high jumper advice

[tpetty]

This was taken on a really grey day last week at my daughter's track meet. I see the amazing pics by gmen and many others in challenging lighting conditions and wonder what I could have done on this (and about 20 other non-posted shots) to make this a good picture. The exif data should be viewable for anyone interested. And thanks in advance.

[fslshooter]

Trent -

I don't see any EXIF data -- if you can tell us ISO, shutter speed and aperture we might can provide more help. Here are a few suggestions: Open up as wide as your lens will allow, shoot at 1/500 or faster and adjust ISO as necessary. You'll probably get the best results shooting in manual or AV exposure mode and a more interesting image if you shoot tighter so there aren't so many spectators in the pic.

[gmen]

As Jerry says, try to work wider open and with a higher shutter speed... a longer focal length might help as well.

I'd also suggest changing position for a better background. Jumpers use different techniques but you can usually get a good pic shooting from the mat side of the jump with a long focal length (200mm+). With many jumpers you'll get a view of their face at some point.

Also, try shooting from a lower viewpoint as well.

I'll try to dig out an example later.

---- Gavin

[gmen]

Couple of examples.

One from the mat side:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/bm004.jpg

One from the 'run-up' side:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/bm008.jpg

---- Gavin

[tpetty]

Fantastic - thanks so much Jerry and Gavin. Apologize for the missing exif - lost it when I resized the photo for the web. It was shot with the 70-200, 400 ISO, 1/800th at 5.6. Thanks again!!

[emurph2]

Awesome examples Gavin!! I was wondering what the best place to shoot from would be too.

[gmen]

If you can get nice and low... then you can eliminate all the wandering officials/athletes/interlopers from the background... you may find that you need to change position once you've seen what technique an individual jumper uses... but you normally get at least three chances to shoot each athlete :lol: :)

---- Gavin

[Rumjungle]

Phenomenal pictures, Gavin. You've really captured the best of what high jumping has to offer.

[superdiver]

Gmen, is there a sport you DONT just blow out of the water!?!??!

My gosh! I have never seen a bad pic from your stuff!

When I grow up I wanna be just like Gmen!!!!