football pic from 8-14-08

this was taken in tv, 1/500 sec, iso 400, canon 70-200mm f2.8, canon eos30d, at 200mm.

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same day. 1/250 sec, iso 1600, 200mm (with 70-200 f2.8).

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this is from the same day also, from the end zone, bad lighting.

1/250 sec, iso 3200, at 200mm.

what can i do to get better shots. all done in tv, with no flash.

this was a jamboree.

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what metering mode should i use?

evaluative, partial, spot, or center weighted metering.

thanks

What camera body are you using?

30d

The best option is to shoot manual but this takes some practice. If you are more comfortable starting with Tv or Av, I would suggest switching to Av mode. Set your aperture to f/2.8. Adjust your ISO so you have a shutter speed of at least 1/800. I like to shoot football at 1/2000 if possible but that is my personal preference. It appears you have pretty good performance at ISO 3200 so try to keep the shutter speed set as fast as you can.

It has been so long since I shot anything other than manual, I don't have as much experience as to which metering mode is most effective for football in Av mode. I hope one of the many other talented shooters here can provide better recommendations. My short answer would be center weighted but again others may have a better suggestion.

I have also found that shooting from the end zone at night is impossible at every HS field I have visited due to terrible light. Shoot from the sideline between the goal line and the 10 and hope the play comes your way and they look up into the minimal light you have from the last light tower.

I would suggest working to learn how to shoot in manual mode and develop a comfort with that type of shooting before tying to add a flash to the mix. I find GOOD flashed HS football to be about as difficult as it gets for sports photography. One step at a time and you will keep yourself from wanting to throw your camera on the ground.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Kevin

thanks kevin. all advice is welcomed from everyone.

i will learn to shoot in the manual mode.

should i be setting the white balance manually at these games?

pete

all c+c welcomed

If you are allowed to use a flash I woululd start practicing for the night games

will the flash affect the players at all?

pete crawford wrote in post #6124995
will the flash affect the players at all?

Nope

Sauk wrote in post #6126174
Nope

I think it does.
I play football and for one game ( at night ) our team photographer used a 580ex and it was distracting at times ( generally the plays closer to the sideline where the photographer was shooting ).

His gear was quite nice i might add.

GetOnMyLevel,

Well I won't say it doesn't as in your opinion it does. Did it bother you while you were running towards him, or were you standing on the sidelines and noticed it?

I have played many years grade school through professional and I have never had someone say to me that it bothered them, and I have never even when I was in high school ever notice a flash while playing.

They use strobes during arena games as well and again never notice them.

Again if you notice it then that is a first to be honest for me. (not saying your wrong, just never heard anyone say they have issues with it)

Sauk wrote in post #6127821
GetOnMyLevel,

Well I won't say it doesn't as in your opinion it does. Did it bother you while you were running towards him, or were you standing on the sidelines and noticed it?

I have played many years grade school through professional and I have never had someone say to me that it bothered them, and I have never even when I was in high school ever notice a flash while playing.

They use strobes during arena games as well and again never notice them.

Again if you notice it then that is a first to be honest for me. (not saying your wrong, just never heard anyone say they have issues with it)

Not a problem when im on the sidelines.
To be exact, It bothered me when i was running towards the sideline to my left for a tackle ( i was playing corner ) and when i was maybe ~10 feet from the sideline looking in and the photographer was straight in my line of sight. The flash was bare and it wasn't THAT bothering but it distracted me a little from the play. Just caught my eye for a few seconds, you know?

Plays like that. When i wasn't facing the photographer or he wasnt in sight ( maybe 90% ), the flash didnt bother me.
And i have had some of my friends say it distracted them, but nobody really wanted to say anything because our coaches would just get mad and tell us to play through it.