Request to photograph a high school football game, but woefully under-geared

[ClickClick]

My 70-200 2.8 isn't here yet and I got a last minute request to photograph a football game tomorrow night.

The only place there is to rent a lens down here is in Miami which if I leave work at 5PM, I will make it down there and back by say.... 10PM. (no joke about the traffic).

This is even if I could afford their atrocious rental fees.

What do I have?

Xti
Sigma 105 2.8
Tammy 28-75 2.8
50 1.8
70-300 IS

Boy am I in trouble.

[Moppie]

Can you get close enough to cover some of the game with the 105?

Or, do you know anyone you can borrow a flash from?

[ClickClick]

Originally Posted by Moppie

Can you get close enough to cover some of the game with the 105?

Or, do you know anyone you can borrow a flash from?

I have the 430EX flash. (sorry forgot to add that)

Also, I will be directly on the grass so to speak. I will be given an Officiating Pass so I can roam the sidelines at will basically.

[asysin2leads]

You might be able to get a few w/ the 105, but that will require the action to come to you. The flash will help a bit. Also, make sure that you stay outside of the team box. The 25 yard line to the other 25 yard line is off limits. I referee and I've run many a photog out of there. You aren't permitted to be there. Ok, if you want to come in and grab a shot during a time out or something like that and you come inside the team box, the linejudge probably won't mind. I've seen a crap load of people snapping shots w/ P&S's. I think you'll be ok. The 70-200 would have made it a bit easier, but you can't use it if you don't have it. Perhaps a friendly POTN chap from Miami area will "rent" you a lens for the night.

[irishman]

The first time thae flash goes off that close to the action you will be escorted out of the stadium. If you can't rent a fast lens your only option is to put that 70-300 on a monopod.

[PhotosGuy]

If you can't rent a fast lens your only option is to put that 70-300 on a monopod.

That would help to eliminate cam shake, but will do nothing to stop the action. Use what you have, choose your shots instead of running all over the field, & make the best of it. You'll learn a lot & be better prepared for the next time you do it.

These might help:
Here's a good starting point for exposure. Pick the aperture and shutter speed you need & set them in "M". Then you only need to adjust the ISO to get the right exposure.
Need an exposure crutch?

The better the exposure, the less the noise, but you'll still get some noise in the shadow areas, which is an easy fix.
ISO 200-6400 20D Tests

Sports Shooting Tutorials and Advice

[Dermit]

Originally Posted by irishman

The first time thae flash goes off that close to the action you will be escorted out of the stadium. If you can't rent a fast lens your only option is to put that 70-300 on a monopod.

I've been shooting games for a while now and always use flash and have never been approached about even once. Many other people shooting the games I am at also use flash without any complaints. My nephew plays for one of the schools I shoot at and sees a lot of play time. He tells me the flash has no effect on the players and the first time I asked him about it he told me he didn't even consciously realize that anyone was using flash. It simply is not that big of a deal. (I am talking American football here, soccer I have never shot and may be a different story).

[PhotosGuy]

I've used flash for college football, without any complaints.

He tells me the flash has no effect on the players...

IMO that's true for the ones who are paying attention to what they're doing. The ones who complain just want an excuse for their mistakes.

[Twitch1977]

Idea. If you're not equipped to do a good job maybe you should refuse the job.

I would rather do that than put out a batch of sub-par pictures that will make them not ask me back when I am fully equipped for it.

Just my 2 cents,
Kurt

[markol]

You can rent stuff by mail. Delivered straight to your house. Lots of rental shops out there. I run one, there is also lensprotogo.com and lensrentals.com and others.

[PhotosGuy]

If you're not equipped to do a good job maybe you should refuse the job.

Always a good idea, but "I got a last minute request" doesn't make it clear if it's a "high end" paying job or request from a friend.

[Gatorboy]

Simple -- Just say, "sorry, I can't cover the game".

[ClickClick]

Originally Posted by Twitch1977

Idea. If you're not equipped to do a good job maybe you should refuse the job.

Then they would go from Ok Pics to No Pics.

Basically it is last minute because they had this brilliant (or so it seems) to take photographs of the players in action tonight so that when their home coming game is played next week, they have various pictures to pass out in the stands for parents and such.

Ok, whatever. This is not a high paying job by any means. My name was suggested by one of the Officiating officials who referees for many other high schools and such in the area. So it would be a foot in the door kind of thing for future work if I decide to devote more time to this.

I don't think a flash is really going to cover a lot of distance.

I have never tried it, but I am pretty positive that my 105 macro lens is going to be too slow in focusing.

I guess I will have to make do with the 28-75 2.8 for sideline action shots and then the 70-300 IS for distant shots in good light.

The game is 2 hours away (6:30PM) so I *might* have some good sunlight left. I am going to bump up the ISO as well in order to help.

[Moppie]

Try the flash, at high ISO, you might be surprised how far it can reach.

[JeffreyG]

Try the flash, at high ISO, you might be surprised how far it can reach.

It will reach 61 meters at full power.

Guide Number (43@ ISO 100) = Distance * Aperture

Since this will be ISO1600, you can double the GN for every two ISO stops and 1600 is four stops from 100.

So 43 * 2 * 2 = Distance * 2.8

Solving I get Distance = 61 meters.


You will be at max flash power for every shot though, so batteries will go fast.