey batsman Stuart Walters is clean bowled in a 2nd XI fixture two years ago.

The batsman won\\\'t thank me for this but in mitigation of him this was a limited over match where scoring runs is a priority he just got a very straight ball & was marginally out with his timing!

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Bijaya Neupane 4 weeks ago
Great moment along with the background.
gerard sexton  Thank you once again much appreciate the time you took to check out my portfolio & stop by to leave your feedback.
Lewis 4 months ago
Nice shot!!!
gerard sexton  Thank you Lewis.
Willem de Vlaming 4 months ago
Great diagonal makes this action shot... In combination with the surreal black background... Might be bad timing by the batsman great timing by you...
gerard sexton  Hello Willem Happy New Year. Thank you yes & not really just doing my job! I think timing is the easy bit the hard bit is concentrating enough to be ready to hit the shutter at the right time. Nice to see you around again. My resolution for 2012 finish Godel Escher & Bach!
tidar andika 4 months ago
woooww...
gerard sexton  Thanks for stopping by Tidar.
Great
gerard sexton  Thank you Hamid!
Christoph Hessel 4 months ago
The power of this capture is his face. It is as if I can hear him say "uuhhhffff", and than hear the clash of wood
gerard sexton  Thank you Christoph nice of you to stop by amidst all the changes in your life right now!
Guido Brandt 4 months ago
Great capture Gerry - you would love the test cricket here in Australia at the moment! Thank god the Australians are on their ball this time....
gerard sexton  Thanks Guido I know I would tell me about it. My son is in OZ right now in Sydney so I imagine he is taking it all in India are not coming up to scratch!
Suresh Menon  With India playing the way they are Gerard, you would have had a field day capturing shots like this; Just checked and as expected at Perth the wickets are crashing with predictable frequency!
Andre du Plessis 4 months ago
This slice of theatre is so unusual in two ways, firstly getting that black BG to etch the whites so graphically, and then the action - wholesome capture of an expression, stumps and bails. One could have sworn that this was studio ... everything required included, and for good measure made so visible. Compliments with this one Gerry, both unusual and so damn perfect:)
gerard sexton  Ah ha Happy New Year my friend. Thanks for your feedback Andre I posted the wrong version since if viewed in black 1x there are imperfections I am still not sharp enough to take my image through both black & white backgrounds in PS to check for these imperfections so not entirely perfect but easily rectified by a minor alteration. Also I needed a bit of change to curves in PS to get the background totally black & yes the graphic works so well with the drama of course I got others of batters making contact with the ball but they are not FP material like this for obvious reasons. See you for a beer next week?
Gerard Jonkman 4 months ago
Again a great sportphoto Gerard. You've captured the ultimate moment. Beautifil posture and expression.....
gerard sexton  Thank you GerardI am happy you like this.
Peter Svoboda 4 months ago
Great captured moment, batsman´s expression and great timing Gerard, maybe he will not see this capture..:),my compliments
gerard sexton  Hi Peter always difficult since I got to know these guys personally & he will not like to see himself being bowled but I have a job to do as he does on this occasion he got it marginally wrong & paid with his wicket & I got it right & got the shot. There are times when I miss but you will never see them! ;)
Les Forrester 4 months ago
Love the concept, think it works really well
gerard sexton  Cheers Les. Yeah the background Oak tree & Yew bush are too much in shade to add anything so at the right time of day it really does work I got a whole series of shots but only one with the wicket being broken!
Colmar Wocke 4 months ago
gerard,

Even though the batsmans timing wasn't quite spot one, your was! A wonderfully captured shot - I can hear that soul-destroying "clunk" of ball hitting wicket that I heard personally so often in my life. A fine bit of photographers craft!

