BKC: Bowling Green @ Toledo (02.11.2009)

[nateut]

Here are a few of my shots from this game. I shot manual the entire time and was pleased with the results. I found that I was able to use ISO 800-1000 instead of the 1600 I used in Av mode, which kept the noise down. I love shooting against the black ceiling at Savage Arena; you get some very nice separation. My next game will be in the dungeon named Anderson Arena on the BG campus (very dark compared to Savage) on Sunday when Central Michigan comes to town.

Any comments/criticisms on my first 100% manual basketball game would be greatly appreciated!

Full set here: http://www.brokengrowler.com/gallery/7337796_eDEWU#472191090_2UWyA

#1.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472191277_tCGdd-X3-1.jpg

#2.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472191582_9FrsX-X3-1.jpg

#3.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472191877_iz8gz-X3-1.jpg

#4.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472192253_hJkzT-X3-1.jpg

#5.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472192492_nvjnY-X3-1.jpg

#6.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472192721_fFWZ9-X3-1.jpg

#7.)
http://www.brokengrowler.com/photos/472192957_ZJjSV-X3-1.jpg

[snyderman]

Very nice! Guessing you used the 70/200 lens all night? If so, what length do you find you shoot at for the action and around the basket shots? I've taken off the 70/200 for HS basketball because it's just too long most of the time.

dave

[jfphts]

Nice Captures !

[namasste]

Nate, you did a great job here. Honestly, I think I'd rather see these at 1200 as they are just a touch dark imo. Action is very solid and you nailed focus it seems. You should be thrilled with your results.

As for crit.. 3 and 7 jsut do little for me. Crop a little dead space on 2 and 5 and straighten 6 a touch and you're money!

That's some serious lighting to get 800 and 1/500! The Wolstein center is 1600 1/500 and still needs a small push sometimes if the players are in dark spots. Even the Q is only about 2/3 brighter.

[nateut]

First, thanks for the comments so far! I was really happy with the results and was hoping others would feel similarly. I'm now a manual convert; the results are just so nice! :)

Very nice! Guessing you used the 70/200 lens all night? If so, what length do you find you shoot at for the action and around the basket shots? I've taken off the 70/200 for HS basketball because it's just too long most of the time.

dave
Yes, I used the 70-200 the entire night. Shots near the basket are tough with the 70-200, especially on a crop. I've found the only way I can really get anything usable is to sit on the baseline closer to the three-point line. Based on the settings I was able to use, I may try and use my 24-105 under the basket next week (with a serious bump in ISO to compensate). I think the 24-70 would be a great addition to my lens lineup (along with another body) for these situations, but I haven't found enough change in my couch cushions yet. I do have one reserved from lensrentals.com for the MAC Championships next month though.

Nate, you did a great job here. Honestly, I think I'd rather see these at 1200 as they are just a touch dark imo. Action is very solid and you nailed focus it seems. You should be thrilled with your results.

As for crit.. 3 and 7 jsut do little for me. Crop a little dead space on 2 and 5 and straighten 6 a touch and you're money!

That's some serious lighting to get 800 and 1/500! The Wolstein center is 1600 1/500 and still needs a small push sometimes if the players are in dark spots. Even the Q is only about 2/3 brighter.
Shots 3 and 7 were my attempts at trying to find something interesting "outside of the action". I think some of my other non-action shots from the night were probably better examples, but I liked the way these looked.

I'll give 1200 a shot on Wednesday and see how they come out. I was very surprised that I was able to get 1/500 @ 800... so much so that I thought something was wrong and went to recheck my settings a couple times during warmups. I'm definitely getting spoiled by the new lights at Savage Arena; I went to shoot the women's game at BG last night and struggled to get 1/400 @ 1600 (and they still ended up dark). I don't like the output of the 40d @ 3200, so I'm hesitant to use it. Thanks for the info on the Q; I'll be covering the semis and finals of the MAC Championships there next month.

Thanks again to everyone who commented -- I really love the help and support that people on this forum are willing to offer!

[namasste]

Thanks for the info on the Q; I'll be covering the semis and finals of the MAC Championships there next month.

drop me a pm when you are in town. I may be over there for some of that as well so maybe we can hook up.

[nateut]

drop me a pm when you are in town. I may be over there for some of that as well so maybe we can hook up.
Will do!