The Las Estrellas De Jalisco dancers perform during the Faces of Siouxland Multicultural Fair at the Long Lines Family Rec Center Sunday, March 29, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I tried for a few motion blur photos of the dancers mixing flash with a slow shutter speed, but when I was editing my photos I decided on a more straight-on type of shot. You can see my attempts at motion blur and a few other shots from the multicultural fair in the photo gallery.

PHOTO GALLERY

Hastings’ Pat Morey is forced out at second as Briar Cliff’s Chris Davis throws to first for a double play during baseball action at Briar Cliff University Sunday, March 29, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I still haven’t decided if I like this photo or not. I sort of like the framing, but I wish there was a little bit more of his hand with the ball showing. Photo was taken with a Canon 50D camera and 200/2 lens with a 1.4 Extender. Exposure was ASA 200, 1/3200 second at f/4.

PHOTO GALLERY

Morningside’s Kelly Baumert hurls a pitch against Dakota State during action at the Morningside Invitational Softball Tournament Saturday, March 28, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I shot a couple of innings of softball from the first base side, but before I left for my next assignment I stopped and shot a few pics of pitcher Kelly Baumert through the fence and from behind the catcher. As I shot the photos a softball fan asked me if I would be getting the chain-link fence in the photo.

As you can see, no, the fence does not show in the photo. I was using my 200/2 with a 1.4 Extender and shooting at f/4 with my lens right up against the fence.  The long lens combined with the large aperture provided very shallow depth of field, so shallow that the fence is not visible in the picture. If I tried the same photo with too short of a lens or stopped down the lens too much, then yes, the fence could be a problem. Depending on the fence, sometimes there can be problems with the sun reflecting of the fence creating hot spots in the photo.

Shooting through the fence is less than ideal, and it makes it hard to follow the action, but it does work for some shots.

PHOTO GALLERY

Sioux City’s Drew Daniels, 9, battles for the puck with Sioux Falls’ Ryan Kesti during Musketeers hockey action at the Tyson Events Center Friday, March 27, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

PHOTO GALLERY

Sioux City’s defense takes down Bloomington’s Mitch Tanney during Bandits arena football action at the Tyson Events Center, March 21, 2009.  (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

The hard part about shooting arena football is that there is no room to move along the sidelines. So if my shot is blocked by a ref, coach, chain gang, or if I just have a bad angle, I can’t just move down a few yards to get a better shot.

Most of my shots tonight were with my Canon 50D camera and 200/2 lens, using both with and without a 1.4X Extender. Exposure was ASA 2500, 1/640 second at f/2.8. It’s amazing how much light the green turf sucks up compared to the ice for the hockey games (where I am usually shooting at ASA 1000.)

PHOTO GALLERY

Lincoln Elementary fifth grade teacher Chris Erickson eats a worm after students in the school raised money for three months for the school.  (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I think I found a new diet plan: I’m going to stick this photo on my refrigerator. I’m sure it’ll be more effective than SlimFast.

PHOTO GALLERY

Morningside fans fall into the hockey players bench as the glass breaks while celebrating with the Morningside College women’s basketball players  after victory over Hastings during the NAIA National Basketball Championship at the Tyson Events Center Tuesday, March 17, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

PHOTO GALLERY

Looks like I was actually at the right place at the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on your point of view.) Sequence was shot with my Canon 50D and 10-22mm lens.

And Congratulations to the Morningside College women’s NAIA national championship basketball team! The game got a little scary for a bit, but way to come through!

Heelan’s Brennan Cougill walks onto the court after being named captain for the class 3A all-tournament team during state championship basketball action in Des Moines Saturday, March 14, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)