Niswonger Invitational (track)

[blinking8s]

First time shooting track...and you know what...indoor track SUCKS...

so ANY tips will be much much appreciated. I have an idea of what to look for, but I am still searching.

The other problem with being one of the two Staff photographers out there is that with 10 events going on at once, you a) cant cover them all b) dont have time to get peoples names and if you miss their number in the photo (happens a lot to me) then yeah, you're pretty much left with a team name to hunt down the competitor. This is going to be a headache I can tell.

But track is fun as hell to photograph...total rush cause you only get one chance.

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[ssim]

One of the very best sports series I have seen on here in awhile. Absolutely great quality.

Congrats

[hawgerdawger]

Yeah, yeah. You don't want tips, you want to brag. Those shots are awesome. I shot indoor track this week and came up with some shots I was proud of, until I saw these. Great job.

[3oh6]

im with the others m8, those shots look good. great captures. you lose all the detail in the dark suits and im assuming flash to fill that in is not an option. so considering there is no light reflecting off the dark ground or any walls near by, you did a damn good job because all the faces and those finely tuned bodies show up good and thats what really counts.

the obligatory...what lense? im assuming the 70-200 but some of the shots look like the f-stop is larger than a f/4 and there is no exif data hangin around. i will be expected to shoot indoor track this season im assuming and now have some kind of mark to strive for...nice work

[Moppie]

As everyone else said, they really are really great photos!

The second is stands out though, its something pretty unique, I don't know many people who can jump that high.

Do you remember those old martial arts fighting games from the 80s? Played them things like the C64?
I remember one of them the players used to drop in from the top of the screen, looks exactly like that guy is doing the same thing!

[22littlereasons]

I envy your venue lighting. Sure beats the dark holes I sometimes find myself in. *s* If you are using a flash, can you let us know more about it?

Nice work.

[maderito]

Will -

Excellent shots - great variety in the types of action, good composition with individual and group shots, good crops. The colors look remarkably good (whites, skin tones, uniforms, etc.).

I'm curious about the illumination. It seems diffused and well balanced. Is it artificial or nautural light?

For my tastes (on my monitor), the images good use a bit more contrast which would saturate the colors a bit more and isolate the subject from background.

Really nice work. Looks like a setting where you have to put everything you know into play in order to come home with decent captures.

[blinking8s]

thanks for the comments everyone...Ill grab some from today's set to post soon...today was the big day really.

Originally Posted by ssim

One of the very best sports series I have seen on here in awhile. Absolutely great quality.

Congrats

haha...i donno about that.

Originally Posted by hawgerdawger

Yeah, yeah. You don't want tips, you want to brag. Those shots are awesome. I shot indoor track this week and came up with some shots I was proud of, until I saw these. Great job.

now now...lets not get carried away

Originally Posted by 3oh6

im with the others m8, those shots look good. great captures. you lose all the detail in the dark suits and im assuming flash to fill that in is not an option. so considering there is no light reflecting off the dark ground or any walls near by, you did a damn good job because all the faces and those finely tuned bodies show up good and thats what really counts.

the obligatory...what lense? im assuming the 70-200 but some of the shots look like the f-stop is larger than a f/4 and there is no exif data hangin around. i will be expected to shoot indoor track this season im assuming and now have some kind of mark to strive for...nice work

the AF on the 70-200 f2.8 I had to use wasnt tracking the player well as they got close, plus I dont have a lot of room to move around. For once I had the option to get away from the f4 I own. I stuck with an 85mm and a 300 on the nikon (not posted here...work camera). The lighting was pretty dark, I kept the 85 pretty open, between 1.8-2.8 and hoped to god I could keep all their limbs close to the DOF...which I didnt have time to calculate out so it was all just "knowing" the camera/lens I guess...

Originally Posted by 22littlereasons

I envy your venue lighting. Sure beats the dark holes I sometimes find myself in. *s* If you are using a flash, can you let us know more about it?

no flash...Id kill for a strobe set in the minidome, but they wont allow it in the rafters there...plus its really really hard to get access too...

Originally Posted by maderito

I'm curious about the illumination. It seems diffused and well balanced. Is it artificial or nautural light?

For my tastes (on my monitor), the images good use a bit more contrast which would saturate the colors a bit more and isolate the subject from background.

Just the lighting thats setup in the stadium...which is uneven across the floor...you really have to watch your settings if you change angles or move around.

I agree a little more contrast wouldnt hurt, I generally dont put too much effort when posting on the forums...all quick web edits. Most of the time people tell me I have a taste for oversaturated photos though...maybe you and i have a similar monitor setup.

[gmen]

A superb sequence Will - top notch work.

A few of the crops leave a little to be desired: 03, 09, 11, 15, 16.. but I'm just being picky.

I'd love to see some of the shots with the 300mm... I'm sure that focal length provides even punchier images!

[transcend]

I really do miss my days running D1 track.

Great shots, really captures the feeling of the events, especially the sprinters (biased here).

[Mills]

Fantastic Group. You did a great job.

[RJSorensen]

I thought them very nice . . .

[3oh6]

Originally Posted by blinking8s

the AF on the 70-200 f2.8 I had to use wasnt tracking the player well as they got close, plus I dont have a lot of room to move around. For once I had the option to get away from the f4 I own. I stuck with an 85mm and a 300 on the nikon (not posted here...work camera). The lighting was pretty dark, I kept the 85 pretty open, between 1.8-2.8 and hoped to god I could keep all their limbs close to the DOF...which I didnt have time to calculate out so it was all just "knowing" the camera/lens I guess...

thanx for the info on the setup...i just hope the mini dome i am shooting in has decent enough light to use my 85mm and close it off to get better DOF, and i should have the 70-200 f2.8 as well.

[blinking8s]

the 70-200 did good except on straight shots and on the high jump, the AF just didnt snap from point to point quick enough. I am def going to trade my f4 in after using the 2.8 though. Its a very handy lens...but I am ALL about primes since getting really into shooting indoors. 2.8 just isnt enough light in some spots of the dome here.

[gmen]

Originally Posted by blinking8s

but I am ALL about primes since getting really into shooting indoors. 2.8 just isnt enough light in some spots of the dome here.

Primes rule!!!! No doubt about it!!!