HS Boys Basketball (Strobed)

Wow, these are great captures. I love that the floor finish isn't super gloss!

jsanz11 wrote in post #4737267
Oh and you should take a picture of the setup next time to show the people...I would like to see how you ahd the reflector and lamp setup on the bleachers to where it wasn't bothering anyone or being bothered by people
-Joey

Here you go Joey,

This is the gym I normally shoot, not the same gym as last night but the same setup.

1. This strobe should not bother anyone in these stands

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AthleticsPhotog wrote in post #4737289
Great great shots. Love them all. The light is wonderful! Nice job. Looked like a nice white building and low ceiling, I love those!

Thanks Matt,

The ceiling was low and white.

gosh those are the best! You always get great results with those lol

Nice job

crazyskillz07 wrote in post #4735106
Great pictures... Do you think that two AB-800's would also work well for wrestling?

The answer is yes...this was shot with one strobe (1600 AB) as I didn't have the cords to connect the pocket wizards to the strobes so had to directly connect to the strobe. Strobe was directly behind me 10-13" feet high bounced off the ceiling, which was nice to be shooting in three different gyms in one day and all were freshly painted white! B-ball two strobes seem to even everything out, wrestling with everything centralized already you can get away with one.

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jsanz11 wrote in post #4737259
UI love the way photos come out when strobed...I hope more and more people get used to this idea and let more photographers do it...locally they don't allow us to use any flash or light of any kind to do photography...would you say the flash is noticed by the crowd or players or coaches?

=-Joey

With coaches like that, strict jerks (oh wait, I am one! ha) the best way is to have a setup you know won't be distracting and prove it. Used right strobes are hardly noticable, I think I got more looks setting them up on the 13" stand than when they fired. You do notice them if you're looking for them but they're not distracting, especially for the players who are moving at fast action. If you know what you're doing I would suggest asking the coach to put them in during a practice, maybe they''ll let you - maybe they won't.

First thing I asked my team in v-ball after the game was if they noticed the newspaper photog - the answer was no, because he knows what he's doing. However, in b-ball our old photog had no clue how to set up lights and had direct flashes going into there eyes all game long - so every timeout was complaints about the flashes, obviously a guy that has no clue. So it really matters if you know what you're doing.

Wow - I am surprised that even though they were bounced they worked that well.

I shot my first strobed basketball game last night with the strobes at the top of the stands pointing towards the court. I talked to the sports information director, the coach, and some of the team members I know and none of them noticed the flash.

I might try bouncing next game... or maybe I will have to get some Alien Bees

Excellent shots – the lighting makes a huge difference in the final image. Great setup fantastic shots, thanks for sharing.

Great shots Merciez
How quickly will those AB800s recycle between shots? Are the two strobes set up on the same or opposite sides of the court?

jik22 wrote in post #4751607
Great shots Merciez
How quickly will those AB800s recycle between shots? Are the two strobes set up on the same or opposite sides of the court?

Thanks,

The AB800s take about one second to recycle. The strobes are set on opposite sides of the court.

Merciez wrote in post #4751979
Thanks,

The AB800s take about one second to recycle. The strobes are set on opposite sides of the court.

By opposite sides, I'm assuming you mean opposite sides of the same baseline. For example, east and west of the north basket. This example would have no strobes on the south side of the court.

Do you ever try to illuminate the whole court (both baskets) by strobing from opposite corners? I.E. Northeast and southwest corner?

Zivnuska wrote in post #4752096
By opposite sides, I'm assuming you mean opposite sides of the same baseline. For example, east and west of the north basket. This example would have no strobes on the south side of the court.

That is correct Dr. Phil

Zivnuska wrote in post #4752096
Do you ever try to illuminate the whole court (both baskets) by strobing from opposite corners? I.E. Northeast and southwest corner?

I have not tried this but I don't believe there will be enough light in attempting this. I have thought of using four strobes (one in each corner) but you run the problem of shooting into a stobe and having it blowout the image. I try to keep the strobes behind me as much as possible.

Phil,

I've tried to shoot hockey full length with two AB800's, one in each offensive zone on the same side of the ice, and I really didn't like the results. Here's one shot I got with this essentially single light set-up (single light per end):

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dmwierz wrote in post #4752216
Phil,

FWIW, here is an alternative to wrestling lighting with AB800's - one light behind me, and one behind the wrestlers - done because I only had electricity on one side of me, and I had to turn the power down on the back light, using it almost like a hair light, but I liked the results nonetheless.

That image is awesome Dennis! Because of lack of the outlets at some of our local schools, I ordered a couple of Vagabond II's to elimnate my dependence on school electricity. I had a recent game where a parent unplugged my extension cord to power his camcorder.

Matt,

Having had something similar happen several times, including once having a cheerleader unplug my strobe to plug in her cell phone (!) I always bring a 3 to 1 heavy duty tap to plug into the outlet for each light.

Dennis

Unplugged the strobes...might have to take her over my knee! Set an example.

I worried about that at the wrestling tournament but since I was plugged into the body/strobe was guarding it. When I moved the strobe and then came back someone plugged in a video camera so I had to find an alternate plug. I was thinking about that the other day, to make up signs to not unplug. But you know someone would be "like OMG, my BFF might text, I need to charge, uh, this dumb lights not even on" and my plugs on the floor as I try to figure out why it's not firing.

Dennis - what strobes did you use for the hockey shot? In one of my gyms you can only put strobes on one side as there's no room on the opposite side of the court. I was toing to test it at my practice sometime soon to see how it works with only two strobes at the offensive ends.