High School Football - Flash not required...

I see a lot of threads about using flash at high school football games, and while it can be helpful, IMHO it is necesary and can also very limiting too .... maybe I am just way to old school. With today's camera and a little application of old film stategies, you can still get some decent shots. Almost all of these were shot at 1/400 @ f2.8. I would adjust the ISO as needed when field lighting conditions made it necessary (thanks for the tip Gavin), and would also go under exposed by up to a stop to keep minimum shutter speed above 1/320. 1/400 is still a tad slow... but hey, it is what it is.

Here are a few shots from last weeks game. Go out and have some fun shooting football tonight!

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me = anti-flash

lol...some good solid stuff stuff here

slight purple tint on the monitors here, in post you might want a little more color correcting

Those are spectacular! I can assure you that the lighting at your stadium is better than at ours! But beyond that your timing/captures are very impressive. Whenever I have tried to shoot the receiver as #4 six people will step in front of me so they can see ... and this is right on the sideline. I am also going to take a tip from you where to stand when they run onto the field through the banner ... I was trying from the side and that is useless. Wonderful, wonderful images. I shot boxing tonight.

These totally rock!! Excellent work here. I still say....even just the slightest hint of "noise/grain" really gives them a certain feel. And just that tincy bit of motion blur is pretty cool too. The colors and clarity of these are just super.

Great Shots,
It would be interesting to find out how much power is used to light up the field.
Croasdail, could you ask the school how much power(total power) and the type of light?

Hey, Mark -- first rate. even though the backs are turned I love the shot of the guy punching the ball out of the receiver's hands. great football moment.

pcDigiMan and Dwight - just so you all don't get the wrong impression... here is what the images look like out of the can... like I was saying - about 1 stop underexposed.

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Quasi and David.... it has been many moons since I shot High School football... many... but boy did it bring back a ton of memories and there is something special about high school ball.... what it lacks in action it gains in heart.... thanks for looking and the comments guys.

Nice pictures.

Nice work!

Great Shots!!!What lens did you use? 70-200MM 2.8? Were thoses brighten up or?

All of us Football Photographers are Intreeged.....Deffinet​ly some good stadium lights, like a collge stadiums Again Love the shots, please tell you secrets!

hey ACDC - these were all from the 120-300 Sigma - and yes I brightened up all the shots. Its was the only way I could keep the shutter speed to a reasonable level without going to ISO 3200. As to any secrets... there really aren't any. I guess I am so used to shooting pushed film, I just shot as though I were shooting pushing again, hopefully something newer chaps will never have to deal with. The best part is I don't have to worry about over warming the chemicals anymore and having the grain exlpode. Anyway... thanks.

What camera are you using though. This isnt always going to be possible depending on the equipment used.

A 20D. On a 10D I will go ISO 800 max and underexpose by 1 stop. I would love to see what is possible with a 5D.

aww. Makes My wait worth while for the 20d and 70-200mm 2.8 IS.....and the 580 ex later next summer.