Gymnastics Shots - back to ISO 1600+

[GBRandy]

Back at it again for gymnastics. Horrible lighting as usual. Normal awful backgrounds and tight quarters....but in the end the kids are happy so I guess it's all OK.

I do need to clean these up a little more for noise, but it's the first meet of the year and I, like the gymnasts, am a bit rusty.

Comments and critiques always welcomed and encouraged......

#1 ISO 600
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2007_2008_Photos/Appleton2007/pictures/picture-13.jpg

#2 ISO 3200
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2007_2008_Photos/Appleton2007/pictures/picture-76.jpg

#3 ISO 3200
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2007_2008_Photos/Appleton2007/pictures/picture-102.jpg

#4 ISO 1600
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2007_2008_Photos/Appleton2007/pictures/picture-63.jpg

#5 ISO 1600
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2007_2008_Photos/Appleton2007/pictures/picture-56.jpg

[nickybegood1998]

Wow, those look great! Did say ISO 1600? Wow!

Karman

[bwolford]

I assume these were taken with your MIII and not the IIN. I know you did some noise reduction, but even with that these are very nice. You've set the bar high for yourself this year...

[GBRandy]

I assume these were taken with your MIII and not the IIN. I know you did some noise reduction, but even with that these are very nice. You've set the bar high for yourself this year...

Thanks for the kind words...I think I have a lot to work on. the PP work is really tricky.

These were shot with th MKIIn....my MKIII arrived last night. (hoping this one can focus better than the last one!)

All shot RAW....The ISO 1600 shots only had a pass through DPP. The ISO 3200 shots continued on and saw a small amount of time in Noise Ninja...but not much.

EXIF data is all there if ya want to peek :)

[jdando]

Very nice. #4 and #5 are my favorites.

As Brice said you have set the bar high. My daughter would be thrilled if I get shots this good.

jeremy

[Hikin Mike]

Great captures, Randy! They looks so "big" compared to my 9-year old!

[SuzyView]

If I had a nice bunch of kids who do gymnastics, I'd be using the 1DMKIII also. Congrats on great shots! Keepers. And how often do you do the fast shooting thing?

[jptsr1]

the only thing that makes me covet the cameras above mine is high ISO performance. if you didn't post it i would have never known.

J.

[AB8ND]

Good images, nice work

Gymnastics are just plain hard to shoot, especially with bad lighting

Jack

[bwolford]

I'll be "doggonned" :D Some taken with you 85, 135 and others with the 70-200 F/2.8. I can't get that kind of noise reduction, but I'm not using DPP. Looks like I'd better think about using it. My reliance on PSCS2 is showing and it appears it's a bad reliance...

Holy cow... Wish I could get that out of my 70-200 F/2.8. :cry:

I have a 100 F/2. Maybe I'll play with that beast a little more.

[GBRandy]

Very nice. #4 and #5 are my favorites.

As Brice said you have set the bar high. My daughter would be thrilled if I get shots this good.

jeremy

These are never easy shoots. If we keep practicing they seems to get better.


Great captures, Randy! They looks so "big" compared to my 9-year old!

Yea... they grow quick....get lots of shots now, they'll be "big" soon enough!

If I had a nice bunch of kids who do gymnastics, I'd be using the 1DMKIII also. Congrats on great shots! Keepers. And how often do you do the fast shooting thing?

The MKIII is almost exclusively here for these events....I rarely run the motor drive for more than three or four shots. Timing is the key, not "spray & pray" ;)

if you didn't post it i would have never known.

That's the best compliment I could get...thanks! The PP trip was an adventure to say the least.

Good images, nice work

Gymnastics are just plain hard to shoot, especially with bad lighting

Jack

Yes they are hard to shoot...most challenging sport I have found.....thanks for the kind words.

[GBRandy]

I'll be "doggonned" :D Some taken with you 85, 135 and others with the 70-200 F/2.8. I can't get that kind of noise reduction, but I'm not using DPP. Looks like I'd better think about using it. My reliance on PSCS2 is showing and it appears it's a bad reliance...

Holy cow... Wish I could get that out of my 70-200 F/2.8. :cry:

I have a 100 F/2. Maybe I'll play with that beast a little more.

For me, the primes seems to have that extra edge in detail. That 85 f1.8 is an inexpensive lens and is razor sharp...I mean really sharp.

For what it is worth, I downloaded the new version of DPP and spent a lot of time with it this week. I also decided to get serious about Noise Ninja as I have it in Bibble Pro, PSCS2 Plug-in and as a stand alone. My objective was to speed up the processing....all of these shots were "batched" and no PS. I broke them into ISO 1600 & ISO 3200 groups and ran trial after trial to get the settings that looked good to me. Took awhile....

