'Weigh In' on Bodybuilding

[Petepix]

Getting to shoot a NPC National qualifier for male/female bodybuilders. I'll be using my IIN w/ 24-70mm f/2.8 &/or 70-200mm f/2.8 and fill-in flash. The venue will be a Tribeca concert stage that's well lit and I'll be at the front of the stage. All will be posing so I won't need Al Servo. So what settings do you think, M,T,V,P ?? All input is appreciated and I'm sure that Dwight will chime in with words of wisdom.:)

[Petepix]

I had a lot of lookers, but no input from you guys. No problem. I was shooting for the experience and to extend the learning curve. I went back and forth between AV and P, but the big error was using a fill-in flash. I had front stage access with good enough lighting, considering that the bodybuilders held their poses so that shutter speed wasn't an issue. Between the oil/iodine and the tanning booth skin, I had some wierd coloring and too many highlights and yes, his head is tattooed.

[inchman254]

Wow! That is one orange poser!

I agree that the fill-in flash probably wasn't necessary. With the iodine, the blown out highlights due to the overhead lights even show up yellowy-orange.

I can only offer comments, not suggestions, as I have never covered an event like this.

I usually cover high school basketball with poor lighting, so I'm stuck at ISO 800 or 1600, f/2.8 and 1/250 or 1/320 at best but I would think that you should probably be able to improve on these settings with a non-moving subject on a well lit stage. That having been said, after thousands of pictures, I haven't been able to produce something from basketball that I was proud to post here... I will one day, though. I have lots of sharp pictures with no drama and lots of dramatic pictures that aren't sharp enough.

This one certainly has drama, but doesn't have much appeal, IMO, due mostly to the colours. It should also be straightened and the interference in the bottom right makes it of limited value. You might have another image with that section of curtain that you could clone in here. I'd probably have the subject's feet right at the bottom of the image, too, rather than having the bright stagefront, or replace it with some darker element.

One minor suggestion.... if you're asking for feedback, it might be best to keep your exif data intact.

[ironbelle]

Pete. Looks like a decent start. You already know that flash was too harsh since you had good lights so that's good that you made that obversation on your own. I didn't chime in because I've never shot bodybuilding. I know bodybuilders and I go to a BB oriented gym so you would think I've shot shows. LOL

[Petepix]

Inchman; thanks for the input. Since I had no intent of using/selling these shots, I didn't bother with the editing and tweaking. I don't mind totally messing up a shoot as long as I'm not on the clock and I learn from it.
Ironbell; this show was sponsored by the gym that I go to. These guys use the weighs, I train with the 'washers'! There were two photogs from the product sponsors shooting. I tried striking up a conversation, but they were very tight-lipped. My big error, in hindsight, was not picking up on them NOT using a flash.
So next time; no flash, stick with a custom white balance (I use the Expodisc), bump up the ISO if needed in order to keep the settings up. Oh, and start watching what I eat!!

[mr_ch]

Hi Pete,

I am very new to this forum and only found it because of searching tips for bodybuilding photography. I was looking for the right lighting equipment for studio shootings... As I am not a pro, I don't want to spend too much money for wrong things. Of course a pro doesn't want that either. :)
Attached is a shot of the qualification to the world championships. I always use a flash with an omnibounce, that's a great tool!
Here the other data: Canon EOS5D, Speedlite 580EX, EF70-200mm L USM
Data of the shot: f/4, 1/100, 104mm, ISO800
I always shoot RAW and use Aperture (Apple) to do the postprocessing...

...would like to compare notes...

Best wishes
Marco

[Petepix]

Marco; check out Hatch1921 on the sports forum. He sent me some advise and seems to be a wealth of info. If you link up to his websites, you'll see some fine work by him and his associates.