HS Wrestling (again)

1) One negative in direct strobing is as the wrestlers get closer or further from the center of the mat, exposure can vary. Here you can see I did not adjust the fly for this pin.

They look good to me Vin! Looks like a great match. I'm going to try and go out and shoot some wrestling for the first time next week. I've got a big hoops weekend first though. 5 boys games on Saturday and 5 girls games on Sunday at Monmounth University.

These are really nice. I wish I could shoot wrestling with some strobes. Stuck with a 580ex bouncing off the ceilings.

I forgot to add the flying ref!

1) One negative in direct strobing is as the wrestlers get closer or further from the center of the mat, exposure can vary. Here you can see I did not adjust the fly for this pin.

Can't you just ask them to stay near the center? Nice shots! What are you shooting in for white balance? Yours seems very good.

beacherz wrote in post #9410935
Can't you just ask them to stay near the center? Nice shots! What are you shooting in for white balance? Yours seems very good.

True statement: when the "better" kids are wrestling a weaker kid, they bring them over to me and try to pin him there. It's quite funny.

I use AWB for direct strobing. I have wrestled with cards, disks, ref's backs, and even a coffee filter (which is truly the best result - as I read in an article once)

But AWB has worked the best for me since I switched from the 40D's to a 7D and a 50D.

VinnyC01 wrote in post #9411009
True statement: when the "better" kids are wrestling a weaker kid, they bring them over to me and try to pin him there. It's quite funny.

I use AWB for direct strobing. I have wrestled with cards, disks, ref's backs, and even a coffee filter (which is truly the best result - as I read in an article once)

But AWB has worked the best for me since I switched from the 40D's to a 7D and a 50D.

Thanks Vin... I'm struggling with WB while shooting wrestling with two speedlights. I've been using AWB and still need to do quite a bit of adjustment to get it right. Next time out I think I'll try FLASH and see what I get.

In my opinion, this lighting is way too harsh. I would prefer on camera flash to this harsh lighting.
#4 being the best example. Even though there are no faces in the shot, there is some good action, but the wrestler doing the pinning is almost in the dark. Shadows need to be softer.

This is my first post so if I'm doing something wrog let me know.
Here is some of mine. Who do you ask to see if you can use strobes?
Some gyms aren't bad but otheres are like being in a cave

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RGolfJ wrote in post #9411486
In my opinion, this lighting is way too harsh. I would prefer on camera flash to this harsh lighting.
#4 being the best example. Even though there are no faces in the shot, there is some good action, but the wrestler doing the pinning is almost in the dark. Shadows need to be softer.

That is the best part about this, every photographer has their own style, as do our customers.

Me, I prefer this direct strobe. I do not see it as harsh in anyway. The uniforms are glossy and shiny. To me, it is exactly how I see it in real life. That is the image I try to create. I want to see the detail in the eyes and the bloody lip.

#4 has a wicked shadow because one of the two refs where right on top of the wrestlers, directly between a strobe and the focal point. Usually, I get very little shadow if any when I cross strobe.

An on camera flash will never get that from a photo at my skill level. Better photgraphers I am sure can.

On camera flash is rough. Red eyes, motion blur and rough color balance. In fact there was a photog with me at one event. I will post a comparison.

I would much rather shoot no flash, than on camera flash.

I have bounced, but with the set up of this gym, this is my best bet for teh photos I strive for.

Thanks for the input.

CHARDUCK wrote in post #9412095
This is my first post so if I'm doing something wrog let me know.
Here is some of mine. Who do you ask to see if you can use strobes?
Some gyms aren't bad but others are like being in a cave

You did nothing wrong. You should start your own post and so people can comment and critique your photos.

Strobes - at t his site, I am the host school's photographer. So I just throw them up. When freelancers or paper-photogs show up, they also just do the same.

You should ask the A.D. 1st. Sometimes the home coach. There is nothing worse than setting everything up, only to be told to not use use them.

In the past, the visiting coaches have complained, but I responded that I have set the lights up as not to affect the players and coaches. Usually they just grumble and walk away.

I also will not strobe in a place I do not know the A.D. or coach. It is not worth the hassle.

I am sure others have more info. I only work for people who hire me in advance, so just showing up does come into play with me.

as foe your photos:
get up to 1/250. Bump the iso higher if need be and take the flash off the camera to avoid that killer red eyes.
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/160 second ===> 0.00625 second
# Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 28/10 ===> ƒ/2.8
# ISO Speed Ratings = 400