Good News & Football w/ Nigh Flash!

[VinnyC01]

1st the good news: Received this email last night .... "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as the newest MaxPreps photographer!"

The bad news is that I am only approved for day games until I can submit nighttime football flashed photos. In preparation for that challenge, I went back to night football to try and try again.

All photos (unless noted) were taken with my 300 f2.8, my 580 secured to a monopod about 9-12 inches below the lens (to assure that i had their faces lit.) Portable lights about 30 feet high, 6 on each sideline. As you can see I was experimenting with multiple settings.

The bad news: It just did not matter, i was horrible and in all reality - no action keepers. My best shot of the night was a marching band member!! (* note only posting in flickr medium *)

All photos run through Noise Ninja and adjusted in PS.

1) 1/250; f/2.8; at 300 mm; Ex: +0.48; ISO 640; Exposure Bias: 0 EV; Flash: On, Fired

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/4012586117_67ef592b72.jpg

2) 1/250; f/2.8; at 300 mm; Ex: 0.00; ISO 1000; Exposure Bias: 0 EV; Flash: On, Fired

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4012585845_201ea85663.jpg

3) 1/250; f/2.8; at 300 mm; Ex: +0.86; ISO 800; Exposure Bias: 0 EV; Flash: On, Fired

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/4013353574_4bf3dabf46.jpg

4) 1/250; f/2.8; at 120 mm; Ex: -1.71; ISO 3200; Exposure Bias: 0 EV; Flash: Off

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4013355822_9a48ffa229.jpg

5) The lead blocker -- 1/320; f/4.0; at 300 mm; Ex: 0.00; ISO 1600; Exposure Bias: 0 EV; Flash: On, Fired

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/4012586737_8e0a53a19b.jpg

6) In NJ they are strictly enforcing a 3 yard rule for players coaches and media. This camera guy did not listen and paid ... (* see the lens starting to go up and away *)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/4012586361_01ef3ff79c.jpg

7)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/4013353766_ee3d610c04.jpg

8 ) My best shot (slightly lightened, no other PS)


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4012587087_6f1132b968.jpg

[jbhswim]

#2 is the best i think. conrgrats on being accepted..they didnt like my stuff. going to try again later

[Dan-o]

Vinny these look fine as far as exposure. Was it that you just didn't have a bunch of good action or trouble with settings? It is tough to get a whole lot of good action shots in one game.

[VinnyC01]

Vinny these look fine as far as exposure. Was it that you just didn't have a bunch of good action or trouble with settings? It is tough to get a whole lot of good action shots in one game.

It was me. The white team run the option and as an ex-player & coach, I can track the plays and not get faked out much. The red team is pure wing T. Not too difficult, but not as easy as that spread and wildcat stuff.

I was solely focusing on fotos to qualify for maxpreps & their highlight film, so I did not snap off as many as is I was looking to sell.

Also note, many of the plays just seemed to go to the opposite side of the field I was on.

[bigfredtn]

I do not think MaxPrep will take any pictures that are above ISO 800.

[VinnyC01]

I do not think MaxPrep will take any pictures that are above ISO 800.

I surely will looking through the criteria for posting, as they have high standards. I definitely like that. It will only help me improve as professional sports photographer.

[Dan-o]

I do not think MaxPrep will take any pictures that are above ISO 800.

Yes they will.

[snyderman]

have to agree with others that your shots are pretty good for flashed. I haven't come close to finding that magic bullet in terms of +/- on the flash, recycling time (poor) and hoping a play is coming my way when the flash is ready. I'm sticking to the high ISO+NR formula for now.

Congrats on the Max Prep invite. Hope they pay well for your nice work!

dave

[bigfredtn]

Yes they will.

How high will they let you go? When I first started shooting for MaxPreps, I thought someone told me 800 was the limit. I was also told not to use any Noise reduction on the images.

[namasste]

Vinny, I agree with Dan, these aren't bad. I might have stopped down slightly on a few where the whites got hot. The action is not bad either. On images where you started to experiment (like #5), I think you can see why you need lower ISO. Using 1/250, 2.8, 800 as a baseline and flash in ETTL or M @ 1/2 to 1/4 seems to be a great starting point and I probably stray terribly far from that.

Congrats on MP, its a good organization and there are some opportunities there.

[VinnyC01]

Thanks Scott, but remember these are Noise Ninjia'd and have been PS'd way too much. Basically my action shots were just non-keepers.

Back on the horse! :)