Shooting Basketball

Croasdail wrote in post #2334053
Linda, what is the goal of your shoot. Are you getting player shots, or just general game coverage? That can dramatically change how you approach the game.

Mark,
I was invited to go by someone working as an announcer when I was telling them that shooting ball was on my to-do wish list, so I am really shooting for myself. But you raise an interesting point. I would like to practice everything and never shot this subject before. Any suggestions? I would like to get the kind of shots newsies would like, and of course to have some spectacular shots for my webpage/portfolio...I found football kind of difficult because of all the moving elements and area to cover. I like to shoot close (like boxing) and capture individual dynamics/profiles.

That helps. See, one problem you get with the "newsie" shots is 90% are all shot from the same location - under the basket to the right. So from that location, look to use your 24-70 and be patient for the action to come in to you. If you are really good and have a second body with a long lens (ie 300 2.8), you can also shoot the other end of the court from here, though I have never had anything I really like from that vantage point.

For player shots, it is a whole new game. Down on the floor is great - but honestly I have had better luck getting the camera eye level or higher for these types of shots. Particularly if you can get a few rows up, you can get some really good shots looking up into the basket. Or better, if you are looking for a player isolation shot, shooting down at the floor can give you amazingly clean images. The 70-200 is good for this type of shooting. Also, as you come up off the floor, you gain reflective lighting from the floor itself.

Tell you what, I have a few shots from last week I can post up. I will put them in a another thread or post a link later today so that I don't hijack yours post here. If you have any questions, feel free to ping me - though there are plenty of capable hoops shooters here.

Croasdail wrote in post #2334433
That helps. See, one problem you get with the "newsie" shots is 90% are all shot from the same location - under the basket to the right. So from that location, look to use your 24-70 and be patient for the action to come in to you. If you are really good and have a second body with a long lens (ie 300 2.8), you can also shoot the other end of the court from here, though I have never had anything I really like from that vantage point.

For player shots, it is a whole new game. Down on the floor is great - but honestly I have had better luck getting the camera eye level or higher for these types of shots. Particularly if you can get a few rows up, you can get some really good shots looking up into the basket. Or better, if you are looking for a player isolation shot, shooting down at the floor can give you amazingly clean images. The 70-200 is good for this type of shooting. Also, as you come up off the floor, you gain reflective lighting from the floor itself.

Tell you what, I have a few shots from last week I can post up. I will put them in a another thread or post a link later today so that I don't hijack yours post here. If you have any questions, feel free to ping me - though there are plenty of capable hoops shooters here.

Wow Mark! I feel like I am on the court with you! I am handicapped with one body, so will be limited somewhat in that area. The angles and position you recommend will be infinitely helpful. Gavin's posts were really good for that too. I will look for your shots when you post them. Thank you! I had better get some good shots with all the help you guys have given me....very appreciative all!

Linda... I put the images here...

http://www.photography​-on-the.net …php?p=2335015#p​ost2335015

let me know if I can help more.