Midnight Football Practice: C&C wanted

[ProwlingTiger]

Midnight practice was Sunday night / Monday morning in my town. i just graduated so I figured I'd go hand out with my friends and take some shots while I was there.

I'm going to be shooting more football this year, but this was my first night sports shooting, so I'm definitely looking for advice and critique. I had too many blurry ones, so I know I need to work on my settings a bit. Also, I didn't have all my gear when shooting, have a better flash mount on the way.

I'd say our lighting is fairly good compared to most high schools.

photo gallery (http://dvsdan.smugmug.com/gallery/9312997_arh2c/1/622552291_cR58S)

Samples:

http://thedavisrevolution.com/potn/IMG_5449.jpg (http://dvsdan.smugmug.com/gallery/9312997_arh2c/1/622552291_cR58S)

http://thedavisrevolution.com/potn/IMG_5516.jpg (http://dvsdan.smugmug.com/gallery/9312997_arh2c/1/622552291_cR58S)

I don't think I used my flash much, dunno how many images in the gallery had a flash fire though. I was mainly messing around with ambient / flash lighting, trying to see how I could use both to my advantage.

[DHMN]

Probably need more flash.. since you probably couldn't up the shutter speed much more and the more action ones have a lot of blur. The non-action ones are great though! There's no exif data so unless you tell us we won't know how you achieved your shots :)

[ProwlingTiger]

EXIF data should be on the website gallery, hover over a picture, then select 'info' on the sidebar that appears.

Here's the data for these though:

Photo 1
Exposure Time: 0.01s (1/100)
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 100mm (176mm in 35mm)
Flash: flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure program: action program
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Exposure Mode: auto
White Balance: auto

Photo 2
Exposure Time: 0.0125s (1/80)
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 145mm (232mm in 35mm)
Flash: flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Exposure program: manual
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Exposure Mode: manual
White Balance: auto


I'm thinking I need to bump the shutter speed, definitely.

[DHMN]

Obviously you'll need to bump ISO to almost 3200 also just like indoor sports the run noise reduction.. unless you use a mounted flash then you can stay with a low ISO .. but that's kind of obvious. I think I'd stay as far away from that 'sports/action program' aka 'running man' as some people call it the first one says it was shot in that?.. then again my 50D hasn't been out of manual once since basketball/hockey season.

[jfphts]

Try shooting in manual mode and defantly keep the ISO at least 1600, Shutter speed should be some where in the nature of 1/500th, you'll need to adjust based on the lighting.

Your first shot was better than your second, Don't get discourged and keep at it, you'll see improvements from each photo shoot from the next.

[ProwlingTiger]

I did quite a bit of manual, unsure of the percentage of manual vs program of that gallery. I didn't take the time to experiment as much as I should have and never bumped the ISO up.

I'll mess with the ISO and shutter speed some more this week as they're practicing.

[Hawk1959]

Good Shots. Most have already given you some directions. It may sound funy, but I went to Primes for Football (85 mm F1.8 ) because I just could NOT get enough Speed and light with kit Telephoto lenses and I can not afford $2000 plus lenses. The lenses have give me some great shots with out Flash. You just have to plan as the action moves... keep moving on the sidelines and try to think ahead of the play. Also... snap, snap snap.... you will get a number of throwaways but the Gems will jump out at you.

Above All.. Enjoy it.....

[MT Stringer]

If you haven't bumped the ISO, then you probably don't have 3200 available. You have to go into your custom functions and turn it on. The option will be for "H". That's high ISO. Then you will be able to select ISO 3200 when you are shooting.

[ProwlingTiger]

I never kicked it up to ISO 1600, really. I think if I do that and perhaps increase the shutter speed, I'll be better off.