High School Girls BBall (50D, no strobes)

Rather dark gym ISO 3200 required 1/500 SS.. don't own strobes so they are what they are Some sharpening and a bit of lightening, and of course noise reduction via Neat Image. So much nicer than what I tried last year with the Rebel XS and more experience with the * focus button on the 50D than the 3 playoff games I did in March so the timing is a lot better.

1. I know I cut off the bottoms of her feet but I had to shoot when I saw the expression of the 5'10 Center going against the 6'7 Freshman for the jump ball. I've played against her (the 6'7 girl) dad for years in city/men's leagues, he's 7'2 her mom's over 6 foot also.

Those shots make for a very nice series. I'm impressed with the skin tones. Those are often tough. Good stuff.

The expression in #1 is priceless!

I think these turned out really well! Great job!

they look good

I think the action and shots are solid.. however what is bothering me is your Noise reduction and your sharpening. In all of the shots there are artifacts from sharpening and the Noise reduction has left no detail really. also they look a bit too saturated.

How in the heck did you get to 1/500 shutter speed in the gym? Are you sure the gym is dark? Which lens?

canonnoob wrote in post #9160240
what is bothering me is your Noise reduction and your sharpening. In all of the shots there are artifacts from sharpening and the Noise reduction has left no detail really. also they look a bit too saturated.

The blues look a little over-saturated, but for ambient, I think they look great.

I'm shooting a varsity basketball game tonight, but I'm on the road for work and travelling light... only my 1D3 and 70-200/2.8 - I've assembled a nice set of WL's and RadioPoppers, but the setup is way too big to fly with.

I'll be thrilled if I get exposures like those.

It'd be interesting to see if these would be accepted by MP. They've accepted my non-strobed ambient VB, so we'll see.

Looks like he was using the Sigma 70-200 f2.8

canonnoob wrote in post #9160240
I think the action and shots are solid.. however what is bothering me is your Noise reduction and your sharpening. In all of the shots there are artifacts from sharpening and the Noise reduction has left no detail really. also they look a bit too saturated.

+1

Try duplicating your image to a new layer, applying your NR there and then blend that layer back into the original - it's okay to have some grain in there!

Also watch the radius of your sharpening halo - the halos are a little too obtrusive in most of the images.

Kirk

kirkt wrote in post #9164972
+1

Try duplicating your image to a new layer, applying your NR there and then blend that layer back into the original - it's okay to have some grain in there!

Also watch the radius of your sharpening halo - the halos are a little too obtrusive in most of the images.

Kirk

when you say 'blend' the duplicated layer that has the NR applied, do you mean 'flatten' or literally 'blend' it in? And how would that differ than just sliding back the level of NR after you applied that?

Nice shots you have there.... some look really tight on the frame what lens?
How did you set the * focus button on the 50D and did you do a custom white balance on those shot? I shoot some last night too but might have to bump up my iso....going back on friday to try out my sigma 70-200 2.8

keep shooting,
Joe

Usually I just use the roster at the door to do a custom wb... set it on the floor.. but.. this gym had PINK rosters so I only used auto actually... I never have set the * focus, I just use it as it is already set up. After all the games since I got the 50D in March I have a hard time NOT using it for all shots, sports or just some stuff outdoors.

As for haloing and artifacts I guess i"m too much a rookie still to really know a lot about that stuff yet. The glare from the lights above is really ugly on some shots, that I do know. As for loss in detail from noise reduction, it's not as bad as what I got last March, the last time I did basketball.. I had zero idea and some of the guys legs looked smooth as girls legs

One from the other day, guys played the team that beat them in the section final last year. down 36-13 at halftime they cut it to 13 by the end of the game but that's still a loss. And yes, he got stuffed on this shot but the next frame the guy in the background was in focus and these two weren't!

The Sigma 70-200 only comes off the camera if I go out for a walk on one of the trails in town anymore... still have my Tokina 50-135 for the two gyms where the wall is 2 feet from the end lines, if I decide to try it over the Sigma (and if I even get to either gym.)

You should try masking before NR. There is a tutorial on it here.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=48929

DHMN wrote in post #9171633
The Sigma 70-200 only comes off the camera if I go out for a walk on one of the trails in town anymore... still have my Tokina 50-135 for the two gyms where the wall is 2 feet from the end lines, if I decide to try it over the Sigma (and if I even get to either gym.)

I am bringing my Sigma 70-200 out on friday night B-Ball. my gym is on the dark side and no flash I hope to get what you have posted here...
I was using my 85 the other night and at times its tight.. I hope to improve by shooting more...
thanks
Joe