Basketball through the backboard

[vantsi]

Hey!
I set up a remote cam to shoot through the backboard at last nights game.
Unfortunately there was very little space and it was hard to get the camera on proper position so now it's pointed a little off the rim. I didn't manage to get any really good shots so I didn't bother to try to remove noise from these pics but still wanted share my experiment with you. :D
I used magic arm w/ super clamp, pocket wizards, 350D body and 10-22mm lens @10mm.

1
http://ivaniala.pic.fi/kuvat/ILTA-UUSIMAA/lasi/bboard01.jpg/medium

2
http://ivaniala.pic.fi/kuvat/ILTA-UUSIMAA/lasi/bboard02.jpg/medium

3
http://ivaniala.pic.fi/kuvat/ILTA-UUSIMAA/lasi/bboard03.jpg/medium

4
http://ivaniala.pic.fi/kuvat/ILTA-UUSIMAA/lasi/bboard04.jpg/medium

and a shot of my setup
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3144/remoteku1.jpg

[dmwierz]

What aperture were these set to? Tried to view the EXIF but it's been stripped.

It's kinda difficult to get good backboard shots when not using strobes 'cuz you tend to need to open up the lens pretty far to account for ambient light being low, and because of this your DOF is reduced. Plus, you're shooting with a relatively slow (aperture wise) lens, which doesn't help. Even at 10mm it's only an f/3.5 .

There also a bit of barrel distortion, especially on number 4. The 10-22 isn't linear at its widest setting, and this is showing. Normally, backboard remotes are set-up with a 24-70 or similar lens, which means the effective focal length is normally no wider than 30mm, so you being at 16mm (effective) is pretty wide.

Care to share what you learned from your first experience with backboard remotes?

[vantsi]

These are shot with settings: 1/200, f/8 and ISO 1600
Then just a lot PP :D
I used small aperture cause I tought I need wide DOF. Could I do fine with aperture only as low as 3.5?
Unfortunately I can't afford decent strobes and there's no place where to clamp them at our gym. Unless I want to install them to the ceiling but it would be pretty difficult also.
Advice appreciated!

[Aaagogo]

got 1 question for you.

what is that big chunk of black tape looking thing? GOBO?

[vantsi]

Care to share what you learned from your first experience with backboard remotes?
This wasn't actually my first time with backboard remote, but this far I've learned that it's better cry blood and pay for good remotes (I used pocket wizards) than to be stingy and after the game realize that you missed all the situations cause the cam didn't trigger, been there. :cry:
I once tried with a 28mm f/1.8 lens but I tought it was way too long. I don't mind the barrel distortion, I think it's not so bad at all.
Using a gobo is a must if you don't care to get reflections from the baseline.
Well, I'm going to try this again on next wednesday.
If there is some superduper hints for backboard remotes I'd love to hear them!

[vantsi]

got 1 question for you.

what is that big chunk of black tape looking thing? GOBO?
Yup, it's a gobo. I took tin foil and wrapped it with black tape. :)

[Croasdail]

I don't see a safety cable on there anywhere... I hope you had one, and if you didn't, I hope you get one. I would also see if you can get the camera up a little higher so you can take a steeper angle to the glass. Other then that... looks like a fun first try.

[Strnge]

GOBO? Function?

[vantsi]

GOBO? Function?
Otherwise there'll be really bad reflections from the baseline which mirror from the backboard to your lens and so they are visible in everyshot you take.

And YES I had a safety cable, but you can't see it cause it's hidden so well! :D

[dmwierz]

GoBo is from the term Go Between - not sure where the "O" comes from. It's used to describe anything that is used to block or otherwise modify light.

In this case, it's used to minimize reflections.

Here's more on using a GoBo for basketball backboard remotes:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1062