First Time Taking Night time Football

[T-Roc]

These pictures I took are the first time I tried taking action pictures at night. Please leave c/c.

Thanks

[T-Roc]

I definetly need help with these pictures....

[T-Roc]

What do you think of these?

[dmwierz]

OK, here goes:

The first two make me ask more questions than they answer. I presume the first one is a TD, but since I can't see anything around the player, it could also be practice, or an incomplete pass, or something else. Also, it would be a better shot if his face showed.

The second shot is another one that makes me wonder what I am seeing. Is this a TD? Where's the ball? Is the player whose face is in the turf important? Don't forget that the picture needs to tell a story all by itself.

The third shot is OK, but OOF. 1/125 is WAY too slow.Why did you shoot at f5.6? I notice you're shooting the 70-200. Is this the f4 or the f2.8? You want the fastest aperture you can get, so pick the smallest number you have, which would at least get you to 1/250, or if you could get to f2.8, will get you up to 1/500 which will make a HUGE difference in the sharpness of your shots.

The next few again suffer from being too slow, and have a little noise. Which lens did you use? Your timing was good on these, but you could be hamstrung by your equipment.

Keep shooting. good start. Have you thought about using a flash?

[T-Roc]

The first two make me ask more questions than they answer. I presume the first one is a TD, but since I can't see anything around the player, it could also be practice, or an incomplete pass, or something else. Also, it would be a better shot if his face showed.



He caught the ball in the end zone but it was called back on a penalty.... I thought the dissapointment showed plenty but I guess I need to be more descriptive.


The second shot is another one that makes me wonder what I am seeing. Is this a TD? Where's the ball? Is the player whose face is in the turf important? Don't forget that the picture needs to tell a story all by itself.

He tackled the guy and took a face plant.... :o

The third shot is OK, but OOF. 1/125 is WAY too slow.Why did you shoot at f5.6? I notice you're shooting the 70-200. Is this the f4 or the f2.8? You want the fastest aperture you can get, so pick the smallest number you have, which would at least get ou to 1/250,or if you could get to f2.8, will get you up to 1/500 which will make a HUGE difference in the sharpness of your shots.


I am using a Sigma 70-200 at 1600 on manual. A "pro" photographer set it up for me and said I didn't need a flash. I didn't know I was shooting at f5.6.... I'm still learning and don't know the best settings to shoot at.



The next few again suffer from being too slow, and have a little noise. Which lens did you use? Your timing was good on these, but you could be hamstrung by your equipment.


Gosh.... I have a pair of D-Reb XT's and a variety of lenses plus a 480 flash. Like I said earlier I'm still trying to get the hang of shooting other than just using the Auto-features.

Keep shooting. good start. Have you thought about using a flash?

Thanks for your input.... it really helps and I needed the feedback. I look at these pictures and think they are pretty good but I know they are missing that "WOW" feature. I'm trying to get there and I need all the advice I can get. :D

[dmwierz]

Well, if you have a 70-200 f2.8 then the "pro" who set you up led you astray. I notice from the EXIF data on your images that you shot in manual, which is good. All you need to change is the aperture - to f2.8, and you would then been able to select 1/500 shutter speed and your shots would have been a lot sharper.

The XT and the 70-200 f2.8 are a good combo to start with. I know guys who shoot football and baseball with only this combo. Do a search on shooting football with flash on this or the Miranda forum and you'll get a TON of hits. Some guys don't like the results with a flash, and I use it for fill, but it's worth experimenting, and most of all, have fun. That's what it's all about.

[liza]

Once you have the correct settings, it's all about timing. I'm better with gym sports than field sports, and I know how difficult shooting night football can be. Keep practicing, and you'll improve in time.

[T-Roc]

Thanks all for the advice.... I can't wait to try it. Unfortunately our football season just ended and I'm going to be shooting basketball.... will that combination still work indoors?

hmmmmm, I could always practice on night time soccer.

[dmwierz]

Thanks all for the advice.... I can't wait to try it. Unfortunately our football season just ended and I'm going to be shooting basketball.... will that combination still work indoors?

hmmmmm, I could always practice on night time soccer.

Nightime football IS really challenging, but moving indoors to shoot basketball presents other challenges. With night football, the lighting is tough and the distance is long. Indoor basketball also has tough light but the distances aren't as long. You can use your 70-200 but it actually might be a bit slow. A very popular lens is the Canon 85 f1.8, which will allow you to shoot in the near court only.

Pro's frequently shoot basketball with what are called arena strobes which are flashes installed either in the "rafters" or on stands, triggered with radio transmitters mounted on the cameras.

Tell ya what: the best advice I could give is twofold: buy this book and read it cover-to-cover - twice at least: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592006485/104-4403925-5347966?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Second, contact the local folks shooting youth sports and see if they will let you shoot alongside them. They are almost always looking for extra help, and will let you shoot with them in return for the use of whatever images you generate. Two of the largest are http://www.ASPN.com, and The Sports Section (http://www.sports-section.com/). If you find the local folks and contact them, they may let you hang around. It worked for me.

Good luck, keep shooting and post your results here.

[liza]

You might also offer to contribute shots to the local high school yearbook. That will get you a sideline spot at all the sporting events and probably free admission to the games as well. I have used the 85mm/1.8 to shoot basketball and volleyball and am pleased overall with the results. I shoot wide open at 1600 ISO to get a higher shutter speed and try to anticipate the action. You should also look for different vantage points in the gym away from the officials to avoid getting them in the shot. It's very fast paced and is challenging, but it's a lot of fun. Enjoy!

