bsxphoto

<p>Hey everyone,<br>

This past year working on a newspaper I've done a ton of sports photography, mostly Pac-12 college sports but a little bit of professional sports. I'm in the process of making a sports portfolio and I was wondering a couple of things.<br>

1) How many photos do you generally have in a sports portfolio? <br>

2) In the past year I've shot soccer, basketball, football, baseball, and a ton of softball and gymnastics. Should I focus on my favorite sport to shoot or should I show versatility? I do a lot of photo galleries for my paper and I want to link those to my website when I finally put my website up but as for the pictures I just show to people, is it better to go with several portfolios, one for each sport, or just one portfolio with 1-2 photos for each sport? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Joshua Bessex</p>

<p>I feel that if you can't justify the cost then don't get it. Buy the body if you feel it'll offer you something you really need and are willing to pay for, that way you aren't throwing $3500 down the drain. However, I don't think that it'll depreciate "HEAPS" in three years if it really is everything that canon is hyping it up to be the 5D Mark2 is still reselling for quite a bit now. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone. I managed to find one when going through the photo cabinet in the newsroom so I'm just going to use that one for now. </p>

<p>Hi everyone,<br>

I'm a photojournalist for my college newspaper, The UW Daily and I shoot with my trusted 20D which I bought three years ago off of craigslist. The camera works beautifully but I bought it gripped, which until now, hasn't been much of a problem. I love having the grip but sometimes, it makes my camera bulky and hard to carry in my school/walk-around bag that I recently bought.<br>

Do you know anywhere that I could find a replacement battery door for my 20D? I checked all the local camera stores in Seattle and haven't had any luck. I saw some on eBay, and on Bocaphoto.com, but I'm skeptical of these. Any thoughts oneither of these sites? Where else could I look?<br>

Thanks for your time and happy shooting,<br>

Josh </p>

<p>I had this exact same problem with the Sandisk CF card. It happened twice before I just threw it away and switched to a different brand. I think the problem is with the card because I shoot with a 20D and the exact same thing happened to me but when I used a different brand memory card, that memory card works fine.</p>

<p>Hi everyone,<br>

After taking a year off photography for my studies (I'm doing premed and boy is it rough), I realized how much I missed photojournalism so I applied, and got accepted, onto my campus newspaper staff as a part time photographer. Now I'm trying to put together some newer gear.<br>

Currently I have:<br>

85mm 1.8<br>

50mm 1.8<br>

18-55 kit lens non-is<br>

20D with battery grip and tons of batteries<br>

When I shot in highschool I always used my 85 and 50 primes and my 18-55 in a pinch. I guess now I'm trying to decide the next lens I should buy. I was thinking of getting the Tamron 17-50 VC 2.8 to use as a new general lens or get something more telephoto than 85 mm. The photo editor said that the paper has 70-200's and 16-35's L series that I can borrow for sports and/or special events, but he is encouraging me to have my own lenses just in case something happens where I need to be ready to shoot instantly. Any suggestions? I also heard there is a sigma 17-50 OS? is that any good? I was thinking of getting the Cannon 17-55 is but I am a college student afterall, so that is slightly out of my price range.</p>

<p>I have an xti and I found when shooting basketball, the "nifty-fifty" 1.8 is a great lens, fast and is wide enough to include the ball, hoop, and face in jump shots. I also use the 85 1.8 for face shots or shots of players running up the court. with the iso at 1600 you should get a shutter speed of 1/250-1/400</p>

<p>In my photo class last year a local photographer came in and showed us a technique which might help you.<br>

We took the B&W photograph, upped the contrast and then inverted the image. Then we printed that image on an 8x10 transparency which we then developed in the darkroom. whould that be an option? </p>

<p>Thank you.<br>

Mark: Thanks for the advice. I really do hate my 24-70. It slow to focus and really really loud.<br>

William W: Thank you for that very frightening scenario... :/ but the point is taken. It looks like the camera.<br>

