HS Basketball with strobes and 24-70 f/2.8

I decided to try something different tonight and shot a couple of games with only a 24-70 f/2.8. There has been lots of discussion on here recently about lens choices for basketball and I wanted to try something different than my normal 85 f/1.8, 135 f/2, 70-200 f/2.8 lenses that I seem to normally grab when shooting hoops.

To get an idea of the range limits with it, I stayed in the same spot for two games. I guess i should also be honest and say it was my 4th/5th game of the day in my third gym in two counties so I did not feel like moving around too much. I shot from directly under the basket and about 10' from the baseline. Stobes mounted on the 2nd level railing and bounced off the wall. Mk III, 1/250, ISO 800, f/5.6. I also wanted to see how the DOF was with the shorter glass and stopped down aperture so set the ISO up a bit.

My thoughts after reviewing everything was that my keeper rate was outstanding but attribute this mainly to the huge amount of DOF. It was hard to miss focus too badly outside of errors on my part or obstructions from arms, refs, etc. I actually liked the results better than what I normally get with the 70-200. Only drawback was the range down court was dramatically limited.

1

Kevin- I think these are superb results, as we always see in your work. The wider view and DOF are a refreshing change; it's great to get the tight shots, but that's not the only way.

We don't see much about the 24-70, but I rented one last year (then using 30d) and was pleased. I'm also going to try the higher ISO you used to try and get less light fall-off in the background. You seem to have a formula (experience I guess) that makes the strobes effect invisible - as it should be in my opinion.

Very nice....I'd be happy as hell to come away with them!
-TH

all shots completely nailed. Great action, colors couldn't be more perfect, (at least on my monitor!) and sharpness is superb.

What apeture were you shooting at with the 24-70? 1/250 as well? Also, did you mention a single strobe on each end of the court? If so, what are you using, how much power and what was the angle?

Got to get my stobes out to a game. One challenge for me is that our home school has a true read vinyl (did I spell that right?) curtain for a gym divider at one end of the court. Couldn't use THAT as a means for bouncing flash!

Anyway, your shots are terrific. thanks for sharing.

dave

those shots are perfect. Love your work. And you do work hard, that's for sure.

Would love to see a behind the scenes set up shot of where the strobes are, etc.

Thanks,
mark

Terry Healy wrote in post #9364450
Kevin- I think these are superb results, as we always see in your work. The wider view and DOF are a refreshing change; it's great to get the tight shots, but that's not the only way.

We don't see much about the 24-70, but I rented one last year (then using 30d) and was pleased. I'm also going to try the higher ISO you used to try and get less light fall-off in the background. You seem to have a formula (experience I guess) that makes the strobes effect invisible - as it should be in my opinion.

Very nice....I'd be happy as hell to come away with them!
-TH

Thanks Terry, I appreciate the nice feedback.

snyderman wrote in post #9364585
all shots completely nailed. Great action, colors couldn't be more perfect, (at least on my monitor!) and sharpness is superb.

What apeture were you shooting at with the 24-70? 1/250 as well? Also, did you mention a single strobe on each end of the court? If so, what are you using, how much power and what was the angle?

Got to get my stobes out to a game. One challenge for me is that our home school has a true read vinyl (did I spell that right?) curtain for a gym divider at one end of the court. Couldn't use THAT as a means for bouncing flash!

Anyway, your shots are terrific. thanks for sharing.

dave

Thanks Dave. These were all at f/5.6 and 1/250. I actually got the game late and was setting up as the first game was starting so did not get a chance to do much adjustment of the strobes and checking the metering on the floor. Having shot in this gym before, I should have been able to get to f/5.6 with a lower ISO by fine tuning my light placements but as mentioned, I was tired and did not feel like running up and down the stairs a bunch of times and missing even more of the game.

The lights were on each side of the court at the same end I was shooting. See the link below from last year when I was in this same gym for some shots of where the lights were positioned and aimed. I very rarely shoot at anything less than full power with the strobes so I can get the best possible flash duration.

