Opinions please

I'm starting a photography class this semester and I would like some opinions on these couple of shots I made. I'm not that familiar with the camera yet, so I only know a few of the options, so any and all opinions are welcome.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/J_Swigz/PingPong1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/J_Swigz/Notebook1.jpg

Did you use a tripod for the 1st one?
And how did you set the focus, either its motion blurred from the long shutter time, or its focused on the net in the background, and not on the ball and bat.

If you can set it up again then use single point focus, and the time delay shutter release.
By useing the single point focus you can make sure it focus's on the ball and bat. At F4 the A75 has quite a large DOF, about 12inchs at least at that focus distance, so if you can't get it to focus on the bat and ball, then tilt the camera and lock focus on the table before recomposing the shot.

Useing the shutter delay will prevent any motion from your finger pressing the shutter button from bluring the photo.

:)

No tripod on the first one, I knelt down by side of the table and tried for an angle that was convincing.

Thanks for the pointers, like I say, I'm still getting familiar with the camera, so it helps to know a few things :smile:

I'd like to see more contrast. The light is too dim/soft. That's all. Oh, and maybe some circus animals. :)