First attempt at digital sports photograthy

[trojansportsfan]

As I've been doing pictures with a Sony camcorder for the past few years, I got a Canon Rebel XTi camera. As I have never worked a digital camera I didn't know what to do. I got the camera Monday and went to a friend who does digital pics and got a quick leason.
So Tuesday night I went to the basketball games. I have the Rebel with the standard 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens. This is until I can save up for a better lens. One end of the gym had better light than the other so I have lightened those pics up somewhat with software. Some pics are better than others. But as long as the kids get to see themselves on the site it's all they care about. I learned a little and I think next time may do better. Here is a link to the pictures and any advice will be helpful, but not criticism.

http://picasaweb.google.com/trojansportsfan/CollinwoodVsWayneCo

[dethomas07]

I've got a thread a couple of pages back. I got several tips on camera settings that helped me quite a bit with taking sports pictures in a gym. Let me link you to it:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=435470

David

[fugfuggy]

well you did ok for the gear that you had. If I might suggest a quick fix that will yield you much better result. For $100 you can pick up the 50mm F 1.8 lens that will give you the shutter speed to get rid of all that motion blur. If you are going to save up for a new higher end lens for this type of work I would highly recommend the 85mm F 1.8. Fast and sharp!

Another thing that I think would help you greatly is to do a search and read the gymnastic threads here. You share a lot of the same issues of fast action, low light, no flash allowed.

[ram1958@sbcglobal.net]

Good effort... getting out and shooting is the best way to learn.
As you stated, you've got a good start with your XTi kit.
You also know that an upgrade in lenses is a must (in most's opinion) and especially for sports.
Looks like you got better (as the game progressed) if the pictures are in chronological order.
Your shutter speed and focus points needs work, but you've got some nice "catches" like #10 driving to the hoop and a couple of the jumpers.
If using Picasa, experiment with color correction and sharpness.
I like Picasa, nice quality, quick and easy to learn and free.
Just a few comments, no criticism, but that too can be a learning tool:lol:
Keep shooting and reading this forum, some really invaluable information here and the experience of the photographers that post here is outstanding.;)
Have fun,
RAM

[trojansportsfan]

Thanks guys. I just said no critisim because I got some on another thread on here and don't think it's nessesary. Thanks for the ideas.

[MT Stringer]

Since you most likely will be shooting in this gym again, read up on "Custom White Balance" in your instruction manual and practice it. It requires an 18% gray card or a white card or piece of 90% white paper. That should help with getting the color balance set and eliminate having to tweak it in your post processing.

Given the gear you have to work with, set your white balance, increase your ISO to 1600, shoot in AV mode at the widest aperature your lens will allow and hopefully, the motion blur will decrease some.

Good luck.
Keep on shooting.
Mike

[dave kadolph]

Glad to see that you decided on a camera.

Try AV mode wide open--ISO 1600--Center focal point only--custom white balance.

And a free noiseware reduction program available here:
http://www.imagenomic.com/nwsa.aspx
will help you clean up your images.

Good first attempt--keep practicing.

[trojansportsfan]

I used Picasa on the dark pics.

[10range]

I would echo what others have said. Practice is the best way to learn. With your current lens, you will be very limited on what you will be able to do. That being said, as you practice, you will learn what you can and cannot do with it.
I would also recommend the 50/1.8 considering you are on a budget. It will allow you to get some good picture in lower light conditions that will be impossible to get with your current set up. It can easily be had for less than $100.

[trojansportsfan]

Here is my second games pics. I think they are better and without the bluriness. I guess practise helps.

http://picasaweb.google.com/trojansportsfan/CollinwoodVsHampshire

[lhoney2]

75-28 :) Go Trojans!?

Second set MUCH improved. Looks like you must have bumped the ISO up there to get that kind of speed out of the kit lens in that dark gym. You got some nice action shots there. I know you said no criticism, but... try shooting some of your shots portrait instead of landscape. You may be able to get the entire player, ball and basket in the same shot.