Some lousy shots of Lebron...

A buddy of mine treated me to a Cavs game and how can anyone say no to that? Great seats and one of the best games I have seen live. Unfortunately, no long glass allowed so I borrowed my buddy's 135 and 1.4 tc to get just a few shots. I wasn't very happy with the results so I got funky with the processing just for fun. I figured why not share despite not being the best shots so here ya go...

1.

I actually like the processing in #3. Good stuff.

I agree, #3 is a really cool shot!

I like 3 as well. How about the woman texting in #2 tho.

dinvab wrote in post #9321473
I like 3 as well. How about the woman texting in #2 tho.

or the kid sleeping next to the completely disinterested kid! Seriosuly, you're one row off the floor watching one of the games greatest players of all time put down 48 pts on his birthday and you can't stay interested...grrrrrr!

Thanks for the comments on #3 guys. I never shoot anything from the stands as I generally am either there to watch or to shoot but not both. Glad I got a few shots though (between yelling like a lunatic and having a "beverage")

I agree. Processing on 1 and 3 look great. I just wish the backgrounds were WAYYY more blurred.

namasste wrote in post #9321520
or the kid sleeping next to the completely disinterested kid! Seriosuly, you're one row off the floor watching one of the games greatest players of all time put down 48 pts on his birthday and you can't stay interested...grrrrrr!

Thanks for the comments on #3 guys. I never shoot anything from the stands as I generally am either there to watch or to shoot but not both. Glad I got a few shots though (between yelling like a lunatic and having a "beverage")

It always seems especially unfortunate to me as a fan when these great seats don't get fully utilized - either people show up late, leave early or don't really care about the game.

Glad you got a chance to enjoy the game!

BenJohnson wrote in post #9321547
I agree. Processing on 1 and 3 look great. I just wish the backgrounds were WAYYY more blurred.

yeah, me too but when you are farther from the action than the action is from the background, there's only one possibly outcome and you see it. Thanks for having a look and the compliment. Wish I had an outlet for pro hoops that would get me on the floor, then we'd see some nice backgrounds. I have a connection to get me there but nothing to do with the images so I'm not going to be the one just taking up space for the working guys despite wishing I was sitting down there. At least I had nice seats thanks to my bud Ben. For that, I am stoked!

swjim wrote in post #9321612
It always seems especially unfortunate to me as a fan when these great seats don't get fully utilized - either people show up late, leave early or don't really care about the game.

Glad you got a chance to enjoy the game!

thanks and I agree, those seats are gold and came at a pretty fancy price, what a shame!

namasste wrote in post #9321520
or the kid sleeping next to the completely disinterested kid! Seriosuly, you're one row off the floor watching one of the games greatest players of all time put down 48 pts on his birthday and you can't stay interested...grrrrrr!

Thanks for the comments on #3 guys. I never shoot anything from the stands as I generally am either there to watch or to shoot but not both. Glad I got a few shots though (between yelling like a lunatic and having a "beverage")

don't forget the guy tyring pick his nose without picking his nose and making it obvious. And the lady not paying attention that you can see through the backboard.

namasste wrote in post #9321687
yeah, me too but when you are farther from the action than the action is from the background, there's only one possibly outcome and you see it.

Not with a longer lens

BenJohnson wrote in post #9321803
Not with a longer lens

There's only one place I could put that lens to smuggle it in and somehow I just don't think it would be believeable. Even with a long lens (I'm talking 500+ (which eliminates the f2.8 as well) if you are in the first row of the second tier, and the athlete is 12-15 feet from the background, you still will not blur the background. Its all about the DOF calculation man and based on shooting location, no lens in the world would change that, even a 200 f1.8 would have left you with results not that different in terms of separation.

Nice! What were you able to shoot with in there? I was threatened with expulsion when I pulled out the 70-200! Otherwise, I had my trusty 85 f/1.8 that made Tall Z look about 4' 2"! Before the game started, I was able to stand near the court and shoot (last year) Ben Wallace warming up with the 70-200 for 10 straight minutes. As soon as the game started it was 'put it away, or you'll have to leave.'

Even from the 2nd row of seats, it looks like you had at least 100mm?

Nice 'treat' to get to be that close. Our season tix are in the hdcp section right above the Cavs locker room entrance. Again, Z is like an ant from there with the 85. I just leave the gear at home and enjoy the game.

dave

snyderman wrote in post #9322440
Nice! What were you able to shoot with in there? I was threatened with expulsion when I pulled out the 70-200! Otherwise, I had my trusty 85 f/1.8 that made Tall Z look about 4' 2"! Before the game started, I was able to stand near the court and shoot (last year) Ben Wallace warming up with the 70-200 for 10 straight minutes. As soon as the game started it was 'put it away, or you'll have to leave.'

Even from the 2nd row of seats, it looks like you had at least 100mm?

Nice 'treat' to get to be that close. Our season tix are in the hdcp section right above the Cavs locker room entrance. Again, Z is like an ant from there with the 85. I just leave the gear at home and enjoy the game.

dave

They went through our gear when we entered so I knoew we wouldn't get away with much. That was with a 135 f2 and 1.4 tc attached. Our seats were in the second level, second row opposite the Cavs bench. Obviously there's some cropping done on these but with the tc, its like 189mm at f2.8 so its workable at least.