ABA Maryland Nighthawks

I shot hoops for the first time Saturday. Nighthawks vs the Wilmington Seadawgs. I don't feel like I came away with one shot that I would proudly show. My main problem was just keeping up with the fast changing action. I also had some major focusing issues. But I did feel like I was starting to get a better grip on it near the end. Think I need to go to a few more games. I did use flash which helped much.

Surprised how much fun the game was. Very family oriented with lots of games for kids throughout. Some of the players really gave it their all and made it interesting. Appreciate the advice given on here. ...More images at: http://photodawg1.smug​mug.com/gallery/219585​3

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Well for the first time shooting BBall, I think they look good. If you go after bball like you did boxing you will be a pro in no time in. Good work linda!

Take care
Ed

edpoin wrote in post #2356246
Well for the first time shooting BBall, I think they look good. If you go after bball like you did boxing you will be a pro in no time in. Good work linda!

Take care
Ed

Hey, Thanks Eddy! You always make me feel great! Look forward to seeing ya Friday!

For a first attempt I'd say they are good.

How much space is there between the base line and the wall? Your second picture looks a bit soft, I'd guess this is because you were at 1/250? I generally have 1/320 at a minimum. In that shot you were at 3.5 so you could have come down slightly.

Darren

I was trying to shoot at 1/500. Not too much space between really. I have one shot where both players are jumping and it looks like they are scaling the wall.
http://photodawg1.smug​mug.com/gallery/219585​3/6/114869776I will definitely try controlling my settings better next time. Thanks DarrenL.

Did you try without flash? What were your settings like?

Practice practice practice.

Darren

DarrenL wrote in post #2357929
Did you try without flash? What were your settings like?

Practice practice practice.

Darren

Ahhhh yes...the 3 P's! The first few were without flash mucho grainy, I asked another photog there if okay to use flash and she said she thought so and ISO to compensate for the flash. I will probably go back to their home game next week for more practice. I should have gotten better closeups, but they kept moving all over the place like a bunch of jackrabbits.
I am sure my next batch will be better.

Did you use highspeed sync with the flash so you could get a fast shutter speed? I think Gavin speaks to shooting BB with flash ... maybe a search could locate that?

[QUOTE=DwightMcCann;23​58463]Did you use highspeed sync with the flash so you could get a fast shutter speed? I think Gavin spea

Hmmm... I will check his thread out. I am not even familiar with highspeed flash. My flash was set atETTL M Zoom 14 ,, -2/3 I have really just started using the flash in the last couple of months. I will drag out the manual and pore over it too. Thanks Dwight.

Boy, those are tough shooting conditions, where there is no room behind the basket. Looks like high school gym plus maybe. Absolutely none of the advice I gave you would have helped in this case. Looking at these, one of the few ways to get some really spectacular shots given the conditions would have been to go to a remote camera attached to the basketball standard. A setup to do that cost about $500-600 (clamp, magic arm, wizards, and safety cable). If your going to do more of these, it is something you might look at. But since were talking money here... a couple of Alienbees AB800s would have lit the place real nice too... it's just money.

Otherwise, given the shooting locations you had, I think you did just fine. Glad you had fun.... for me... in the end, that is all that matters.

Nice shots takes time to get used to the speed of the game its very fast.
I too started shooting basketball with the ABA team the Arkansas Aeros at first holy cow they moved so fast it was hard to get a shot off. I was using a on camera flash (580 ex) after a game or two I was getting ok pictures none that I was really proud of. Then I bought 2 AB800's with 11" reflectors and radio remotes and that really made the difference. I shoot with a 20d with a 70-200 2.8. After shooting 7 games I am starting to get used to the speed of the game and now with the new AB lights I am finally proud of some of the pics I am getting. I shot some youth basketball Saturday and it was so easy they moved so slowwww I loved it hehehehe.

In short practice practice practice and a set of light never hurt.

Rod

RSN wrote in post #2361778
Nice shots takes time to get used to the speed of the game its very fast.
I too started shooting basketball with the ABA team the Arkansas Aeros at first holy cow they moved so fast it was hard to get a shot off. I was using a on camera flash (580 ex) after a game or two I was getting ok pictures none that I was really proud of. Then I bought 2 AB800's with 11" reflectors and radio remotes and that really made the difference. I shoot with a 20d with a 70-200 2.8. After shooting 7 games I am starting to get used to the speed of the game and now with the new AB lights I am finally proud of some of the pics I am getting. I shot some youth basketball Saturday and it was so easy they moved so slowwww I loved it hehehehe.

In short practice practice practice and a set of light never hurt.

Rod

Rod...
Thanks much for replying. I have seen another thread refer to additional AB's. I will research that, also, I may not be using my flash correctly. I agree though that I think it is mostly getting accustomed to the pace and dynamics of the game. I only used the 70-200 and think it does a good job. It was the speed and just trying to compensate for the action of going ing tight and zooming out to catch the dunk. It gives me hope that your are starting to be happy with your shots. Practicing will be fun, because I like the games. So once i start getting better shots will post some.

Would love to see some of your shots.
Linda

I hope my first boxing shots turn out this good. Lighitng is bad in these gyms and the best glass I have seen for basketball is the 85 1.8 and the 135 f2 (waiting to buy the 135 f2).

What all have you done to the pictures in way of PPing?

I was at least smart enough to shoot in RAW, so I adjusted the WB and a little exposure and some saturation and contrast. Thank you much for the kind words Super...Look forward to your shots with that 135...I saw someother shots with the 85 and was surprised it wasn't so expensive...so I am adding that to my spitting in the wind wish list!
Linda

The 85 is my FAV lens for indoor sports!