MDJAK wrote in post #9364758
those shots are perfect. Love your work. And you do work hard, that's for sure.

Would love to see a behind the scenes set up shot of where the strobes are, etc.

Thanks,
mark

Thanks Mark. Here is a link to a thread from last year from this same gym that has some photos about half way down of the setup. I did things exactly the same for this game other than I did not have an opportunity to fine tune the aim of the strobe heads.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=603550

I really like the strobed shots and wish I had the time to use my strobes but often I am shooting for the paper and trying to meet a deadline. Excellent shots here, love the colors and sharpness, f5.6 is nice. The 24-70 is my main go to basketball lens.

Looks good Kevin, I shoot two games yesterday and my strobes were mounted on one end of the gym. In the 4th quarter of each came I put my 400/2.8 on and went and shot from the other end of the court. I was please with the results too.

I see you shot in Crawfordsville, I'll be at the RR Donnelley plant there on Monday for work.

Sledhed wrote in post #9365397
I see you shot in Crawfordsville, I'll be at the RR Donnelley plant there on Monday for work.

Really. I worked for RRD for about 15 years. Are you with RRD, customer or vendor?

I am going to be out of town all day tomorrow or I would suggest we grab some lunch. Let me know if you are ever in town again and hopefully we can meet.

Good job, Kevin. The gym I will be in tomorrow night only has bleachers on one side so it will be a struggle to get the lights even. Good thing is, it's a home town game so I will get there early to set up.

Tuesday's game is in a bigger arena with no hand rails that I can see. Not sure how that will turn out.

Keep up the good work.
Mike

Absolutely the finest BB shots I've ever seen here.Hard to believe you got F5.6 1/250,must have been a REALLY light gym.
Great pics,
Paul

very well done!

MT Stringer wrote in post #9366268
Good job, Kevin. The gym I will be in tomorrow night only has bleachers on one side so it will be a struggle to get the lights even. Good thing is, it's a home town game so I will get there early to set up.

Tuesday's game is in a bigger arena with no hand rails that I can see. Not sure how that will turn out.

Keep up the good work.
Mike

Thanks Mike. This gym is great to shoot in. The only thing that would make it better would be if they didn't have banners and signs on the walls but I am not complaining at all. Good luck with your upcoming events.

canon rookie wrote in post #9366472
Absolutely the finest BB shots I've ever seen here.Hard to believe you got F5.6 1/250,must have been a REALLY light gym.
Great pics,
Paul

Thanks Paul, but not sure I would call them the finest BB on here. There sure are lots of good shooters but thanks for the high praise. I do appreciate it. The gym is actually pretty poorly lit which makes shooting with the strobes much easier. Without them, these shots would have been very average at best. Expensive, high power strobes sure make a world of difference.

VinnyC01 wrote in post #9366524
very well done!

Thanks Vinny.

Big K wrote in post #9365861
Really. I worked for RRD for about 15 years. Are you with RRD, customer or vendor?

I am going to be out of town all day tomorrow or I would suggest we grab some lunch. Let me know if you are ever in town again and hopefully we can meet.

Customer, I'm the print buyer for a textbook publishing company, will be there for a press OK.

Sledhed wrote in post #9366748
Customer, I'm the print buyer for a textbook publishing company, will be there for a press OK.

I hope it goes well for you. I was in customer service for a few years before moving to materials and purchasing and then to corporate for a Six Sigma master black belt position. Then they merged with Moore Wallace and fired all of us.

Who is your customer service rep?

Our CSR at Crawfordsville is Mike Binford. Most of our work that RRD produces in done in Menasha, WI (old Banta plant), Eldridge, IA and Jefferson City, MO (both are old VonHoffmann plants). RRD prints a lot of our books.

Since you were a CSR you know that very few press OK's go smooth.