Wrestling season has begun....8 images strobed

[MJPhotos24]

I can't even tell you how bored I've been this off-season without coaching! This was the first match at home for my old school - a tri-meet - so I e-mailed my old coach, who's actually not that much older than I - I think, and told him I'd come out and shoot. Not sure these are the "best" as haven't culled yet and just pulled some randoms every few scrolls down.

Canon Mark IIn with the 300 2.8 IS and 70-200 2.8 IS, plus 1600 (3/4th power) Alien Bees and PW's. Think I need to re-position the strobes a bit but with so many people in and out of the area (balcony) it would take awhile and I arrived just in time to find out I forgot my PW's and drive home to get them, and miss the first couple matches. Manual; f/2.8-4.5 though think most of these are 4.0/4.5; 1/250; AI Servo; One shot because some idiot told me the only reason I get good shots is because I have a 8.5 fps body even though he can't spell exposure and it was annoying to hear that - smiley (note I typed smiley and didn't put one). C&C welcome as it's early in the season and a photog should never stop learning!


#1 - Started off the tri-meet shooting from up above on the balcony because it gives you a nice clean background. The tough part, however, is getting faces as wrestling is a sport of looking down. Gotta say the 300 out performed the 70-200 at most points though when the big guys, like myself, came up had to switch as it was tight with the 300.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-001.JPG




#2 - Still from up top, but the main reason I wanted to do the entire first match from upstairs was this big bright light that would have been in the background of every shot I would have taken from downstairs, as the stands were full and could only shoot from the middle seperation. When they got to that side of the mat I sat on my backside to shoot into it and see the results and if it'd be too obstructive, don't think so really.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-002.JPG




#3 - From up top, however, it was difficult to get any "in the air shots" as most had heads down or were going the other way. This may be the only one I got the entire day.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-003.JPG




#4 - I tried to pick up a date this way...didn't work out as I had planned. But yep, I'm still up top...nice reflection of the scorebard on the floor.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-004.JPG




#5 - I thought I screwed up the exposure on this one judging by his skin tone, but then I looked at the other kid and realized he's just that red. Uptop still, didn't move until the last match of the meet.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-005.JPG




#6 - Holy crap I moved, as this kid wonders why I'm taking his pic. Was sitting with the kid in control's dad, who used to beat me up as a kid playing football. Now his son beats him up in wrestling, life comes full circle...good duder. Sittin in the first row using the 70-200.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-006.JPG




#7 - Yes, I know - the horizon is awful and totally off! This was his (blue) 100th win on the varsity level. I fell only like 96 behind him!
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-007.JPG




#8 - Oh yea, he had to take a little time out during his 100th win to get bandaged up. Looked like a pirate after this with his eye taped over pretty much at times in the rest of the match...but we're at 8 so no room to share.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/WRESTLING-008.JPG

[FlyingPhotog]

These look good Mike.

The last one is especially intense. Didn't wrestle myself in school but I had several friends who did. Tough, tough breed of cat...

[namasste]

Look good MIke. 2, 4, and 6 are a bit cool for my taste but I suspect that bright @ss signage behind the wrestler wasn't helping. Nice job handling that. I love the last one but would have cropped above the elbow. Again, personal preference only.

[johndevane]

I'd like to see #7 as a full body shot, showing the height of the throw. I don't know how much you cropped it. The strobe placement seems good to me, minimal shadows and pretty even light. Nice work.

[MJPhotos24]

These look good Mike.

The last one is especially intense. Didn't wrestle myself in school but I had several friends who did. Tough, tough breed of cat...
Thanks, it's a great sport that I refused to get involved in for years - until I was a senior. Was kicking myself in the a$$ wishing I had done it at an earlier age.

Look good MIke. 2, 4, and 6 are a bit cool for my taste but I suspect that bright @ss signage behind the wrestler wasn't helping. Nice job handling that. I love the last one but would have cropped above the elbow. Again, personal preference only.
Yea, they could use a little kick. No post to them except maybe NN on some, or all, and auto contrast I think. Did them quick last night. #8 wish I got on the mat, it didn't get down like that till he got to the sidelines, but just stepping off the mat he looked over and would have made a great pic. Of course I saw this without the camera to my eye.

I'd like to see #7 as a full body shot, showing the height of the throw. I don't know how much you cropped it. The strobe placement seems good to me, minimal shadows and pretty even light. Nice work.
Me to! Unfortunately I only cropped on the top and left a bit as I was getting close ups mostly all night. Tried a few different things, getting full bodies, getting tight with the lens on them, up top and at mat level, still have to go through and see what I like best for the next matches.

As for placement, if they were in the middle of the mat the placement was good, when they got to the outside it wasn't as good. The strobes were too close together and didn't cover much ground I don't think. They should have covered more than I had them set up as - I think.

[chris270]

Good shots Mike, glad you are keeping busy. Hopefully I will get some shots of wrestling soon. Of course, they won't be as good without the strobes and 300mm.

[MJPhotos24]

Good shots Mike, glad you are keeping busy. Hopefully I will get some shots of wrestling soon. Of course, they won't be as good without the strobes and 300mm.
Culling right now, the 70-200 had a lot of oof shots...the 300 had a lot of cut off limbs but get tight and some good sportrait types that are not all a$$es and elbows.

Next week is a tournie with three gyms going and only two strobes...that'll be interesting like last year.

[Croasdail]

Why was the 70-200 struggling? Was it really that poorly lit in there? I didn't do any wrestling last year... going to try to get some more in this year. At least the mat was grey and not some silly school shade of something. Mats can be such a hassle. Well done though.

[MJPhotos24]

Why was the 70-200 struggling? Was it really that poorly lit in there? I didn't do any wrestling last year... going to try to get some more in this year. At least the mat was grey and not some silly school shade of something. Mats can be such a hassle. Well done though.
No clue, just finished culling and the 70-200 struggled from up top and down below in many shots or just user error with it. Not sure, need to send my body and lenses in for a check up.

Will be shooting a lot more wrestling this year probably, and some b-ball possibly.

[MJPhotos24]

After further review I am not happy with the overall results at all...can tell how the light was hitting the mat when culling and user error prevented better images. Strobes need better placement and framing was off, gonna have to knock the dust off quick with a tournie coming up.

[saintlover]

my son has his first HS match this weekend. I am looking for advise. I will be shooting with a canon xt - lens = 100mm f/2.0 USM - I have an external flash (480) also. What settings do you suggest - thanks so much.

[Willie]

my son has his first HS match this weekend. I am looking for advise. I will be shooting with a canon xt - lens = 100mm f/2.0 USM - I have an external flash (480) also. What settings do you suggest - thanks so much.

I shot with XT and 85 1.8 and for me the best results were with ISO 1600 (needed that most of the time) and camera set to M. Since the lighting won't change, snap some shots to get your SS and aperture set and make sure to expose slightly to the right. I stopped down a bit from wide open, maybe 2.2. Not sure about the flash, I never used it for wrestling.

[MJPhotos24]

my son has his first HS match this weekend. I am looking for advise. I will be shooting with a canon xt - lens = 100mm f/2.0 USM - I have an external flash (480) also. What settings do you suggest - thanks so much.

With that lens you'll have to be on the side of the mat, and flash may be a big no-no depending on the coach or officials. Last year at States there was, including myself, a ton of guys shooting with flash and the results can vary since wrestlers rarely stay directly in the middle. The ones above for example the kids had to be in the exact right spot to get the full benefit of the strobes - that was my mistake. Too close and they're washed out, too far and it's dark.

Only thing can suggest is go manual and test a lot because every gym is different. If using the flash I'd start f/4 and 1/250 and adjust your ISO as needed. Reason for f/4 is because a**es and elbows are flying everywhere and with two grappling you'll need a little less DOF to get more of them in focus.

Oh yea, and anticipate - look for faces!

I shot with XT and 85 1.8 and for me the best results were with ISO 1600 (needed that most of the time) and camera set to M. Since the lighting won't change, snap some shots to get your SS and aperture set and make sure to expose slightly to the right. I stopped down a bit from wide open, maybe 2.2. Not sure about the flash, I never used it for wrestling.

Without flash, you'd have to go down a bit and higher ISO of course as suggested by Willie. Only thing though is the lights may change. Very often they flicker where you'll shoot a burst and all images will have different lighting because of the gym lights.

[Willie]

I have the fortune of being matside, since I am coaching on my son's team. The bad thing about coaching now is that I can't take photos. I'm busy trying to coach the other kids. I make it a point to not coach my son, so I guess I could grab my camera then, but I usually don't have the time to run and grab it.

I like shooting in M, I just set it and forget it. I don't mind the slight light chamge, since I'm shooting XT at ISO 1600, and I'm just happy when I get a good shot.

BTW, it looks like #4 he is going for banana split. You don't see that too often any more.

[MJPhotos24]

If you're an assistant coach doing some images during the match isn't a problem. I've done them as a head coach which was a lot tougher; I set up strobes twice last year to do some pics for awards instead of giving out the same ol' trophies and didn't use them once - until finally last game on the road set one up and got a few shots for them. Always was to busy coaching to shoot. One team we play in v-ball and notice it in b-ball to is there assistant coach goes nuts taking images all game long with a distracting flash, kind of annoying but he does it.

[saintlover]

I will be matside. Thanks for the suggestions. What appeture setting should I start with?

[MJPhotos24]

I will be matside. Thanks for the suggestions. What appeture setting should I start with?
Are you telling me you didn't read the assigned homework three posts ago in this thread? :p

[DigitalSpecialist]

Great shots. Wow do I miss wrestling at the High School level. Oh well, life moves on, and we grow old.

[MJPhotos24]

Great shots. Wow do I miss wrestling at the High School level. Oh well, life moves on, and we grow old.
My coach asked me for years to wrestle and never would, until my Senior year and it was a HUGE mistake waiting that long. Wish I had done it all along! Got recruited to wrestle in college but by the time football season ended I was beat so decided not to do it...so they went on to win the conference and then region of course. Unlike high school as everyone knows college seasons overlap, hard enough being a two sport athlete - three's just insane.