Finally used flash in gym - Basketball

I put the 550 on a 10 ft stand with the pocket wizard, and the 24-70 f/2.8 on the 20D.
I'm pleased with the photos and look forward to shooting with the flash again.

(When I resized these photos I applied the sharpen filter, but prefer to not use it on the full size versions)

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All three look great, what iso did you use?

it's interesting... I used 1600, f/2.8, and 320 for these pics. Maybe 250 for some during the game. Anyway, what makes it interesting is that these are the same setting I use without the flash and usually the outcome is flat and grainy. So adding the flash really gave it more defined highlights, midtones, and shadows

I asked a couple of the players if they noticed the flash and none of them did, not even the guy controlling the clock, so I'll definitely bring it out again.

(Also, the flash was off to the right along the sideline)

Great shots!

that ain't just any flash, it's a good fill flash... gives the shots a fake rafter strobe effect.. quite nice

i would say to try and get the flashes a little higher so you dont get the shadows right on the plays... if at all possible

I would love to raise it much higher, but the stand was totally extended!

I'm going to try bouncing one of my alien bee 800s off the ceiling but I'm not sure how effective it will be, nor how distracting it will be. If I had a 2nd 550 I would definitely use that from the opposite side of the court, perfect for shots from the baseline.

freeflydrew wrote in post #2321631
I asked a couple of the players if they noticed the flash and none of them did, not even the guy controlling the clock, so I'll definitely bring it out again.

I always assumed that it would bother or distract players on the cort, so I never ventured to try! Looks good.

That looks really good, I think the flash off the stand is what helps it so much.

Hey, can you take a shot of it in position for us next time? I'd like to see it set up. Also, do you just leave it at the one end and only shoot that end? Did you have a softener on the flash as well?

What did the administration say when you asked them about this, or did you even ask while you set it up in the gym?

I have a shot where you can see the flash going off... sorry about the watermark and the other stuff!
(You can see the tripod all the way against the wall)

I lowered the flash power to 1/32 and set the flash zoom to 70mm... I switched ends when the team switched ends and I didn't use a softener/diffuser. I kept the power lower so I would have faster refresh times and longer battery life. (I do shoot with the extra battery pack, but am always wary of running out of power)

The Athletic Director where I work is incredibly supportive and as long as the players don't complain, he will let me do whatever I want with the camera or flash... they let me shoot from wherever I want...
It's really in the best interest of the school to let me work this way.

(today he paid for the mount to connect the camera to the backboard)

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That really helps to understand how it was placed, and how you used it.

Wow, you had that set pretty far back. 1/32 power... man that gave out some pretty good light. Must be that in a dark gym any extra is a lot better than no extra!

it's actually written above... "I used 1600, f/2.8, and 320 for these pics. Maybe 250 for some during the game. Anyway, what makes it interesting is that these are the same setting I use without the flash and usually the outcome is flat and grainy. So adding the flash really gave it more defined highlights, midtones, and shadows"

freeflydrew wrote in post #2321582
Next will be mounting the camera behind the backboard

That would really worry me as you never know about stray ball and people

The images have a lot of depth to me. I like what you've done. I say it is high time photographers took back the gyms of the World and delivered some even greater shots to the players.

freeflydrew wrote in post #2324853
(today he paid for the mount to connect the camera to the backboard)

The AD paid for the mount !?!? I have to have a serious talk with my husband. My hubby is the AD at the school where I do all my shooting, gotta get him to pay for that mount too!! LOL

Oh yeah, and the pics look great too !! I have a 580ex's and a 420ex that I wanted to try out like this, after seeing these results I will definately give them a try !