Professional Boxing: Chumash Casino Resort/ShowTime [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I managed my third professional boxing match a little better than the last, fortunately, thanks to some great tips here. The final two matches were televised by ShowTime's ShoBox folks; the match was put together by Gary Shaw Productions and hosted at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. The doctors were two hours late, forcing the cancellation of three amateur bouts and a lot disgust at such slovenly, disrespectful bahavior.

With my rant complete, here's Jimmy "The Voice of Boxing" Lennon with the night's Ring Girls:

A couple of Cristal Morales (Red) over Lisa Martin (Blue hair):

And I just liked this one of Cristal:

The main event was Rolando Reyes over Courtney Burton:

Here's the final punch of the night in which Reyes knocks out Burton, followed by an image of Burton going down:

There are a few more on my website at http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashC...ng07222005.htm

[Dave_G]

dude...brutal!

what lens etc were you using? was flash allowed?

these are great photos.

[DwightMcCann]

Dave, Yes, brutal! Mostly used 24-70mm f2.8 L but swapped on 70-200mm f2.8 L IS to get a little closer, particularly between rounds when the seconds were tending to them. I could have used my wide angle for those last two shots ... I was right at the corner and when Burton got hit I was sprayed with sweat, vaseline and blood. He was about two-three feet from me when he hit the mat. Reyes is a "local" and appears to have some gang affiliation or a least a lot of gang style support, so it was just as well that he won ... he was clearly (even to me who knows nothing of boxing) the superior fighter. Gotta' admit that I really enjoyed the women fighting!

[4nR]

beautiful shots dwight. i liked the one of cristal by herself, as well as the ko punch in the mens. it must have been exciting. what kind of post did you do on them?

[EricKonieczny]

Very Nice Dwight.

You are a very versatile photgrapher. Being able to swtich from concert to sports is not easy, and you have done a remarkable job.

It is hard for me to pic one favorite shot, you have doene quite well.

How many shots did you take total?

What kind of EXIF data for these.

Did you have a monopod at all. I ask this because your shots are always crisp in low light. I know one of my major downfalls is not having really steady hands. You must be like a tripod when shooting.

[Croasdail]

Nice work - looks fun.... trying to do some learning from looking at some of the exif data - it seemed you were shooting moderately wide(about 40mm) with a 1D, 1/500th and pretty much wide open. One thing I did notice was prominate highlighting lines. Was this from the overhead heavy backlighting and shooting up into the lights - or was some of this from sharpening? I am lined up to shoot a tournament september 10th - so I am trying to lean all I can as fast as I can. I had planned on using an 85 f1.8, but based on your stuff, it looks like that might be a little long. Since I will be shooting a 20D, perhaps a fast 28 or 24 would be in order... any advice would be appreciated.

[DwightMcCann]

4nR, these images were selected from over 1300 that I shot Friday night. I adjusted them for color cast (I shot them using AutoWhiteBalance), resized and sharpened ... some got a little levels, too. Nothing particularly arcane ... and done in PhotoImpact 10. The one of Cristal sitting on her stool between bouts was one of several that really touched me. I did clone a zit off above her upper lip. There are a lot of chances to get excellent images in 1300+ tries.

Eric, Howzit? I think of the types of photography I do as pretty similar: I don't pose the people ... they are performers. I don't control the light. I have limited time. I am constrained as to where I can be in relationship to my subjects. I don't usually get to interact with the subjects. I do a terrible job on nudes/glamour and marginal work on sports. But I am pretty good on candid people under almost any circumstance.

I picked them from the 1300 because I liked them and great minds think alike! Seriously, they are good so they are easy to like. I think the EXIF data is still in them but I haven't checked! Give it a shot. I imagine it is EXIF 2.2 as I think that is what the 1D Mark II supports.

I have a monopod. I have carried it around some. I have never used it. For these images I was sitting in a chair with my elbows and/or wrist literally on the mat at a neutral corner. I expect it is that the image stabilization technology in the longer lenses combined with moderately good camera holding technique ... I'm not sure what to say beyond that ... I don't do anything special or secret ... I don't wrap the strap around my hand or arm or anything, but I do use my arm against my upper body and my elbows tight for landscape shots ... it is not hands that make the camera steady, but using the arms, elbows, hands and torso as a unit ... I point the camera with my body when I am "free standing".

Please ask anything that comes to mind.

[DwightMcCann]

Croasdail, several of the photographers are less fortunate than I am and don't have the equipment budget I do. They tend to use fixed lenses, most often fast 50mm, which I think is an excellent choice. I do think 85mm is too long as an only lens but I did some shooting with my 70-200mm f2.8 IS and I loaned it to Marcus Lopez of Ringsidephoto.com, so I'd consider sticking that 85mm in my pocket. I have also read some articles suggested by Gmen at Sportsshooter.com that urge wide angles on a second body. And there are even suggestions about getting a more distant but higher vantage point and shooting with telephoto. So, you make your choices and take your chances! I hope this is helpful. Search Gmen's recent posts in this forum for those links. And ask me again anything that I might be able to help with.

[Croasdail]

Thanks.... sorry about the poor typing. I can think much faster then my fingers can keep up. Yeah - Gmen passed those links on to me as well. I read them, and just am not sure yet how I will shoot. A lot will depend on when I get there and see what the lay out looks like and lighting. I am sure it will not be good as what you had with a Showtime lighting setup. Thats one of the reasons I am going to try to have better the f2 lenses with me. As of now, based on what you stated, I will take the 85 1.8, 50 1.4, 70-200 just in case I decide to shoot down rather then up, and a yet TBD wide, if I can pick up a fast one..... thanks for the advice, and again, great shots.

[DwightMcCann]

Croasdail, no matter how prepared you try to be you will need to keep your wits about you, be assertive, have a backup for everything you can, and have faith in yourself ... you are a fine photographer! I have faith in you ... and you have a fair amount of time to prepare. My other advice includes: take as many CF cards as you can get your hands on, shoot, shoot, shoot, but don't depend on the 5 fps doing the job of anticipating for you 'cause it won't ... 8.5 fps certainly doesn't so I don't use it! I do use 3 fps but often I actually shoot single shots. This does NOT mean not to use the 5 fps, just don't count on it rather than yourself. Again, ask whatever comes to mind.

[mdm]

Hey Dwight, nice shots!

[bikerider]

Stunning pictures Dwight, you got some excellent tight action here, you must be very pleased with the result.......I would say the more one photographed this sport the more predictive one would be. I'd actually like to have a try at shooting some kickboxing, might have to check my local organisations!
Roger.

[DwightMcCann]

mdm, thanks!

bikerider, thank you. Yes, I think, as with all sorts of things in life, practice makes improvement!

[Rob612]

Great shots, you really captured some brutal moments. I don't like boxing, personally, but that's another story. Did you managed to place a remotized camera on the roof ?

[gmen]

I've been waiting to see these pics Dwight... and they certainly don't disappoint! Excellent work... my fave is the last image which really captures the essence of the sport for me - also the ropes frame the image nicely.

I have to agree with your comments about not laying on the motordrive. Timing the shots is very hard, but you gradually get into the rhythm of the fight as the rounds progress and the number of 'impact' pics increases as a result.

Again... great stuff!

--- Gavin