Aye, you need to get further away from the subject as Mannesty rightly suggests.

There also used to be a matt spray in aerosol form (name escapes me for the moment) that would help to reduce the reflective surface a little on the pearls.

But hey the cold winter dark nights are here, you could spend the time with CS3 in the warm.

Welcome aboard, I feel our numbers are now growing for the “Northern Contingent”

Hi ya Ken

As I typed the question I wondered......... it were the Lichfield location of Wakeja that threw me.

Galoot

As I typed the question I wondered......... it was your Lichfield location that threw me, that you would know that sort of thing.

Are you a Scot in exile

Jacqui, it would appear you can also get more formal qualifications from these folk

http://www.oca-uk.com/

wots Furry boots :

Rataegeoff, I cover a lot sports events and music gigs, I only use fast primes (hence your comment about focus & zoom doesn’t apply here, life’s a little easier) and I’m always on manual focus (even prefocused) because I like the degree of control I have with that.

Some autofocus systems can be fooled by fast changing lighting conditions (especially poor or little light) and also fast moving action, what to actually focus on.

I see guys using both manual and autofocus at these events. It is really each to their own and what suits you. At the end of the day it's about getting the image that counts.

I liked your comment "that I capture the expressions and the close up player interactions and body language. I need the shallowest depth of field that I can manage". Please don't ever lose sight of this thought; it's the difference between just another photo and a stunning image.

It's what I try to achieve always every shot, it can be hard going and you don't get ‘em all, but that's what it's about.

Hi Haworth, with any product shots of this type, IMHO you need to get the whole subject item in sharp focus from front to back (i.e. by controlling the DOF and the use ample quantities of good lighting).

As others have suggested here, the use of light tubes/tents certainly simplifies the out of focus backgrounds, which again enhances the product.

I do like pic 1 (apart from its black corner) & pic 5 which I think is spot on.

As already mentioned, take a good look at how other folk do it, see what suits you and then do it better.

Welcome aboard, enjoy the forum, you read and search the various threads on here, it can be as enlightening as any course.