MMA Photography from MN

jimmywires wrote in post #5191556
do you do this at the event?

Yes. If you read my blog you know I get to events very early. One of my steps when I put my cameras on the mat for setup is to do the CWB. My 1DMIII's allow me to preset five CWB settings so I don't actually have to do it each time. I always have a digital gray card in one of my Pelican cases so I just grab it and do the CWB by laying it on the mat usually shoving it under the ropes a bit although I could just as well climb into the ring and do it. There are also gadgets you can buy that go over your lens and you point them at the lights and take the necessary image but there are many other ways to use the gray card so I prefer it. If you just do it a few times you'll see it is trivial.

Here's what I do:

1. I take a pic of a white piece of paper by the cageside, provided the key illuminating lights that are on.

2. on your camera settings: Menu> Custom White Balance> (choose image) press "set"

3. set your white balance mode to "Custom"

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You guys have been awesome. My next event is may 3rd and i just shot an email to them. Let see if i get an invite or i might have to smooz my way in. LOL

sanppy... I played hooky today and tried the custom white balance what a big help

SnapLocally.com wrote in post #5173281

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Did he get the arm turned over there in the armbar, or is it snapping? :O

crazyskillz07 wrote in post #5182943
I am going to my first MMA practice tonight (not to take pics). I'm pumped!

Good luck. I've been working on kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu for a while now, just remember that the most important thing is cardio: you can dominate for two rounds, but if you run out of gas in the third and your opponent doesn't, you're gonna just get pummeled into the ground. If you're not completely winded at the end of workouts on a regular basis, it'd probably be a good idea to look into another gym.

Bleufire wrote in post #5183133
Remember that you are at PRACTICE and it is OK to tap. I had a hard time understanding that and walked away pretty dizzy a few times...

Bah, that's nothing. First time I rolled, I didn't know how to tap out (I guess everyone just assumed I already knew this :/) and came just a little too close to comfort to getting my arm snapped. Chokes I'll fight, but joint-locks get me tapping pretty quick

He tapped eventually, though not at the moment of the shot. He seemed fine afterwards.

Hey guy's, great info in this thread on shooting tips, maybe you can help me. not trying to get to far of subject,but I am going to Wrestlmania this weekend, it's night time and outside in the citrus bowl. I have an Xti , 200f/2.8 and 135f/2 but i can only take one. I am about 50 feet from the ring. I am looking for advice on wich lens and what settings to use from iso,shutter,CWB and any other advice you can give to help me out on my first night sporting event.

snappy , Dwight if you don't mind let me take this one ... wally i would take the 200/2.8 set the camera at aiservo, center point focus and try to keep the ISO 800 to 1600 and pray. if i missed anything snappy and Dwight will help

Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate the advice. this is the first time that i am shooting any action shots that are at night. I don't expect greatness,but just something that is close to in focus,and not too dark.

thanks again!!

Well I did have a good time, but there was too many heads in the way for most shots. I did make a very bad mistake, i was shooting in manual untill it became dark out. I didn't think the pic when i review them were bright enough. so i switched to sport mode, that was dumb. they look better in the preview then manual. but most were out of focus when I look at home on the pc. I did take the 200f/2.8 in manual the shutter was at 500,iso 1600,center weight an servo mode. I am going back tonight hope i do a little better.

Will post some pic's hopefully tommarow.

GO get em tiger

Great shots

Well there are some of my pic's from two events. I have learn my mistake, and that was not to shoot in sport mode. The floor seats were not great for pics because too many pepole would stand in the way. and the staduim seats had no heads in the way. but were too far for the 200mmf/2.8. all in all I am happy with my first event shooting of action shots at night. Next time I'll leave it in manual mode, highest shutter and best iso that looks good on review and shoot away. I am going to a MLB game next. but the UFC should be coming back here this year. I'll be ready to try action shoots again.

thanks for any advice!

love your work, love MMA *looks at ur website* :P