Flash for basketball

[musicmaster]

I ordered a 430ex and it will be here tomorrow. What's my best bet for using it for basketball? At my college, I don't think bouncing it will work - the celing is about 25' up and is black, and the court is probably 15-20 feet+ away from any walls

[gromeo]

You might want to check NCAA guidelines, as far as I know, on board flash is not permitted from the baseline. I cover several D1 and D2 school and this is the rules for that.

[musicmaster]

You might want to check NCAA guidelines, as far as I know, on board flash is not permitted from the baseline. I cover several D1 and D2 school and this is the rules for that.
Where on the NCAA website would I be looking at?

Worse comes to worse, I can always get a front row seat :-P

[DDCSD]

I'd probably get some radio triggers and use both your 383 and the 430 off camera.

[Titus213]

I'd probably take my 40D and 70-200/2.8 and forget the flash. ISO 1600

I don't think they'll like that flash.

[musicmaster]

I'd probably take my 40D and 70-200/2.8 and forget the flash. ISO 1600

I don't think they'll like that flash.
The gym is really dark. To even shoot 1/320th I need to use ISO3200 at F/2.8.

I emailed our AD to clear things up. If he comes back with an OKAY, what should I use?

[Oneslowz28]

I shoot for 2 D2 schools and 2 other community colleges and never have I seen a rule where camera mounted flash is prohibited for basketball. This is my 3rd season and not once has anyone complained about the flash bothering them and there is always me, my second shooter, and 2-3 journalist plus student photogs there with shoe mount flashes. This year I did move to studio strobes mounted 50' above the floor on the catwalk at my main school. The only time I am aware of flash being a NO NO during a basketball game is free throws. Other than that every photographer I know who shoots basketball (several over the whole country) use flash either studio strobes or shoe mount flash guns.

Too add to this I am friends with almost the whole mens and women team at the local d2 school and I have asked them on several occasions if the flash bothers them and they say that they do not even notice it. The only rule that I know of concerning the baseline is media, cheer/dance squads, and anyone else must stay at minimum 6' from the court side of the line. This is I new rule also I think as last year I camped out right behind the baseline under the goal.

Heck every D1 game I watch on tv has photographers using their flashes. The one thing I can warn about is try not to fire your flash directly at one of the video cameras in the venue as it will cause the camera to "white out" for a second or 2 and this makes the live feed crew very angry. (ask me how I know)

One last thing. Some gyms / venues are so dark that even at ISO 1600 and f/2.8 is not enough. There is one I shoot at every now and then during away games that ISO 3200 and f/2.8 wont cut it.

As far as what you should use, that is really dependent on the lighting conditions. I tend to set the camera to ISO1000, shutter around 1/320-1/500 and adjust the flash according to the lighting conditions. The main school I shoot at the sports complex is brand new (only 1 year old) and have the best lighting $$ can buy. Even with the best lights, the lighting is always changing. We have not figured out why the color temp fluctuates so much during a 2 hour span but it will go from nice and warm to the cool side and back. That on top of them using the venue for concerts and other public events and the constant repositioning of the lighting makes it almost impossible for the same settings to work each time.

[AB8ND]

I would try to mount it somehow, triggering with radio controls. If you can't bounce and the gym is dark enough that you can't balance it with the ambient direct on camera flash is going to look horrid.

Jack

[musicmaster]

Okay, so I got the "okay" from the Athletic Director. Would doing head on flash with a 4x6" softbox be all right?

[DDCSD]

I'd bounce it behind you. 15-20 really isn't all that far.

I still recommend getting radio triggers. The Cybersyncs from Paul C. Buff are affordable and get some great reviews.

[Oneslowz28]

Dude just use your flash with a stofen diffuser like everyone else.