Thursday night Girls HS Basketball

Here's some pics from Thursday night's girls basketball game. Settings - Sigma 70-200 2.8, 1/640, ISO 3200. The first few pics are from the JV game with pic #3 being the game winning layup. Pretty happy with the results.
1.

very good, they're intense

Nice job. Color is fantastic. One thing I can offer: Being right behind the basket gives too much of a straight on angle to the shots. Setting up about 10' in from either sideline and 5' behind the baseline is a spot that gives good angles AND stands full of fans as a backdrop more interesting than the back wall of the gym.

Example:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …erphotography/5​462017650/

Dang that's an intense shot!

rick_reno wrote in post #13748102
very good, they're intense

Thanks rick_reno! Sometimes the girl games get more intense than the boy games. The JV game had two girls that really didn't like each other too much - a lot of jawing going back and forth.

snyderman wrote in post #13748217
Nice job. Color is fantastic. One thing I can offer: Being right behind the basket gives too much of a straight on angle to the shots. Setting up about 10' in from either sideline and 5' behind the baseline is a spot that gives good angles AND stands full of fans as a backdrop more interesting than the back wall of the gym.

dave

Dave, thanks so much for the feedback. I agree the shots would probably look better with more of an angle. For the JV games I could probably do what you suggest, but the Varsity games would be a different story. The cheerleaders set up on either side of the basket, so I pretty much have to sit in the middle. Otherwise I would have to sit in the first row of the bleachers and I think that cuts the angle off too much. I've tried it and didn't like the results too much. Plus, the student body doesn't really support the basketball teams for some reason. The stands are always empty - not like when I went to high school. The gym was always packed when there was a basketball game. It really is a pity. Seeing empty bleachers instead of just the blue wall would be a nice change, though. The next game is this Tuesday so I'll try your suggestions. Thanks.

mrwilt wrote in post #13749345
Dave, thanks so much for the feedback. I agree the shots would probably look better with more of an angle. For the JV games I could probably do what you suggest, but the Varsity games would be a different story. The cheerleaders set up on either side of the basket, so I pretty much have to sit in the middle. Otherwise I would have to sit in the first row of the bleachers and I think that cuts the angle off too much. I've tried it and didn't like the results too much. Plus, the student body doesn't really support the basketball teams for some reason. The stands are always empty - not like when I went to high school. The gym was always packed when there was a basketball game. It really is a pity. Seeing empty bleachers instead of just the blue wall would be a nice change, though. The next game is this Tuesday so I'll try your suggestions. Thanks.

Boy, that is sad. Our local HS is a Div 1 (largest school population) and the games are well attended. Plus, there always seemed to be a home and visitor end of the gym leaving on side open. HDCP seating, or wheelchair parking was always opposite the cheerleaders, so feeling 'squeezed' for shooting space is a reality in a HS gym.

Don't feel bad about 'butting right in' to stake your 2 feet by 2 feet spot on the floor! Nobody is the wiser and will always figure you're supposed to be there!

Good luck and keep up the good work!

dave

Nice job with the basketball pics. I so struggle with my 7D at ISO's higher than 1600. I tried using 3200 to 4000 the other night, at a gymnastics meet after seeing some images on this site. I shoot everything in Camera RAW, and the images are not nearly as clean as yours. Are you using any noise software other than what's available in Light Room or Photo Shop. I do all of the processing in Photo Shop.

snyderman wrote in post #13749784
Boy, that is sad. Our local HS is a Div 1 (largest school population) and the games are well attended. Plus, there always seemed to be a home and visitor end of the gym leaving on side open. HDCP seating, or wheelchair parking was always opposite the cheerleaders, so feeling 'squeezed' for shooting space is a reality in a HS gym.

Don't feel bad about 'butting right in' to stake your 2 feet by 2 feet spot on the floor! Nobody is the wiser and will always figure you're supposed to be there!

Good luck and keep up the good work!

dave

Thanks, Dave. You've been a wealth of information. I really appreciate it. The pic you posted above is fantastic!

Czbrat271 wrote in post #13749854
Nice job with the basketball pics. I so struggle with my 7D at ISO's higher than 1600. I tried using 3200 to 4000 the other night, at a gymnastics meet after seeing some images on this site. I shoot everything in Camera RAW, and the images are not nearly as clean as yours. Are you using any noise software other than what's available in Light Room or Photo Shop. I do all of the processing in Photo Shop.

Hey Czbrat271. I'm just using what's available in LightRoom. I think the most important thing is to try and get proper exposure or as close as possible when taking the picture because having to increase the exposure in LR or Photoshop introduces more noise. I haven't tried the noise reduction in Photoshop, so not sure if it's the same as in LightRoom. It's a bit concerning to hear you're having trouble with ISO 3200 with the 7D. I was hoping to upgrade to that camera soon. Thanks.

snyderman wrote in post #13748217
Nice job. Color is fantastic. One thing I can offer: Being right behind the basket gives too much of a straight on angle to the shots. Setting up about 10' in from either sideline and 5' behind the baseline is a spot that gives good angles AND stands full of fans as a backdrop more interesting than the back wall of the gym.

Example:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …erphotography/5​462017650/
IMG_4129 by snyderman3, on Flickr

dave

I'd try working with your WB here. It's a bit yellow-green to me.