Need some advice for PBR shoot...

[Pruddock]

Well, my girlfriend surprised me and got us tickets to a PBR competition this weekend and I'm really hoping to get some good shots of the rodeo while I'm there. I wasn't sure if anybody here had ever shot an indoor rodeo and knew what the lighting was like or had any tips for shooting this type of event. I luckily have a rented 70-200mm f/4 IS lens right now (trying it out to see if I want to get one sooner or later) but is f/4 going to allow me enough light at an indoor arena? Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks.

[cstewart]

Based on shooting a lot of indoor hockey this past winter, f4 will not cut it, unless you are in a major pro arena with full lights on. F2.8 is needed at a minimum and even then you will likely need to be at 1600 or even 3200 ISO to get a shutter speed high enough to stop action. That being said, having never shot rodeo, perhaps there are others on here who can add to this, but my sense is you will want a faster lens.

[Dale Miller]

The PBR can be very strict about photography. I would try to contact the producer before I hauled all my gear to the show.

[Pruddock]

Already checked with them and photographic equipment is allowed.