Indoor Rodeo lighting challenges

[CatchingUp]

I don't have shots to post yet, but I had quite a rude awakening this weekend shooting my first indoor junior rodeo event. Apparently the guy who used to provide shots set up lights and flashes on poles which kinda blows my mind given the set up of these indoor arenas.

Let me just say it was dark and I'm not overly happy with what I got.

What I am curious to know is who here has been to or shot similar events/venues and seen elaborate light set-ups put up by the photographer?

I am not really wanting to do this again given the circumstances nor do I want to invest in tons of lighting equipment.

Anyone out here with experience with this?

(posting this in lighting section as well)

[bigjon0107]

For any arena event it is very common for photog's to set up strobes. And yes, i have seen this done at other rodeos as well, the lighting in these tends to be worse then all the other arenas. I set up strobes for the basketball or volleyball games that i go to shoot as well.

[tkoutdoor]

Originally Posted by CatchingUp

I don't have shots to post yet, but I had quite a rude awakening this weekend shooting my first indoor junior rodeo event. Apparently the guy who used to provide shots set up lights and flashes on poles which kinda blows my mind given the set up of these indoor arenas.

Let me just say it was dark and I'm not overly happy with what I got.

What I am curious to know is who here has been to or shot similar events/venues and seen elaborate light set-ups put up by the photographer?

I am not really wanting to do this again given the circumstances nor do I want to invest in tons of lighting equipment.

Anyone out here with experience with this?

(posting this in lighting section as well)

This is not a complete or direct answer to your question, but it's a link to another thread here from the fall where a rodeo photog named Dale Miller talked about his lighting setup. It will at least give some idea about what he's doing. I don't know yet if there's a better way to link to a web page on this site, but here's the old fashioned address bar listing.

EDIT: This blog site clips several parts of the web address away and I don't know how to repair the link it allows to post. Here's how to find the link on this site (I wish I knew the proper way). Go to the search bar and use these key words [white lightning rodeo]. The post by Dale Miller is the one I'm referring to. Actually the second post is another guy talking about his rodeo setup too.

I'm assuming as a basis for this that you already have a good fast lens. If it's not less than f/4 you don't have much hope in rodeo conditions under artificial light. Lighting in that case would be a requirement (for great pictures) and you have to hope that your f/4 lens can get enough light to focus if that's what you're using. Higher shutter speeds of a minimum of 1/400 to 1/500 would be necessary to freeze the action typically. Most shots would probably be between 85mm and 300mm as well.

[HammerCope]

I have a Norman an I usually shoot at around F5.6 at either 400 or 800 ISO. Mostly 400.

[tkoutdoor]

Originally Posted by HammerCope

I have a Norman an I usually shoot at around F5.6 at either 400 or 800 ISO. Mostly 400.

How many units do you prefer to work with in your Norman setup and how do you spread out your lighting? Are you using battery packs, plugged in, or generators like the other thread I posted earlier?

[CatchingUp]

I shot with my 70-200 2.8...and kicked myself for not bringing my 85 1.8.
My ISO was 3200 the whole day...and I think the fastest I ever got to shoot was between 320/sec - 400/sec.

I'll post a few shots tomorrow when I'm done with them. While this was an interesting experience...(first time for indoor rodeo), I just marveled to think of anyone hauling in lighting equipment to such a venue...pole mounts along the sides...some hanging from the ceiling beams... I'm just not that hard core. Mostly I was just curious to see how others might do it. The full time professional outfit who have shot for them the past few years...I saw some of there work from this particular arena...and I don't know that the strobes 'helped' the quality of the pictures at all. Looked more like HomeDepot spotlights were used.

I'll hunt the link down now.

[HammerCope]

I use the Norman 400B. It's a single strobe head that mounts on a bracket for your camera. I can usually shoot ISO 400 250-200/sec at F5.6-4 With the Norman set at 100-200 W/S depending on the event and distance.

http://www.photo-control.com/battery...s_compkits.asp

[HammerCope]

The norman is a very tough strobe. It's made for rodeo life. Mine has taken one kick and lots of banging on fences.

[tkoutdoor]

Originally Posted by HammerCope

I use the Norman 400B. It's a single strobe head that mounts on a bracket for your camera. I can usually shoot ISO 400 250-200/sec at F5.6-4 With the Norman set at 100-200 W/S depending on the event and distance.

http://www.photo-control.com/battery...s_compkits.asp

Oh yeah... I hadn't given it much thought 'til I saw your frame rate, but one can get away with a lower frame rate with flash and still freeze the action more or less.

[tkoutdoor]

Originally Posted by CatchingUp

I shot with my 70-200 2.8...and kicked myself for not bringing my 85 1.8.
My ISO was 3200 the whole day...and I think the fastest I ever got to shoot was between 320/sec - 400/sec.

I'll post a few shots tomorrow when I'm done with them. While this was an interesting experience...(first time for indoor rodeo), I just marveled to think of anyone hauling in lighting equipment to such a venue...pole mounts along the sides...some hanging from the ceiling beams... I'm just not that hard core. Mostly I was just curious to see how others might do it. The full time professional outfit who have shot for them the past few years...I saw some of there work from this particular arena...and I don't know that the strobes 'helped' the quality of the pictures at all. Looked more like HomeDepot spotlights were used.

I'll hunt the link down now.

Well, try it again in daylight so you get the best the sport has to offer. You might get addicted once you see the kind of stuff you can pull off. It sucks to end up with a bunch of dud pictures due to conditions you know in the first 5 minutes aren't gonna work out.

[CatchingUp]

Originally Posted by tkoutdoor

Well, try it again in daylight so you get the best the sport has to offer. You might get addicted once you see the kind of stuff you can pull off. It sucks to end up with a bunch of dud pictures due to conditions you know in the first 5 minutes aren't gonna work out.

LOL...Bingo! I walked in to that place and took one look around and just said: "Well S--T"!

I shot a local rodeo in our town this summer...outdoor arena...got some great shots...so there's no doubt I enjoy this venue...quite challenging for sure.

[CatchingUp]

Originally Posted by HammerCope

I use the Norman 400B. It's a single strobe head that mounts on a bracket for your camera. I can usually shoot ISO 400 250-200/sec at F5.6-4 With the Norman set at 100-200 W/S depending on the event and distance.

http://www.photo-control.com/battery...s_compkits.asp

Hey...do you have any sample shots with this strobe being used?

[HammerCope]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=356639
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=356620

Here are some. The queen Pic is alittle off. It was just a guess shot as she rode past.

[CatchingUp]

Hey...not bad at all...

Thanks for posting those.

Hey...how does that strobe unit compare...say to the 430ex or the 580? Are talking a lot more light here?

[HammerCope]

It's a lot more light you got from 50-400 w/s. The only thing is you have to do all the thinking.