Shooting hoops - Duke Ladies Ball - 8 shots

Photodawg had some questions about how to shoot hoops. While I am not an expert at it, there are some very good shooters here, there are a few things I have found that work well for me. These are shots from the last game I shot a couple of weeks ago.

One of the nice things I like about basketball is you can get compelling shots from a lot of locations, not just down on the floor under the hoop. I am not going to post any of those as you all have seen plenty of those from me before.

One of the things you can do just to give a little different angle is to move to the far corner of the court. This one breaks the ball in hand rule but I like the concentration of the both players one this one and the sense of transition

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WOW, nice shots
I like them
the last one is good expression on the faces, but i wish if you didn't cut the Ball and show it in the frame (just opinion).

Mark, great thread and nice series of shots. I plan to shoot some local girls HS BB soon and your advice is solid. Thanks for sharing...........

Tareq wrote in post #2335046
WOW, nice shots
I like them
the last one is good expression on the faces, but i wish if you didn't cut the Ball and show it in the frame (just opinion).

Tareq...I think that is one of "rules" being broken mark was talking about.

Mark,
AHHHHSome!!! Very good tutorial and just damn good shooting! You make us want to shoot better!
Linda

Photodawg1 wrote in post #2335163
Tareq...I think that is one of "rules" being broken mark was talking about.

Ah, then great.

Yeah... the last one breaks so many rules it isn't even funny. But in the context of a background shot for an editorial or something like that on this particular player - it would be in my books a keeper and worth putting forward. But yes, ball is cut off, digits are missing, it is a bit dark, The two defenders are cropped at the elbow and wrist - the list goes on forever.

Here is another one that would never make it past photographers. But if I were laying out a page with text on it, and wanted a background image - this one works very well for me. I am sure there are plenty better - but if this is what I had, I could make it work.

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Croasdail wrote in post #2335358
Yeah... the last one breaks so many rules it isn't even funny. But in the context of a background shot for an editorial or something like that on this particular player - it would be in my books a keeper and worth putting forward. But yes, ball is cut off, digits are missing, it is a bit dark, The two defenders are cropped at the elbow and wrist - the list goes on forever.

Here is another one that would never make it past photographers. But if I were laying out a page with text on it, and wanted a background image - this one works very well for me. I am sure there are plenty better - but if this is what I had, I could make it work.

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You know, my photo teacher always said if you have a blown picture, turn it into black and white and call it "fine art". While that doesn't apply here directly, the idea behind it does in that what ever you are dealt, figure out a way to make it work. It is easy to capture images when everything is perfect. The thing I love about sports is the game goes on, rain or shine, good teams or not, you still have to figure out a way to capture a telling image. My skills are often not up to the task, but I am having a hell of a time learning how to. Cheers!

Sorry about the image - I didn't have one processed up for the web.

WOW, that one is really UNUSAL.
great job

Croasdail wrote in post #2335358
Yeah... the last one breaks so many rules it isn't even funny. But in the context of a background shot for an editorial or something like that on this particular player - it would be in my books a keeper and worth putting forward. But yes, ball is cut off, digits are missing, it is a bit dark, The two defenders are cropped at the elbow and wrist - the list goes on forever.

Here is another one that would never make it past photographers. But if I were laying out a page with text on it, and wanted a background image - this one works very well for me. I am sure there are plenty better - but if this is what I had, I could make it work.

You know, my photo teacher always said if you have a blown picture, turn it into black and white and call it "fine art". While that doesn't apply here directly, the idea behind it does in that what ever you are dealt, figure out a way to make it work. It is easy to capture images when everything is perfect. The thing I love about sports is the game goes on, rain or shine, good teams or not, you still have to figure out a way to capture a telling image. My skills are often not up to the task, but I am having a hell of a time learning how to. Cheers!

Sorry about the image - I didn't have one processed up for the web.

I like what you said about the game goes on and you still have to figure out a way to capture a telling image. Also, the "turn it in to art quote is a great one too". I think media has a very limited palate (and/or palette) when it comes to sports. It only wants to digest the spot on split second action shot usually. I started trying to get my pictures in the mags and wires, and because I am still really pretty green at it and I think it will take awhile to obtain the quality of the Marks, Gavins and Muls, I had a revelation. Because I don't have to write or produce the the perfect capture of the winning moment for anyone on a tight schedule, I relaxed. I relaxed and started seeing the sport with new eyes, my eyes. I found that I liked the other shots, the ones most photogs won't even waste their memory on, like the guy erecting the stage or the refs or the way the trainers worry in the corners over their boxers, the ring announcers rallying and the ring card girls diverting attention not unlike clowns in a rodeo...I just love all the parts of this sport, and it was from being unaccepted I came to have the freedom of developing my own style and . Oh shoot where did that come from...sorry long day.

btw... Mark..you are going to absolutely love that PS4000! I have a PS2000 and it has saved me many times over!

those are great shots

I like your shots a lot but would like to know what camera/lens combination you used??

Take care,
Harry

Great stuff as usual Mark!

Hey Harry - these were taken with an old 1D and a Sigma 70-200. Hope that helps.

This a great post! I don't shoot b-ball or anything, but you've made a lot of good points with great examples. I appreciate you taking the time!!