Inter-shift Futsal Tournament 2008

Last Saturday we held our second every Inter-shift Futsal Tournament. What's Futsal? In laymen's terms, it's best described as "indoor football". The specifics and details you can either google it or wikipedia it.

Last year, it was a joint effort between the company recreation club (VMRC) and the worker's Union. This year, it was solely a VMRC effort. Initially, we expected an overwhelming response similar to last year. However, this year, we had only 12 male teams and 1 female team (needless to say, the female tournament was called off due to lack of response). Sadly, the office hour shift could not even form one team, due to:-

1. Some people not interested anymore
2. Some people already resigned (and one went to Australia with her husband - you know who you are...! )
3. Some people we believe are, um, expecting....

So, in spite of the lackluster response, the show must go on. And the organizing team lead by Tan HC did a find job in putting together another successful event.

From a photographer's point of view, photographing a Futsal game is a nightmare. For starters, by being indoors, the light levels were way below what could be captured with reasonable quality, using standard camera and lens. In other words, unless you have the latest D3 or EOS Mark X with F2.8 or brighter zoom lens, be prepared to hit the DELETE key many, many times as your memory card fills up with grainy, blur photos that look like Van Gogh after one too many jugs of wine!

The sheer nature of the sport, the entire court was enclosed in a netted mesh, which frequently caught the interest of the camera's autofocus system. Lens these days, with such short minimum focus distance, meant that you'd literally had to stand with your lens against the net to avoid locking on to it by accident. Of course, you'll have to keep both eyes open, ever vigilant and willing to hope back if one of the players charges in your direction. If it's the ball, chances are you'll never see it coming unless you have the reflexes of a Jedi! Fortunately, I was not presented with an opportunity to assess first-hand the robustness of a Nikon / Tamron lens to "physical abuse". [phew!!!!]

Well, I came prepared, with my Nikon 50mm, 85mm (both F1.8, these are the affordable ones), as well as my Sigma 150mm macro and good old Tamron 17-50mm (I'd need a wide-angle for the prize-giving later anyway). Results are:-

Nikon 50mm - not bad, actually, as this ended up being my most used lens. Just stopping down to F2.2 or F2.5 to keep things sharp. Only trouble is that this being a fixed focal lens, I can only nail shots when the subject is in a very small window of a distance away from me (I can't step onto the pitch, or through the net mesh). Verdict - recommended.

Nikon 85mm - good portrait lens, however, I'm here to shoot futsal, not magazine covers (unless one of these guys someday becomes famous, then I can sell these pics for a hefty sum ala paparazzi!). Some of these shots, you'd never guess are from a futsal pitch. Verdict - not recommended.

Sigma 150mm - hah! What was I thinking? A bright telephoto at F2.8, but with a slow focus, it was hard to lock on to the dynamic players running up and down the pitch. Plus, with an actual focal length of 225mm (that's 150mm x 1.5 on my D200), you end up getting head shots only. Verdict - avoid for Futsal!

Tamron 17-50mm - End up using this to replace the 50mm, though had to keep it as F2.8 and the ISO dialled up to get a fast shutter speed. A little short on the tele end, but this helped when the players rushed to the net just in front of me. Inherent problem of locking on to the net, so had to refocus at times - can't nail all the shots straight away. Anyway, as darkness falls, this one was a preferred choice for prize giving over my other wide-angle lenses. Verdict - use it (until you strike first prize lottery and can afford something better!).

Well, so much for my first experience at photographing futsal - next year I will come better prepared and hope to refine my photography! Anyway, some photos below, as well as the winners gallery over HERE.

Pre-game pep talk and strategy discussion

This is what you get when you bring a long tele lens to a Futsal game....


Regardless of how this looks, it didn't turn out as you'd painfully expect


You have to do a lot more running and less resting on the pitch in Futsal, as compared to Football. That's why some of the player are simly "flat out" after the game!


That net which keeps the ball and to a lesser extent the players inside the pitch, is starting to pull my camera's attention....


Huh? That net again....


Enough already, Mr Net! One more time and you are coming along on my next fishing trip!!!


The contestants from the Product Development team (how'd they do? Why don't you ask them, I, uh, have no comment....)


More players taking a break between games (from where, I forget.... Sorry guys!)


Professional supporters are always there for you!


Owww! My Foot! Here's the Emergency Response Team springing into action (actually, the injury occurred 5 minutes ago - what we have here is a realistic re-enactment with the real people involved).


The two finalists were evenly matched - so it all boiled down to a penalty shootout. Here's the shot that LOST it for office hours


We won! We won!