First NBA game

I had the opportunity to shoot my first NBA game this past week at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It's just like shooting high school, except the arena is bigger, the crowd is bigger, the players are huge......and the light is MUCH better than any HS gym in which I shoot!

1.

Great pictures I was at that game, about 6 rows up behind the basket. Actually looks like I might have been right behind where you were shooting from. Too bad we lost...

Scott these look great.

Scott,

Congrats on your first NBA game.

Your AF needs some help, though. Number 1 is soft. Number 2 is back focused on the banner ad on the facia of the balcony. Number 3, the player's hand partially blocks his face, which isn't the best, and part of his hand is cropped off. Number 4 is better, but would be improved with some net. Number 5 is a nice capture. Number 6 is soft. Number 7 is OK, but you've cut off parts of his hand and foot. Number 8 is soft and the WB is a bit off.

Looking at these a second time, the WB on all of them looks a bit yellow...and I just calibrated the LCD screen on my laptop.

dmwierz wrote in post #11743032
Scott,

Congrats on your first NBA game.

Your AF needs some help, though. Number 1 is soft. Number 2 is back focused on the banner ad on the facia of the balcony. Number 3, the player's hand partially blocks his face, which isn't the best, and part of his hand is cropped off. Number 4 is better, but would be improved with some net. Number 5 is a nice capture. Number 6 is soft. Number 7 is OK, but you've cut off parts of his hand and foot. Number 8 is soft and the WB is a bit off.

Looking at these a second time, the WB on all of them looks a bit yellow...and I just calibrated the LCD screen on my laptop.

You know its funny because most people would misconstrued this as being rude or overly picky but you know what its honesty like this that has forced me to change the way I think and the way I shoot. It has helped me for the better because if you think someone like this may be a bit picky wait till you get in the offices of a group like Getty.

Simple as that. Nice shots and nice critique.

dmwierz wrote in post #11743032
Scott,

Congrats on your first NBA game.

Your AF needs some help, though. Number 1 is soft. Number 2 is back focused on the banner ad on the facia of the balcony. Number 3, the player's hand partially blocks his face, which isn't the best, and part of his hand is cropped off. Number 4 is better, but would be improved with some net. Number 5 is a nice capture. Number 6 is soft. Number 7 is OK, but you've cut off parts of his hand and foot. Number 8 is soft and the WB is a bit off.

Looking at these a second time, the WB on all of them looks a bit yellow...and I just calibrated the LCD screen on my laptop.

Dennis, thanks a lot for the feedback; I really appreciate it. I do want to get better and the only way is by taking good feedback and acting on it.

I didn't spend a ton of time in post on these images yet, so I know the WB is off a bit. As far as the focusing goes, my 7D has been driving me a bit nuts lately. Ever since I sent it in to Canon for a repair for the battery circuitry, it seems it hasn't been quite right. I've done a few "quick and dirty" microadjustments on my lenses and find that the MA settings for my lenses are a bit different than before I sent the camera in. I haven't been real happy with the focus performance with my 70-200 2.8L on my 7D, which is why these shots were made with the 85 f/1.8. I'm gonna have to take some time and do the MA thoroughly and get it right once and for all.

I'm really getting the urge for a 1D body, but that's gonna be after the 300 f/2.8. The 1D Mk III prices are really good now, but I'm a bit leery after hearing about all the focus issues. I may try to get one from Roberts here in Indy; they have a 30 return policy on their used equipment so I would be able to do a lot of testing on it in the field and take it back it if didn't perform well.