NCAA BB: Akron @ Toledo (01/28/2009)

Here are a few of my shots from Wednesday's Akron @ Toledo game. I think the white balance on these is much better than my previous postings (which I'll be updating with corrected photos soon). I've got seven MAC games scheduled for February, so I'll have some more to share soon. Comments are always welcomed!

As I cover more basketball, I'm really starting to see the value in having a 2nd body/lens for the close-action... the 70-200 f/2.8 can be a little long on the 40D, but switching lenses while the game is going on is a major pain (plus I'd lose a stop going to the 24-105).

Full set here: http://www.flickr.com …721576130691441​59/detail/

#1.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/nateut/32361612​60/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/nateut/32361618​60/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/nateut/32361655​62/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/nateut/32353188​17/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/nateut/32361666​76/

These are sharp, but yes I do see how your lens is a tad long in a lot of them. These might be a good length for the 85mm? Are you in the stands, or are you an official photog?

I'm posting right behind LH all day so far, and he's been helpful to people so far, but ^^ is not right. The 85mm won't help over the 70-200.

I'm going to be a bit critical of these, only because they're taken at the college level and I assume you want a tough critique. Your horizons are off, and you're clipping off limbs with your crops. If you're sitting so close that you can't fit the entire player in the frame, get the upper half and crop at the thighs, but don't cut off fingers or toes.

#1. is blah for me. the rest have great action and great faces. Nice timing. Looking at the colors, I think you did a pretty good job for the conditions. Black guys in white uniforms and white guys wearing navy... tough. Especially shooting ambient.

Regards,

John

I guess I forgot the 70-200 goes to 70??

I just wanted to say that if youre using abbreviations, "BB" is actually baseball. "BK" is what would be used to indicated basketball.

BKC = College Basketball
BKCW = Womens College Basketball

I was sitting on the baseline, near the three-point line for most of these shots. I'm considering picking up a 50mm prime soon for close shots; anyone have any suggestions looking at Canon's current offerings (in regards to AF speed)? I'd love to pickup a 24-70 (and probably will eventually), but don't think I'm going to be able to buy it in the short-term.

First, thank you for your honest opinions... it's why I post photos here. I've found it is hard to find an objectionable review in my circle of friends, and need some criticism to help me grow as a photographer. I'm very new to shooting basketball, so its very much appreciated.

I definitely understand what you mean about crops; I try to be conscious of player's extremities, but sometimes go a little crazy and forget. I also tend to like cropping to standard aspect ratios; I've been told by other photographers at the games that I should just use a custom ratio to get exactly what I want, but I've never been comfortable doing that. As for the horizons, that is something I haven't given much thought to, so I'll keep it in mind when I shoot tomorrow at Eastern Michigan.

As for the rest of your comments, thank you very much for the complements. It does make the criticism a little easier to take.

Sorry about that; I actually changed the title of this thread shortly after posting since I didn't like saying "NCAA BB" as I thought some people may be confused. However, it doesn't look like it updates the forum title. I'll use these abbreviations from now on!

I love this community of Canon photographers and how willing people are to help. Thanks again to everyone who's commented, and I can't wait to post more photos later this week (Akron @ Eastern Michigan).

That's something I've often wondered too. When you don't know what a photo will be used for, how should you crop it? I just about always crop mine to 4X6.

What logic did your friend use for always using custom crops?

lhoney2 wrote in post #7237279
That's something I've often wondered too. When you don't know what a photo will be used for, how should you crop it? I just about always crop mine to 4X6.

What logic did your friend use for always using custom crops?

They have said numerous times to just crop tight and get the main action in the picture. This works, but I feel it limits where/how the photo can be used. I'd rather crop to a standard ratio and let the editor decide if it needs to be edited knowing how it will be used.

Shooting Av is giving you some inconsistent exposures. (2 looks a little dark and 5 is over exposed, for example)

It's definitely worth your while to figure out a good M exposure at the beginning of the night, and just lock it in for the whole game.

Most wire services look for 2:3/3:2 ratio pictures. Thats what the camera produces native anyways. Id stick to those and eventually work on not having to crop. The goal is to get all the cropping done in the viewfinder. Falling back on the idea of "cropping later" is not a good thing to practice.

my 50MM f1.8 AF tends to be a hair slow for the action. the 85 is a lot faster, but as far shorter lens with fast AF not for sure.

Great action shots! Wish the lighting was better for you. On a side note--I should probably know some of the players being a Zip alum! Not much into Zips bball for some reason.

dave