Critique my middle school basketball pics

I've been trying to shoot my kid's middle school basketball games for the last couple years. The lighting in the gyms is around EV 6. I'm using a Canon 6D and Sigma 50mm ART lens. These are my three favorites from this weekend.

I bumped up the exposure by about 1 stop and set the Luminance Noise Reduction to about 35.

What do you think?

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Ld4G​1z

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/MadM​tT

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/M32E​C8

Looks good to me. Good exposure.

As they get faster and more explosive, you'll want a bit faster shutter (1/1000s, 1/1250s) but for now, looks like 1/640s handles their current speed, so that helps you in the ISO department.

Though I would say, I think an 85mm F1.8 or 100mm F2 would be a really dynamite option, and not expensive, to get a bit more pop to images like this.

Very best,

Walk over and shut that door. : /

And turn of the "A/C"? I think I'd be risking bodily harm. ;^)

I agree, but I have to work with what I've got as far as the venue goes.

texkam wrote in post #18126820
Walk over and shut that door. : /

Hopefully by the time I need the faster shutter they will be in high school where the lighting is a little better.

For now I've been trying to limit myself to one standard zoom, one tele zoom and one fast lens. Going to a 85mm or 100mm would probably be better for sports and portraits but limiting for other situations. When I can afford it maybe I'll move to a 35mm and a 85mm or 100mm.

MalVeauX wrote in post #18126818
Looks good to me. Good exposure.

As they get faster and more explosive, you'll want a bit faster shutter (1/1000s, 1/1250s) but for now, looks like 1/640s handles their current speed, so that helps you in the ISO department.

Though I would say, I think an 85mm F1.8 or 100mm F2 would be a really dynamite option, and not expensive, to get a bit more pop to images like this.

Very best,

ChrisAttebery wrote in post #18126842
Hopefully by the time I need the faster shutter they will be in high school where the lighting is a little better.

Don't count on it at all.

For that age group, I would be shooting from 'sitting on the floor' level.
I would be cropping tighter, or trying to capture isolated action with not so many players in the frame.
For me, the 6D and 85/1.8 combo works well.

Good start. But they will get faster and faster.

I looked at these pictures again in Lightroom. Every one was cropped to some degree. I'll keep my eyes open for a 85mm or 100mm.

Keep in mind, if you pay big bucks for a nice lens then sell it after that need no longer exists, you've essentially rented said lens.

Yep, I've been buying and selling lenses like trading cards for the last couple months. I saw a quote somewhere along the lines of "When you first get into photography treat your lens purchases like dates. Keep trying new ones until you find the ones your really like."

texkam wrote in post #18127831
Keep in mind, if you pay big bucks for a nice lens then sell it after that need no longer exists, you've essentially rented said lens.

lolz

i would go 6400/12800 in a heartbeat with your 6D to save pushing the exposure in post. i know you've gone wide on the third one to include the "bobcat" and it looks good, but you need to straighten the horizon too. as sibil said, try and shoot lower (bleachers/small stool?) and don't be afraid to shoot/crop in portrait orientation. crop aggressively, you have loads of pixels, but you don't have to include them all. forgive the edit, but this, to me, is a better pic.

OP, I can post a few examples of a high school freshman team, taken with a 6D and 85/1.8, if you are interested.

I have tried 6400, but I start to notice the noise. Maybe I need to learn how to correct it better in Lightroom.

In general I shoot from the floor between the three point line and the key and 4-5' behind the baseline.

There's no need to apologize. You're giving me what I asked for.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #18128056
i would go 6400/12800 in a heartbeat with your 6D to save pushing the exposure in post. i know you've gone wide on the third one to include the "bobcat" and it looks good, but you need to straighten the horizon too. as sibil said, try and shoot lower (bleachers/small stool?) and don't be afraid to shoot/crop in portrait orientation. crop aggressively, you have loads of pixels, but you don't have to include them all. forgive the edit, but this, to me, is a better pic.

Sure, I'd like to see a couple uncropped if you have them.

Sibil wrote in post #18128145
OP, I can post a few examples of a high school freshman team, taken with a 6D and 85/1.8, if you are interested.

ChrisAttebery wrote in post #18128256
Sure, I'd like to see a couple uncropped if you have them.

I had to go back and find the originals.
Here are 3 pairs, first, SOOC, 2nd, cropped and somewhat post processed.
I took these the first week I owned the 6D, so I am sure the settings were not the best for sports.
I am not a pro; just a dad with camera that hangs out by the court
I hope they help.

1.