I've been a huge Italy fan ever since I started playing football when I was 6 so it was pretty obvious that I planned on going to see the match that was played in my home town in the early September. I had to make sure one could bring a system camera to the stadium and asked about it from Ticketmaster (who sold the tickets). Their reply was pretty nice: System cameras with lenses shorter than 200mm are allowed. That suited me well since I wanted to bring my 40-150mm f/2.8 anyway. I did pack my 1.4x-TC in the bag too in case I'd need it and it took me maybe 15 seconds in the stadium before I decided to use it.
As usual, I used my trusted old warhorse E-M5 (with AF-S - obviously!) to capture pictures of some of the best players on the planet (Gigio Donnarumma, Leo Bonucci etc.). I opted to use a fairly slow shutter speed of 1/500 s to keep the ISO down. I did play with the shutter speed setting every time I had the opportunity to but I do have to admit that in some cases I should have used values closer to 1/1000 s to keep the ball's form rounder but I guess you "win some and you lose some". I wouldn't have minded a few more megapixels since I had to crop a lot and one stop better noise handling would have been great too. But I'm not gonna complain since I know that the E-M5III I'm placing on preorder next month will address both these issues.
Anyway... Let's see some photos, eh?
Here's probably the only picture I processed that was taken without the 1.4x TC:
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581609 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Finland's gem - striker Teemu Pukki, who was selected as the player of the month in the English Premier League last month.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581718 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Lots of hugging before the game. Who says footballer's aren't sensitive?
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581818 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The pacy Teemu Pukki testing out the speed of Italy's defense.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581867 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Ciro Immobile. One of my favorite Italians not playing for AC Milan (= the team I'm VERY passionate about).
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581871 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Stefano Sensi on the ball. All the Finns are late to the party.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM581947 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The Finnish keeper Lukas Hradecký making a crucial save on Ciro Immobile's shot.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582008 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Paulus Arajuuri battling out with Gigio Donnarumma. This is one of the pics where a slightly faster shutter speed would have made it better. Not much though.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582016 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Considering I was sitting in the other end of the stadium, the quality of these kind of shots was something to be proud of - at least compared to the guys taking snapshots with their phones.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582021-2 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Again... Footballers have feelings too, you know.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582109 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The Italy captain Leo Bonucci. Was one of the players who won silver medals in Euro 2012.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582124 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Pukki balancing and trying to keep Lorenzo Pellegrini & Stefano Sensi away from the ball.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582215 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Pukki won a penalty and Donnarumma is taking his time to play the mind games.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582221 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Pukki vs Donnarumma
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582234 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Pukki makes it 1-1. #pukkiparty
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582260-2 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Only about 5 minutes later Jorginho scores from a penalty kick to give Italy the lead again.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582274 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Gigio Donnarumma. Most likely to become the best goalkeeper in the world in a few years. Supertalented keeper who made his Serie A debut at the age of 16.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582309 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Robin Lod ready to take a last minute freekick and hoping to find a teammate to score a late equalizer.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582314 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Tension on the visitors' bench.
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582369 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
Game over so it's time for a few more hugs...
Finland - Italy (2019/09) | EM582414 by Teemu Paukamainen, on Flickr
The Finnish goalkeeper's (Lukas Hradecký) expressions says it all: All is not lost. Qualification to the tournament is still in our own hands (or actually the players' - and on their feet to be exact).
More pics ie. full album can be seen here: Finland - Italy (2019/09/08)
And here's some text too - with pictures: My blog post
PS. I did browse through quite a few photos on Instagram taken by the professionals on the field. I can honestly say that the IQ of my photos matched and even exceeded most of theirs even though I was sitting in the stands (= a lot further than them). Gotta love our 2x crop factor.
As usual, I used my trusted old warhorse E-M5 (with AF-S - obviously!) to capture pictures of some of the best players on the planet (Gigio Donnarumma, Leo Bonucci etc.). I opted to use a fairly slow shutter speed of 1/500 s to keep the ISO down. I did play with the shutter speed setting every time I had the opportunity to but I do have to admit that in some cases I should have used values closer to 1/1000 s to keep the ball's form rounder but I guess you "win some and you lose some". I wouldn't have minded a few more megapixels since I had to crop a lot and one stop better noise handling would have been great too. But I'm not gonna complain since I know that the E-M5III I'm placing on preorder next month will address both these issues.
Anyway... Let's see some photos, eh?
Here's probably the only picture I processed that was taken without the 1.4x TC:
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Finland's gem - striker Teemu Pukki, who was selected as the player of the month in the English Premier League last month.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Lots of hugging before the game. Who says footballer's aren't sensitive?
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The pacy Teemu Pukki testing out the speed of Italy's defense.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Ciro Immobile. One of my favorite Italians not playing for AC Milan (= the team I'm VERY passionate about).
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Stefano Sensi on the ball. All the Finns are late to the party.
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The Finnish keeper Lukas Hradecký making a crucial save on Ciro Immobile's shot.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Paulus Arajuuri battling out with Gigio Donnarumma. This is one of the pics where a slightly faster shutter speed would have made it better. Not much though.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Considering I was sitting in the other end of the stadium, the quality of these kind of shots was something to be proud of - at least compared to the guys taking snapshots with their phones.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Again... Footballers have feelings too, you know.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The Italy captain Leo Bonucci. Was one of the players who won silver medals in Euro 2012.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Pukki balancing and trying to keep Lorenzo Pellegrini & Stefano Sensi away from the ball.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Pukki won a penalty and Donnarumma is taking his time to play the mind games.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Pukki vs Donnarumma
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Pukki makes it 1-1. #pukkiparty
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Only about 5 minutes later Jorginho scores from a penalty kick to give Italy the lead again.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Gigio Donnarumma. Most likely to become the best goalkeeper in the world in a few years. Supertalented keeper who made his Serie A debut at the age of 16.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Robin Lod ready to take a last minute freekick and hoping to find a teammate to score a late equalizer.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Tension on the visitors' bench.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Game over so it's time for a few more hugs...
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The Finnish goalkeeper's (Lukas Hradecký) expressions says it all: All is not lost. Qualification to the tournament is still in our own hands (or actually the players' - and on their feet to be exact).
More pics ie. full album can be seen here: Finland - Italy (2019/09/08)
And here's some text too - with pictures: My blog post
PS. I did browse through quite a few photos on Instagram taken by the professionals on the field. I can honestly say that the IQ of my photos matched and even exceeded most of theirs even though I was sitting in the stands (= a lot further than them). Gotta love our 2x crop factor.
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