Harry: As much as I would love a 70-200 it looks like a camera is the better way to go right now.<br>

So would my best course of action be a 30d and sell the 24-70? This is my final check. lol<br>

Thanks you all very much for your responses.</p>

<p>I love how quickly I get responses. Thank you. :)<br>

Mark: My budget is approximately 300-350 dollars (but I would stretch it for the 70-200 f4). I already own a 24-70 which I used alot before it broke. However I was thinking of selling it for the tammy 17-50. Whould that be wise of me?<br>

Harry: That is basically my dream kit. but unfortunaley I don't have the funds for now. Would you suggest the 30d or 70-200 f4? given the choice.<br>

Keep the responses coming. I'm learning alot.</p>

<p>Sorry there was a spelling error. I have a rebel XTI not the T1i.<br>

Plus, I want a camera with a better fps for action shots that's why I was leaning 20/30d. <br>

But the 200 fixed is an interesting Idea.<br>

Another related question towards photojournalists; what do you normally keep in your bag camera and lens-wise?<br>

Thanks for the responses </p>

<p>Again, thank you for the quick responses. Tom I would absolutely love a 50d but I'm afraid it's out of my budget. I'm extremely happy being on the paper though, despite all the stress and cussing out the schools computers I'm having a great time. Alan, the school district cut our budget so we can't get any new equipment this year, we even got reduced to a monthly newspaper as opposed the last year when we were a weekly paper.</p>

<p>Keep the responses coming, I'm excited to hear your input. Thanks.</p>

<p>Again, thank you for the quick responses. Tom I would absolutely love a 50d but I'm afraid it's out of my budget. I'm extremely happy being on the paper though, despite all the stress and cussing out the schools computers I'm having a great time. Alan, the school district cut our budget so we can't get any new equipment this year, we even got reduced to a monthly newspaper as opposed the last year when we were a weekly paper.</p>

<p>Keep the responses coming, I'm excited to hear your input. Thanks.</p>

<p>Thanks for the quick response John. I do in fact have sideline access which is what I've been using to get shots.<br>

For all three of my weddings I've rented or borrowed a back-up body. However, for photojournalism I am without a backup. and my choices aren't really limited to a 20d or 30d but those would be, in my opinion, the "best bang for my buck" however, if you think the 40d (obviously the 40d is a better camera but it is still fairly expesive) or any other camera would work better I'm completely open to suggestions.</p>

<p>I just got drafted onto my school paper as a photographer (Peninsula Outlook, number one student paper in the nation 2 years running) so I have a big reputation to keep. Currently I'm shooting with a rebbel txi and the newspapers 50mm and 85mm 1.8s. I also have a Sigma 24-70 2.8 but it's being repaired right now (The focus ring locked). Although, I love the primes, when I shot sports I missed alot of shots by not having a longer reach or flexibility. So right now I'm saving up some money to buy new equipment. I've been looking at either the canon 70-200mm f4 or sigma 70-200mm f2.8. However, just a few hours ago I was uploading photos when saw that I reached the 30,000 image mark. ALSO I also shoot weddings and portraits outside the newspaper. So I have a few questions:<br>

1) Should I save up for a lens or a camera first? I've been looking at the 20d or 30d for the faster fps and easier controls ( I really enjoy the rear-wheel of the XXd series). I'm not sure what the shutter life of my camera is despite my research and I would really hate to have my camera fail on me.<br>

2) If I should get a lens, do you recomend the canon f4 or sigma 2.8?<br>

I've been researching this for awhile but I feel the need to ask anyway. I apologize for the rambling question. </p>

<p>1) Get a back-up system. Even if it's a point-and-shoot camera make sure you have a backup in case your camera fails.<br>

2) Shoot the formals at 5.6 or above.<br>

3) Where are you going to be taking photos during the ceremony? I think that 2.8 at a high iso should work during the ceremony... <strong>if possible</strong> (and only if possible) though, get the aperture at 4.0<br>

