Need some help w/football

[Gr8outdrsmn]

I am going to be shooting a football game this friday night, if it doesn't start raining on me. I have never shot a football game before and I was wondering what settings I should use and should I use the flash for any close shots? I will be using my 70-200 f/2.8L IS on a 30D. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[superdiver]

Probably need to crank up your ISo to 1600 or 3200 (I owuld use 3200 if I could), the IS probably wont help muchm but the High ISO and wide opne shutter (f2.8) willbe your best allies. get as close to the field as they will allow (I am assuming that you will be on the sidelines) and try to get their faces and eye especially.

Shoot in your favorite manual setting (I like Av) and shoot RAW.

Use a large cf card and take ALOT of pictures. You will find most have some problem and you will delete them in pping.

Look at the other football shots on here to get an idea of what you like and what other prople like in the way of shots.

[Gatorboy]

If you don't have a light meter, just meter the grass and use that for manual settings. The light will be pretty much constant between the 20's. It will be darker in the endzones, so adjust accordingly. I don't shoot Av-mode when light is pretty consistent.

The high school fields around me typically are ISO 3200 f/2.8 1/250 to 1/500.

Shoot a gray card for a custom WB and you should be good to go!