High School Gymnastics

I shot several hundred pics at a gymnastics competition yesterday. I've still got lots to go through, but I kind of liked this one. Any thoughts?

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Wonderful shot! What ISO/Aperture/Shutter was this at?

Thank you Rob!

1600 ISO, f/2.8, 320/sec (70-200 f/2.8 L)

Very good! That is exactly the kind of shot I have been trying to capture. Perfect!!! I think it the only way it could be better is if her face was visible, but I know she is doing what she is supposed to be doing with that move. I am shooting a level 7 gym meet later today. Now I have something to work towards! I never get the timing right on floor.

Side note-question. I assume you used your 5D? How do you find it works as far as speed (focus and frame rate) for sports? I have considered the 5D or a used 1D MK2 in the near future. I am torn between speed and full frame. Sports are not the only thing I shoot, and I miss the full frame FOV and big view finder I had with my film gear. I still don't care much for the view finder and FOV crop of the 1.6, and even 1.3 bodies. The speed would be nice though, especially this time of year when Gym and Hockey are in full swing.

Lacks_focus wrote in post #2689943
Very good! That is exactly the kind of shot I have been trying to capture. Perfect!!! I think it the only way it could be better is if her face was visible, but I know she is doing what she is supposed to be doing with that move. I am shooting a level 7 gym meet later today. Now I have something to work towards! I never get the timing right on floor.

Side note-question. I assume you used your 5D? How do you find it works as far as speed (focus and frame rate) for sports? I have considered the 5D or a used 1D MK2 in the near future. I am torn between speed and full frame. Sports are not the only thing I shoot, and I miss the full frame FOV and big view finder I had with my film gear. I still don't care much for the view finder and FOV crop of the 1.6, and even 1.3 bodies. The speed would be nice though, especially this time of year when Gym and Hockey are in full swing.

Thank you! Yes I used the 5D (and the 70-200). Focus speed - LOVE IT!!! Frame rate - um... I wish it had a little more, but mainly it's just when shooting gymnastics that I wish it had about 30fps. I also found that I filled the buffer more often than I wanted (raw is a killer) causing me to miss some shots. But that just tells me I need to bite the bullet and get some faster cards. Gymnastics stuff happens so doggone fast I don't care how good you are, you are going to miss some of the best moments. Another thing that frustrates me with gymnastics is that it seems like no matter where I stand, the girl always has her back to me when she throws her best moves. I got what would have been many more great shots, but they were facing the other way. I think getting a really good shot at these events has as much to do with luck as skill.

Jeff Solenberg wrote in post #2689982
I also found that I filled the buffer more often than I wanted (raw is a killer) causing me to miss some shots.

I think getting a really good shot at these events has as much to do with luck as skill.

Try shooting RAW on a 10D. That has "full buffer" written all over it!

Very true on getting the shot. I have not shot HS gym so I don't know about the rules allowing you on the floor, but sanctioned USA gymnastic meets are a killer. Very strict about keep you behind the ropes! I worked my way behind "the line of death" one meet to get some good vault shots. You'd have thought I was trying to bust in to the White House pressroom!!! Only the hired photogs can really get the good spots.

Thanks for the info on your cam. It seems like a no brainer to find a used 1D MK2 for sports. It just doesn’t seem like a lot of people use the camera for shooting landscape and still life too.

The only thing I would have liked better was if you could have seen her face...but hey, you don't get everything do you...Beautiful shot!

Great shot and composition. I would like to see more - it appears you have some decent lighting - you're lucky.

As for the buffer filling up - it has a lot to do with card speed - check out B&H this month. 2gb extreme IV for $84.95 but with a $30 rebate - makes biting the bullet easier (I ordered two friday). I had compared extreme iII vs lexar platinum II and the extreme III absolutely blew it away with speed/buffer. Same with download speed

Please post more with camera settings

Lacks_focus wrote in post #2690064
...I have not shot HS gym so I don't know about the rules allowing you on the floor, but sanctioned USA gymnastic meets are a killer. Very strict about keep you behind the ropes! I worked my way behind "the line of death" one meet to get some good vault shots. You'd have thought I was trying to bust in to the White House pressroom!!! Only the hired photogs can really get the good spots...

I hear ya! I've shot mostly USAG sanctioned gymnastics events over the last few years, I've only shot high school in the last few months. You're right, I was even an assistant coach at a state meet one time. When they saw me with the camera, they got on the PA and said "Will ALL parents and photographers please leave the gym floor NOW!!!" (Hundreds of people all looking at me now) I stayed, and 30 seconds later they made the announcement again. I finally had to show them my credentials before they would shut up.

All of that being said though, I shot that picture while leaning against the spectator bleachers. There was only about 6 feet between the edge of the floor and the stands.

From what I've seen so far, they are much more relaxed about that at a high school event. I seem to be able to go anywhere and nobody has said anything to me. Something about my previous experiences still makes me a little timid to just walk around out there at will, even though I know very well where to go and where to not go.

superdiver wrote in post #2690312
The only thing I would have liked better was if you could have seen her face...but hey, you don't get everything do you...Beautiful shot!

That was my thought too at first, but two things - 1) The more I looked at it, the more I liked the pose. It almost seems "care-free", and 2) I also have some other good shots of this girl where you can see her face but I don't have a signed release yet from her parents so I thought it might be better to only post the anonymous one.

Nice shot, Jeff. As others have mentioned, it would have better connected the picture viewer more with the gymnast if we could see her face, but it's still a very nice shot. Good work!

Redfish wrote in post #2690389
Great shot and composition. I would like to see more - it appears you have some decent lighting - you're lucky.

As for the buffer filling up - it has a lot to do with card speed - check out B&H this month. 2gb extreme IV for $84.95 but with a $30 rebate - makes biting the bullet easier (I ordered two friday). I had compared extreme iII vs lexar platinum II and the extreme III absolutely blew it away with speed/buffer. Same with download speed...

Lighting? Well, sort of. This was better than a lot of gyms, but still I had to shoot at 1600. I would give my left Stofen Omnibounce for a gym with really good lighting.

I really wish you hadn't told me about the Sandisk cards. B&H, here I come (again). I'd really like to have a couple of fast 4Gb cards. I can only get maybe 140 shots max on my 2Gb cards shooting raw. A couple of lighting fast 4 giggers would be sweet! I may actually break down and try shooting one of these things in jpeg though. I needed almost no PP for any of these shots I took yesterday. WB, exposure, contrast... all were almost dead-on. MAN! I love this 5D!!! Have I said that a thousand times yet?

Great shot!! I think gymnastics is one of the hardest sports to photograph. I hope you post some more.

Sorry for the delay. We've been buried under a bunch of snow and it's been difficult to find quality time with my computer. Here are a couple more. I haven't found any that I like better than the first one I posted. I do like the fact that in the first shot here you can see the chalk flying off her hands.

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she really looks calm in that shot

NeverFollow wrote in post #2710429
she really looks calm in that shot

This girl really was. In every event she had a very matter of fact attitude. She just seemed to be enjoying hanging out with her friends. She is also extremely good.