Girl's HS Basketball

[kndreyn]

This isn't as easy as one would think. I've been trying for a couple of weeks now to get some good captures to pass out to the parents and grandparents and I'm just now getting some "acceptable" shots. I've been studying all of you bball "gurus" threads and learning from you. I bought an Omnibounce for my 550 EX flash and used it on a few captures. But I noticed I can't get the shutterspeed over 250 with flash. Is there a way to get that up to 400 or 500 for capturing faster paced games? I'm doing a boy's game this Thursday and would like to use the flash, but I don't think I would be able to freeze the action at 250. Here is what I was able to capture last night.

This first group was taken with an 85mm, F1.8, shutterspeed 500 and ISO 1000.

http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5028.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5035.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5037.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5047.jpg

These were taken full court with a 70 - 200, F2.8, shutterspeed 500, ISO 1600. The first one is at 135mm, the second is 105mm.

http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5065.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5069.jpg

These were taken with flash (omnibounce) using the 85mm, F1.8, shutterspeed 250, ISO 400.


http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5079.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5083.jpg
http://www.certainty.net/~kndreyn/bball/LG3M5084.jpg

Any suggestions for improvements will be warmly welcomed.

Best -
Keith

[Zamora3]

I really like # 2 and 3, the composition IMO is very good.

You seem to have pretty good lighting in the gym so thats always a plus.

Oh, and to be able to use your flash at a higher shutter speed, set the flash to High Speed Syncronation, since I don't have the 550 and I can't tell you how to do that, but I'm sure someone on here woulde be glad to help.

[kndreyn]

Thanks Zamora. Look forward to seeing your pictures from today's game. There is a boy's game here this Thursday that I'm going to try for. I've done the boys before and it's tougher for sure. They just move faster. But that's how we learn!

Thanks for the tip on the flash. Guess it's time to open the manual!

Best -
Keith

Originally Posted by Zamora3

I really like # 2 and 3, the composition IMO is very good.

You seem to have pretty good lighting in the gym so thats always a plus.

Oh, and to be able to use your flash at a higher shutter speed, set the flash to High Speed Syncronation, since I don't have the 550 and I can't tell you how to do that, but I'm sure someone on here woulde be glad to help.

[cecilc]

As far as the hi-speed synch mode on the 550EX. You enable that fuction by pressing two of the buttons on the controls simultaneously - I don't have the manual handy and don't remember which two you have to press, but look in your manual - it tells you how to enable hi-speed synch in there.

One thing I can recommend to you in your shooting is to shoot from a lower angle. In the shots you've posted, the angle indicates that you're standing. Go ahead and sit on the perimeter of the court, or at least kneel down where you're shooting from. It'll put you more on the level of the action ....

And I'd personally like to know what gym you're shooting in that will allow you 1/500 at ISO 1000 .... I'd love the lighting. In the gyms I shoot in, even with the 1.8 I'm looking at maybe 1/320 at ISO 1600 for existing light .....

Best of luck ...

[kndreyn]

Hi Cecil,
Thanks for the comments and advice. I found the button combinations to turn high speed sync on as soon as I read your message. It's the + and - buttons.

I was sitting in the second row of bleachers, so I was just about at eye level with the girls. Next time I'll try sitting on the bottom row and see how that works out. I agree, I'm fortunate to have such good lighting in the local school gym. My wife and I just started doing this on a spur of the moment thought...just needed something to do, and we're really enjoying it. Sadly we only have a few more games this year. But I'm sure we'll find something else of interest after this. Thanks again for the good comments.

Best -
Keith

Originally Posted by cecilc

As far as the hi-speed synch mode on the 550EX. You enable that fuction by pressing two of the buttons on the controls simultaneously - I don't have the manual handy and don't remember which two you have to press, but look in your manual - it tells you how to enable hi-speed synch in there.

One thing I can recommend to you in your shooting is to shoot from a lower angle. In the shots you've posted, the angle indicates that you're standing. Go ahead and sit on the perimeter of the court, or at least kneel down where you're shooting from. It'll put you more on the level of the action ....

And I'd personally like to know what gym you're shooting in that will allow you 1/500 at ISO 1000 .... I'd love the lighting. In the gyms I shoot in, even with the 1.8 I'm looking at maybe 1/320 at ISO 1600 for existing light .....

Best of luck ...

[cecilc]

I should've posted this in my last post, but forgot ....
Just wanted to give you a sample of being "on" the court ....




If I remember correctly, this was shot at 1/250 at 2.0 at ISO 800 .....

[NJDrew]

Originally Posted by cecilc

If I remember correctly, this was shot at 1/250 at 2.0 at ISO 800 .....

Yea that would be my suggestion. Try slowing your shutter speed and lowering your iso. I would try that and see how it goes.

[gramps]

You might want to keep in mind that some schools prefer that you don't use flash if you are shooting close to the players.

[kndreyn]

That's what I assumed when I first started doing this, but then I saw other people using their flash and it didn't seem to matter. I'm still cautious about using it. I don't want to disturb the players. That's why I only took a few with the flash. All of the others were taken with non-flash.

Originally Posted by gramps

You might want to keep in mind that some schools prefer that you don't use flash if you are shooting close to the players.