4) Good luck.</p>

<p>I just got asked to go on a road trip across america this summer and I need some advice on what equipment I will need.<br>

Currently I have:<br>

Rebel xti<br>

Sigma 24-70 f2.8<br>

Canon 18-55 non is<br>

Quantaray flash<br>

12 gb worth of memory cards<br>

Crappy tripod<br>

I'll have a laptop on the trip as well.<br>

I plan on shooting some landscapes/panoramas and then general stuff. I have a 300-400 dollar budget and I plan on spending it on a good tripod and extra batteries as well as a battery grip (possibly).<br>

Should I look at getting a telephoto lens? Is there anything else I'm missing?</p>

<p>canon 70-200 f4 is or no is</p>

<p>Thank you all so much for your help.<br>

I will get paid for this wedding but probably not much, it's more of a favor. Currently I'm leaning towards getting a camea over the lens.<br>

David: I do plan on getting a 5d in the future or perhaps instead of the 40d if I can get the funds.<br>

UJwal: Is the f4 going to work for weddings? I thought it would be to slow for indoor work.<br>

Nadine: I won't be geting paid much for this wedding but I still want to be professional and have the best gear I can get.<br>

Marcus: I wish someone would trade me a 5d for my Xti... But by then hell would freeze over... then I can go iceskating!!!!</p>

 

<p>I shot my first wedding in january and it went well, everyone was pleased with the photos and I didn't die of stress. A friend of mine asked If I could shoot a wedding for another friend and said yes. My first wedding I read at least 50 of these forums so I'm pleased to say I did my homework.<br>

This is the equipment I have:<br>

xti<br>

Sigma 24-70 f2.8<br>

canon 18-55 f3.5-5.6? no IS<br>

Quantaray Flash (I don't know the exact model off the top of my head but I works great)<br>

A set of Fanciers Fan160Bs for formal portraits.<br>

and before you have a heart attack, I borrowed an xt and extra batteries from my school for backup.<br>

Now for my next wedding I have a choice, should I buy a 40d and use my xti as a back-up or should I get a Sigma HSM 70-200 f2.8? Because the wedding is over the summer I can't borrow an extra camera from my school. I have an assistant using an xsi for this upcoming wedding and I'm not above taking the camera from her if mine fails. I'm only in high school so I don't have a huge budget. Should I just rent a 70-200 IS USM? If so, are there any camera rental places in the Seattle-Tacoma area? Thank you so much for your help.</p>

<p>I own the xti and have used the Xsi and I haven't seen any real difference in image quality. But the bodies do differ greatly. I suggest you find somewere where you can hold both and decide which body feels better in your hand.</p>

<p>There is always the tamron 17-50 2.8 which I hear is a great lens. I'm heavily considering selling my sigma 24-70 in order to get it.</p>

<p>I have been doing research on the prices of Full frame cameras and I realized that the 5d is not the cheapest full frame camera out there. I found quite a few Canon 1ds Mark 1's for about the same price/ slightly cheaper. However, I understand that this camera is six years old. Is it even worth it? Or has the six years worth of new technology rendered it kind of obsolete? Should I just get something newer like the 5d?<br>

P.S I heared it's a brick. </p>

<p>Do what I do when I run out of ideas. Crank up your favorite music and let inspiration come to you. You'd be surprised at how well it works. Also, keep a notepad with you and use it to write down ideas. That will help you comkpose the shot in your mind before you even touch your camera. Capturing good images is a lot easier when you know what your aiming for.</p>

<p>What got you started in photography?<br>

When I was about seven, I bought a film P&S for $1.50 from goodwill and loved it. Eventually I saved up and bought a pentax k1000 (still my favorite camera of all time.) in sixth grade. I used that camera (and would still be using it if the local camera store hadn't stopped selling dark room materials) all the way up until last year when I got a XTI.<br>

I'm only in high school so I don't have a very long photographic orgin but I'd be fascinated to read others.</p>