Colmar
gerard sexton  He he yes I hear it in my sleep! Boy am I missing sitting in the sun on the boundary! Cheers my friend & Happy New Year! Andre is still in SA! Lucky man.
wow, perfect timing and indeed graphical with the black background
gerard sexton  Thanks Fred.
mohammad soheilinia 4 months ago
Stop a moment of pure,
The hand is moving but does not feel any straining!
successful photo gerand!bravo!
gerard sexton  Thank you Mohammad.
Richard Spurdens 4 months ago
But you where not Gerard, good work here
gerard sexton  You are right I wasn't & thank you Richard.
Edward Butt 4 months ago
Wonderful capture. Do you " burst " shoot - or do you rely on your knowledge and judgement to fire off single frame ?
gerard sexton  Hi Edward yes & no. The idea is to minimise the number of times I hit the shutter because it only adds to post production effort. I have learnt to curb my natural tendency to machine gun the shutter & can now restrict the occasions. But it is a big call because these are the money shots so you cannot afford to miss the moment. It doesn't always work counting the bowlers run up & in this position side on I find it difficult to see the bowler because I am left eyed. I am though now training myself to shoot right eyed in certain situations which helps again. Thanks for your comment & question.
Richard Bland 4 months ago
ist Class
gerard sexton  Much appreciated Richard.
Richard Bland  Your very welcome Gerrard
Waqas Shah 4 months ago
perfect timing,superb snap
gerard sexton  Waqas thank you.
Ali Nafisi 4 months ago
nice action
gerard sexton  Thank you Ali.
Kim Ayres 4 months ago
Superb timing :)
gerard sexton  Thank you Kim.
Ben Goossens 4 months ago
Great catch, Gerard:-)
...better then the player!
gerard sexton  Thanks Ben
Steve Hill 4 months ago
Viv would have had that....
gerard sexton  ...but even Viv was vulnerable to a straight ball now & again. Cheers friend.
Chris Warren 4 months ago
Great shot Gerard.
What white bits Bob?
gerard sexton  Thanks Chris only visible if you are viewing in black 1x.
Bob Patefield 4 months ago
Perfect timing G. The white bits on the left edge of frame distract slightly, but easily solved with a crop or burn. Cheers. B
gerard sexton  Thanks Bob happy new year. As for the white bits yes I only noticed after Uzay pointed it out. I have uploaded a new version which has resolved that.
paolo luxardo 4 months ago
Great shot
gerard sexton  Thank you Paolo
uki anshory 4 months ago
nice action
gerard sexton  Thank you Uki
Uzay 4 months ago
white subject on a dark background, timing everythings good, i would consider to crop the white area on the up-left side
gerard sexton  Just notice Ungaal I keep forgetting to check on both grey & black backgrounds to avoid this problem I have uploaded a new version which deals with the bleed. Thanks.
Antonio Grambone 4 months ago
Great capture Gerard... perfect timing.
Compliments and greetings, Antonio G.
gerard sexton  Thank you Antonio compliments & greetings back.
Johan Meintjes 4 months ago
... bowled him! Great timing, Gerard, and your contrasty background really brought out the best (in the photo, at least.)
gerard sexton  Yes I like the contrast it works well but is not possible everywhere I shoot. Thanks.
Chris Dixon 4 months ago
Gerry,

great shot which owes a lot to your POV, timing, camera skills and knowledge of cricket....love it

Cheers Chris
gerard sexton  Hi Chris Happy New Year! Not far from you in Reigate Surrey nice little ground but terrible backgrounds! Thanks for your generous comments.
yousef sayadi 4 months ago
Wooow...Amazing
gerard sexton  Thank you Yousef
John Parminter 4 months ago
Classic, can't wait to get my net and bowling machine set up in my garden this summer, me and my lad will have loads of fun and practice....
gerard sexton  I am certainly missing the cricket but for the cost might have already boarded a plane to Dubai! Thanks John yeah make the most of your time together it will pass before you know it!
Christian Hansen 4 months ago
great catch !
gerard sexton  Thank you Christian.
Ricky Siegers 4 months ago
I like the action Gerry ! excellent!
gerard sexton  Hi Ricky Happy New Year thanks for stopping by.
Ricky Siegers  Gerry same goes to you Happy New Year, I will be in Kent the last week of February. I will call you if we can have some beer in the weekend :)
cheers
El Robbo 4 months ago
A superb action capture, Gerard!
gerard sexton  Thank you El.
Suresh Menon 4 months ago
Super capture ! (I will not say Super Shot !! )
gerard sexton  Suresh Stuart Walters is one of the games gentlemen he was coming back from a back injury at this time & short on time at the crease. Thanks for stopping by.
Henry Trust 4 months ago
Great shot..
gerard sexton  Thank you Henry
Corrado Chiozzi 4 months ago
Unmistakable sport image, congrats !!
gerard sexton  Thank you Corrado
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Equipment
1D MKIII 400mm 2,8f
Location
Reigate Priory Cricket Club
Unique views
18110
Comments
38
Category
Action
 
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