scott_pogorelc

<p>Here is a shot from my HS frosh son's FB game this evening where the pictured young man <em>creatively</em> found the end zone 6 times in a 44-42 loss.</p>

<p>D4 + AFS 200/400 @ 400mm, ISO3200, 1/1000s @ F/4.</p><div></div>

<p>It's almost fall which means the start of the American football in the US. In football parlance, here is a "de-cleater" on a punt return. You'll note that the return man (in white), after coughing up the ball, is almost looking out the ear-hole of his helmet.</p>

<p>D4 + AFS 70-200 @ 200mm, ISO 1600, 1/2500s @ f4</p><div></div>

<p>One of the local critters coming up to our deck buffet for dinner. Hunger conquers all, our 3 cats are not more than 4 feet away (inside) poised to pounce.</p>

<p>D4+AF-S 70-200 @ 200mm (or is it 135mm with breathing?)</p><div></div>

<p>Our 152-pounder executed this near-side cradle for his 100th high school win while his team mates look on in the background.</p>

<p>D4+70-200, ISO 10k, 1/500s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>I went with a brood of high school wrestlers to Lancaster, PA for a recent tournament. Here's our 132 pounder doing his best to make his opponent feel uncomfortable.<br>

D4+70-200 @ 130mm, ISO 6400, 1/800s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>And of course, there is the house itself that sits right on the Potomac River.</p>

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<p>I took a visiting friend down to Mt. Vernon to visit George Washington's old digs. Here is a local blacksmith who was making nails.</p>

<p>D700 + AFS-50.</p>

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<p>With wet weather pounding the eastern US last week, they moved our HS football game to Thursday night so that we could play in less wet weather that was still wet. Here's a nice over-the-shouldder catch on a QB scramble.</p>

<p>D4+AFS 70-200, ISO 10000, 1/800s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>So I thought I'd like something closer - ran into the office and mounted my 200-400. Woody didn't come back so instead I took this. How many of you have shot at 400mm inside your family room?</p>

<p>D4+AFS 200-400 @ 400mm</p><div></div>

<p>I don't normally do the bird thing, but this past weekend my wife excitedly called me into the kitchen to see this bird hanging around our deck feeder. I ran into the office grabbed my camera and took this before it flew off.</p>

<p>D4 + AFS 70-200 @ 200mm.</p><div></div>

<p>Peeping into some random shop during an evening stroll in Key West, FL.</p>

<p>D700 + AF-D 50mm, ISO 1600, 1/500s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>A portrait of my younger son that I took at the local turtle pond back in 2008.</p>

<p>D70 + AF-D 85mm, ISO 200, 1/60s @ f/1.4</p><div></div>

<p>My son's high school hosted a weekend of wrestling this past Friday and Saturday - 16 teams on 7 mats from 4 states and the District of Columbia. This photo here is our 106 pounder finishing off his opponent to reach the top of the podium.</p>

<p>D4 + 70-200 @ 130mm, ISO 12800, 1/400s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>Our sprite of a receiver ran a post and caught the ball in full-stride. After a final cutback where the lone remaining defender managed to snag his foot, he braced his fall and dove into the end zone. it was quite an athletic maneuver.</p>

<p>D4 + AF-S 300mm, IS0 8000, 1/1250s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>Another one - the horse-collar call that wasn't...</p><div></div>

<p>Another night on the sidelines in Northern VA, USA. Here our QB managed to break a big one and take it to the house. Note the beautiful bermuda grass field - there aren't many those left in these parts...</p>

<p>D4 + AF-S 70-200 @ 116 mm, ISO 8000, 1/640s @ f/2.8</p>

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<p>@ Andrew Roca - that is a terrific shot.</p>

<p>More Friday night lights...</p>

<p>D4 + AFS 70-200 @ 200 mm, ISO8000, 1/640s @ f/2.8</p>

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<p>Last night the family went to a local venue to see the Wilson sisters perform - they put on a great show. Ann Wilson still has an incredible set of pipes...</p>

<p>D4 + AF-S 70-200 @ 200mm, ISO 6400, 1/1600s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>

<p>Strolling Time Square the week of July 4th.<br>

D700 + 24-85 @ 48mm, ISO800, 1/250s @ f/8</p>

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<p>Here is another one (slightly cropped) using the AF-S 85 f/1.8. In both cases, I was sitting near the baseline.</p><div></div>

<p>I shoot my son's 6th grade games using the same lens. He typically plays in both middle school and high school gyms where the lighting is equally bad (some gyms are better/worse than others). Shun's advice is spot-on. You want high shutter speeds to stop the action - probably something in the range of 1/500 - 1/1000s. F/2.8 is a given, so set the ISO, check your metering and take some test shots to get you there. I strongly suggest that you don't try to shoot from the stands, but go court side, perhaps near the baseline. The 70-200 range should be sufficient. The mention of the 85 f/1.8 is interesting because I bought one about 6 weeks ago for just this purpose and it is also terrific. It is very sharp @ f/2 which allows you to double the shutter speed all other things being equal. The obvious drawback is that you are typically optimized to shoot a more limited range, so your shooting position will be critical.</p>

<p>Robert's suggestion about your capture mode is sage advice. I always shoot RAW and make adjustments in post (using ACR). With 12 (to 14) bits of headroom you will have more latitude to lift shadows and get the white balance the way you like it. Noise reduction can also be done very effectively. Good luck.</p><div></div>

<p>My son has played several years of youth basketball (moving up to 6th grade this year) and his team typically plays games in elementary, middle school and even high school gyms. In a nutshell, the lighting is generally pretty poor, at least in my experience. If you want to shoot at a high enough shutter speed to stop the action (e.g. < 1/400s), you are are probably looking in the ballpark of ISO 3200 @ f/2.8. In that case, your 18-200 will simply not be fast enough. Without breaking the bank, a good option might be to settle on a 50 mm prime, knowing that you will have to position yourself in the gym to get the shots that you want. For example, near the baseline on either side of the basket. If you can afford more exotic glass as mentioned above, all the better as this will preclude the need to zoom with your feet. In addition, I highly recommend shooting RAW and making adjustments in post - it will offer far more flexibility wrt exposure adjustments as well as correcting the white balance. Good luck.</p><div></div>

<p>We were outmatched and this guys lit it up in a 42-0 route. Ouch.</p><div></div>

<p>A little high school football action in Northern Virginia - giving the offensive tackle (my son) a little camera love.<br>

D4 + AFS-300, ISO 12800, 1/1000s @ f/2.8</p><div></div>