mtrejo6 Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I went out an shot my second B-Ball game. I was fairly happy with the majority of the imagery I got. I started using a flash (SB800) but the images were coming out too harsh so I shot without the flash for the majority of the game except when I used my 70-300mm/4.0. For the most part I used my 18-70mm/3.5 and a 50mm/1.8. I used a Nikon D200 with the ISO set between 1000-1600. I shot using manual mode varying my shutter speed from 60-300. I wish I would have moved around a bit more but I was limited to the bleachers side of the court since it was a rather small gymnasium. Anyways, please take a look and provide your honest feedback. Here's the link: http://www.mtrejo.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b32b074884df Thanks. Manuel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_gandy Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I also shoot basketball and other sports shots for the local high school...you might try some tighter cropping, especially on the "action" shots...if not in the orginal shot you can use one of the several photo programs. And as always...practice practice practice...Happy Shooting!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_gillespie Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Not trying to sound like a wise acre but they look very much like snapshots, not sports photography. You may want to grab a few sports magazines and take a look at some of their basketball shots. Many of them are very tight on the athletes, others are long shots that give context to the action. Many shoot from various angles that well below or well above the action to heighten the sense of vertical. Also background is very important on many of the shots. Finding the right spot for the action and the background takes practice. Get out of the stands, get some knee pads and prepare to get some sneakers in your ear and sweat in your gear. Given the limitations you mentioned in your post I'm not sure what else you could have expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rds801 Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 As said above, cropping. Cropping some of these will make them better. And backgrounds are very important too. Sometimes it's hard, as in your case when space is limited. Next time just see if you can move around just a little bit. <a href="http:// www.sportsshooter.com/rolandsimmons"/>Here are some shots</a> that I took back in December at a HS tournament. See if you can sit under one of the baskets and shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_smith20 Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I agree with the above poster that they look like snapshots. Shooting basketball is tough, and is only pulled of when your setup and equipment are perfect. The sense of the vertical is very important, as mentioned . If you are limited to the stands, try to get on the base line or corner, in the front row. Since you're shooting with a D200 you can crop the images down so that it "appears" as though you shot with a longer lens. Also try using a remote flash setup. Clamp your flash to the bleachers and get away from it. It can add much needed light and some "pop" to the otherwise flat gym lights.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernie.grimes Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Roland & Simmon I am also using the D200 I posted one of my shots below as you can see it does not pop like both of yours. Please let me know your thoughts on how I can improve. Thanks Ernie<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rds801 Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 Ernie, use a custom wb and make sure your exposure is good and see if that works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernie.grimes Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Roland thank you for your help... I will give it a try. Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rds801 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Also remember that Chris and I are using remote flashes to light our basketball images so it will have a different look than shooting available light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernie.grimes Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Roland or Chris If you don't mind please explain where you put your remote flash-es in relationship to where you are taking your pictures also what are you securing them to and location. I am using a D200 and have two SB800 Thanks Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rds801 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Ernie, it depends on what is available to clamp to. Most of the time I can clamp to the bleachers. One on the right, the other on the left on the side that I am shooting on. I use Superclamps to mount the flashes. If I can't find something to clamp to I will use light stands. I hate doing that for basketball games though. most of the time there is something to clamp to. You will need some kind of radio slave to trigger your lights. I think the sb800 have a pc socket so you should be good there. I use old Canon 540ez and I have to use a miniphone to hotshoe adapter from pccords.com to connect my pocketwizards. Last basketball season I was using white lightnings but went with the speedlights this season for ease of carrying, setting up and breaking down. sometimes I still use the white lightnings when I need more power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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