The actual "run time" now is about 20 minutes...hopefully now that I have a baseline the next event (late Dec :() will be a quicker affair.

Don't discount that 100 f2.....bet you get some nice results with it...

Did mention my 85 f1.8 is sharp (f1.8!)...and that lens is what? $380?
http://www.ymcagymstars.com/2006_07_events/Sheboygan/Emily4.jpg

[dodorouthier]

love them all
and...she is going to be a heart breaker!

[Hikin Mike]

My oldest daughter (9) just took a look and she said about #2 "Her feet should be together" and #5 "WOW!!

Kids...

[GBRandy]

My oldest daughter (9) just took a look and she said about #2 "Her feet should be together" and #5 "WOW!!

Kids...

Good eye your kid has got! Actually in #2, my daughter has knees that do not allow for her knees and heels to come together at the same time....in fact her knees are a weak spot for her and on occasion will dislocate. It sounds and looks painful, but she carriers on....why, I have no idea...and every time she sees pictures like this she says the same thing..."I need to get my feet together".

As for Number 5, look at the stands (upper level all the way on the left) and the two parents that knew what was coming on that dismount....I love their expression :)

[Hikin Mike]

It's funny because my daughter spotted the foot thing, but she forgets about her own placement! :lol:

Great expression on the parents! :eek:

[bwolford]

For what it is worth, I downloaded the new version of DPP and spent a lot of time with it this week. I also decided to get serious about Noise Ninja as I have it in Bibble Pro, PSCS2 Plug-in and as a stand alone. My objective was to speed up the processing....all of these shots were "batched" and no PS. I broke them into ISO 1600 & ISO 3200 groups and ran trial after trial to get the settings that looked good to me. Took awhile....

I'm off to load DPP and updates now. Are you saying you are using it to batch your noise management for the images too? Looks like I have some learning to do.

[GBRandy]

Are you saying you are using it to batch your noise management for the images too?

Correct....I batched all the settings including the noise management. Adjusting these image by image was far to time consuming. My intent is to process all my shots first and cull the bad ones after the profiles have been applied....I used to do it the other way around.

[bwolford]

Well, I played with DPP far too long yesterday and it looks like I've made a serious mistake doing all my sharpening in PSCS2 for the past few years. The sharpening in DPP is far superior. My noise reduction attempts weren't as successful, but I can definitely see advantages for creating a recipe in DPP and then applying that recipe to all shots in a set, then final tune in PSCS2 or Neat Image if necessary.

Thanks Randy.

[kenwood33]

very nice captures, #2 is my fav

[248]

Sorry for the silly question, but what is DPP? When I take pictures at ISO 1600 or 3200 with my 30D, it get a lot of noise in my pictures. How did you get such low noise pictures at such high ISO? Was it the DPP, whatever that is?

[bwolford]

It's the software that came with your camera. The newest version does a great job of sharpening AND a good job of noise reduction.

[GBRandy]

Sorry for the silly question, but what is DPP? When I take pictures at ISO 1600 or 3200 with my 30D, it get a lot of noise in my pictures. How did you get such low noise pictures at such high ISO? Was it the DPP, whatever that is?

Brice is correct. It is the software that came with your camera. The new & improved version (3.2.0) is pretty good at sharpening and noise control. Hardly user friendly, but a good way to work images...I shoot Raw, process in DPP, batch to Jpegs and go on from there.

Try here:.... DPP Download (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=DownloadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=10598)

[GBRandy]

very nice captures, #2 is my fav

Thanks....these events are quite challenging.

[Sussi]

As for Number 5, look at the stands (upper level all the way on the left) and the two parents that knew what was coming on that dismount....I love their expression :)

I thought they were parents... I sure would be really scared if any of my daughters were doing that. You gymnastics moms and dads must really have strong nerves...

Really great pictures. Thanks for explaining about DPP. I havn't installed that software yet but seeing your pictures I'll go get the cd and have it installed right now! :D

[bwolford]

Brice is correct. It is the software that came with your camera. The new & improved version (3.2.0) is pretty good at sharpening and noise control. Hardly user friendly, but a good way to work images...I shoot Raw, process in DPP, batch to Jpegs and go on from there.

Try here:.... DPP Download (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=DownloadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=10598)

And here to learn the basics on how to use it: Canon Digital Learning Center (http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=386)

[Hikin Mike]

And here to learn the basics on how to use it: Canon Digital Learning Center (http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=386)

Doesn't seem to work. Tried Firefox and IE7...:confused:

EDIT: Never mind....:oops: