Kendo demonstrations

[VesselinG]

I was invited by a friend to take some photos of some martial arts demonstrations... I made a couple with my camera (powershot a85), and i am not very satisfied with the results. Though I am not completely dissapointed. I wanna ask you ... about some advises, because probably I'm gonna take shots of this kind of demonstrations in the summer. Thank you.


http://hypo.vtbg.com/marts/kendo3.jpg


http://hypo.vtbg.com/marts/marts1.jpg


http://hypo.vtbg.com/marts/marts4.jpg

[symes]

Part of the reason I upgaded to an SLR was because of low light sporting events...and while I am not where I want to be I am still better off than with my old point and shoot. I know I had reached the limitations of my point and shoot and found something better in the 300D and the choice of lenses. I just dont know how you would stop the action any other way...

I know this forum has a tendency of making us feel like we always need to upgrade...but I think it is the reality...

Cheers

[VesselinG]

I, presonally, am going to upgrade to 350D maybe next month... But I was asking about moments, about the right times and poses to shoot on those kind of events :)

thanks anyway :)

[RockOne]

But I was asking about moments, about the right times and poses to shoot on those kind of events

Probably the best idea is to watch for a while, and get an understanding of whats going on..you will find that eventually you should be able to anticpiate events and be ready for them.

[tim]

You might like to try to take photos when they're not in mid swing, unless you're going to an impression of movement. On an SLR up the ISO and worry about the noise later, just make sure to fill the frame and expose properly if you use high ISO. Practice, practice, and more practice is the key!

[Ron Beaubien]

Perhaps I have some expertise in this area. The year before last, I won the grand prize in the All Japan Kendo Federation's 10th Kendo Photo Contest.

Kendo is very difficult to photograph. There is a lot of fast action and it usually takes place indoors. Flash is usually not allowed as it could temporarily blind a competitor and alter the outcome of a match. Moreover, the competitors try to avoid "telegraphing" their intentions in order to surprise their opponents (and often any photographers as well).

Personally, I would recommend trying to capture the peak moment when one competitor scores a point by striking their opponent's head, throat, body or wrist. Unfortunately, that can be difficult at the best of times with a professional DSLR and next to impossible with a cheap point and shoot camera.

You can find not only the kendo photo that won the contest mentioned above, but also information on my camera, lens, and the settings that I used at the following links:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronbeaubien/882283377/

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/11/prweb481202.htm

Although I do realize that this is a belated reply, besides the original poster perhaps others who read these forums will also find this information to be of use.

[Porari]

Hi,

I have been concidering two lenses for shooting kendo in future, 85 1.8 or 135 2L. Of course it depends how far I'm standing from the action, but I would like to hear Your comments for perfect lenses for kendo...

I guess 1D mkIIN would be the ideal choise for the camera (for me, for kendo), but I'm planning to buy 5D as my main interest is in landscapes. Good low light / high ISO performance with 5D should also help because the dojo's are almost always not so ideally lighted.