[T-Roc]

Tell ya what: the best advice I could give is twofold: buy this book and read it cover-to-cover - twice at least: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592006485/104-4403925-5347966?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Second, contact the local folks shooting youth sports and see if they will let you shoot alongside them. They are almost always looking for extra help, and will let you shoot with them in return for the use of whatever images you generate. Two of the largest are http://www.ASPN.com, and The Sports Section (http://www.sports-section.com/). If you find the local folks and contact them, they may let you hang around. It worked for me.

Good luck, keep shooting and post your results here.

Again.... thanks, I'm going to purchase the book today. What's your thoughts on this book - Digital Sports Photography : Take Winning Shots... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764596071/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/102-7000325-5404168?%5Fencoding=UTF8) by Serge Timacheff? Amazon is packaging the two books together.

Funny you should mention the youth sports aspect.... I've been approached twice but haven't followed through with it. Guess it's time that I do.....
I've been a high school basketball and tennis coach for over 20 years and decided to take this season off from the basketball sidelines. This should give me more time for "shotmaking". Again, thanks! :D

[T-Roc]

You might also offer to contribute shots to the local high school yearbook. That will get you a sideline spot at all the sporting events and probably free admission to the games as well. I have used the 85mm/1.8 to shoot basketball and volleyball and am pleased overall with the results. I shoot wide open at 1600 ISO to get a higher shutter speed and try to anticipate the action. You should also look for different vantage points in the gym away from the officials to avoid getting them in the shot. It's very fast paced and is challenging, but it's a lot of fun. Enjoy!

As I mentioned in the previous post I have been coaching for over 20 years at the high school level. This school year I have decided to take some time off from the sidelines and devote more time to other "things" like photography. Because of my position at my school I wouldn't have any problem with sideline access. I have also been helping our yearbook advisor with picture taking, layouts, etc.... so it's been good experience. I tried taking some volleyball pictures and hated the results. I really need work on that. I feel I've always done a good job with basketball because of my basketball coaching experience and have always used my teams as "subjects".

I am going to purchase the 85mm/1.8 real soon. I already have the 50mm/1.8 but never really used it. I just felt like I should use a zoom lens but it seems that many people on the forums are recommending the same thing as you. I'm looking forward to trying that out.

Thanks again for all your help.... I've enjoyed reading your posts to others and am glad you included me in your c/c.

[dmwierz]

As I mentioned in the previous post I have been coaching for over 20 years at the high school level. This school year I have decided to take some time off from the sidelines and devote more time to other "things" like photography. Because of my position at my school I wouldn't have any problem with sideline access. I have also been helping our yearbook advisor with picture taking, layouts, etc.... so it's been good experience. I tried taking some volleyball pictures and hated the results. I really need work on that. I feel I've always done a good job with basketball because of my basketball coaching experience and have always used my teams as "subjects".

I am going to purchase the 85mm/1.8 real soon. I already have the 50mm/1.8 but never really used it. I just felt like I should use a zoom lens but it seems that many people on the forums are recommending the same thing as you. I'm looking forward to trying that out.

Thanks again for all your help.... I've enjoyed reading your posts to others and am glad you included me in your c/c.

The 50 f1.8 is a little slow in the AF. I don't care for it as a sports lens. The 85 f1.8, however, is a very good Basketball and Volleyball lens. I even just used it in a wrestling match and it worked great (was able to get right up next to the mat).

Regarding the Timacheff book, I have that one also. It's OK, but not as good as the first one. It actually covers a lot of the "off" sports (as well as football, baseball, etc.), as the author is an Olympic fencing photographer, so if you want to see how to shoot sports in addition to the "primary" sports, this would be another good book to browse through. Definitely BUY the Lowrance book. It's a keeper.

Have fun!

Dennis

[JLP9639]

I've taken some floodlit rugby shots here in Scotland and it's a battle between grain, shutter speed, contrast and focus.
I like the movement in some of your photos as it 'proves that the photos aren't posed, although 1/125 might be a bit slow. I use 1/320, ISO800 and a 70-200f2.8 with a 1.4 convertor. I think number three is the best, as the main player is in focus, etc. As for the first two, they're just not very indicative of the speed of the game. Try head on's for kickers as you can expose later and still get the ball. This is a daylight shot, however (Glasgow v Leinster if yo're intereste)
I've not tried indoor sports yet, but I've posted a couple of rugby posts. If you can find them have a look.

[Tundrasport]

A tip that helped me (read it somewhere, maybe here) with timing and catching the action was to use both eyes. I keep my camera to my right eye and keep both eyes open I can see when the action is on its way into the frame. I learned to do this a long time ago when I was doing a lot of microscope work with a monocular scope. We were taught to keep both eyes open to reduce fatique. It took some practice but it carried over into photography very well. I did have to learn to use my right eye in the viewfinder since I tend to be "left eyed" (I have no idea why, it just seems more natural) As a side benefit I am pretty evenly wrinkled now and not lopsided!

[superdiver]

If you are going to shoot indoor basketball I would suggest a 85mm 1.8

I also use the 70-200 2.8, but often it is not quite enough. I just ordered and am waiting for the 50 1.4, but from what I have heard the focus is too slow for basketball, we will see....

I like the 70-2002.8 better for out door stuff in halfway decent light it still works ok.

Be ready to crank your ISO to 800+ for indoor basketball or poor light outdoor stuff....I usually shoot at 1600 and clean up with neat image or noise ninja...