Wrestling...

GadgetRick

So, new to the forum, looks like a cool place. Sorry I didn't find it sooner.

Anyway, working to start a side biz doing (mainly) sports photography. Here are some shots from my son's end of the season wrestling tournament this past Sunday. Fire away, don't worry about being kind, I can take it... :huh

Oh, I apologize in advance for the HUGE watermark. Using Mogrify in LR to do this and, for some reason, when I export to Photobucket, this happens. Doesn't happen elsewhere (I make the watermark tiny.).

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And my son pinning for the 3rd place medal...

ian408

Welcome aboard!

Macushla

Love the one of your son - looks like he's posing.

It would help if you numbered the photos that way people could reference the # in the C&C. Your timing and framing are fantastic but I think the focus is a bit soft in many of the shots. What equipment do you have and how are you taking them - can you share your settings and auto focus settings? (not that I can really help, I'm totally new also) Someone suggested in my noob wrestling thread that I use the continuous auto focus option, it really has seemed to help me with my soft focus issues.

GadgetRick

Macushla wrote:

Love the one of your son - looks like he's posing.

It would help if you numbered the photos that way people could reference the # in the C&C. Your timing and framing are fantastic but I think the focus is a bit soft in many of the shots. What equipment do you have and how are you taking them - can you share your settings and auto focus settings? (not that I can really help, I'm totally new also) Someone suggested in my noob wrestling thread that I use the continuous auto focus option, it really has seemed to help me with my soft focus issues.

Thanks, will have to go back and number them.

Yes, some of them are soft. I'm shooting with a Canon 50D and the 50mm f1.8. Unfortunately, I had to shoot at f1.8--which caused some of the softness--and at ISO 1250--which causes still more softness. Most were shot at 1/400th shutter speed--either that or faster.

I'm using the AI-Servo--which is the continuous focus you're talking about. I usually focus on my subject, follow it until something good is about to happen and fire off a burst. I find the first shot may not be in focus but each one after that seems to be unless there's a LOT of movement. My focus has been improving but still practicing.

I love that shot of him, it does look like he was posing. Going to actually print that one.

johng

I think you're off to a good start. You've got some nice action and some nice composition here. And the images are reasonably sharp. The biggest area where you could improve is the colors. They're a little flat. Did you use flash or strobes? If not, you should. It will add some punch to your photos. Also, how much are you cropping these? They're fairly sharp but again lack a little punch. What lens were you using? Again, really nice start here - definitely a good product. But a little more punch will make it outstanding.

GadgetRick

johng wrote:

I think you're off to a good start. You've got some nice action and some nice composition here. And the images are reasonably sharp. The biggest area where you could improve is the colors. They're a little flat. Did you use flash or strobes? If not, you should. It will add some punch to your photos. Also, how much are you cropping these? They're fairly sharp but again lack a little punch. What lens were you using? Again, really nice start here - definitely a good product. But a little more punch will make it outstanding.

I agree 100%. My problem is, shooting with the Canon 50mm F1.8 for these and I just don't think it's very good for this kind of stuff. The contrast is too low (tried fixing it but I'm not good enough in pp for that yet) and I'm having to crop way too much (adding to the problem(s).

Not shooting with flash, trying not to as I don't have the money to have a remote setup or anything crazy like that (eventually) plus I really like the natural light--when it's good like it was in this gym. But flash is in my future plans for this type of shooting.

But I agree, they look good but need a little something to put them over the edge. I think a better lens (working on that) or a good flash setup will be helpful.

johng

you don't need remote flash. Shoe mounted will work - put it on a bracket and you're even better.

Remote is great but not mobile - what do you do when there's multiple mats at a tournament? Go to a tournament with 9 mats and what are you going to do - move around your stands? Again it's great, but I find a bracket mounted flash is a bit more mobile. And less expensive (but not as good results as multiple bounced strobes).

Yes, a better lens will definitely improve things. That should be your next purchase I think.

johng

again, not as good as several remote flashes/strobes but you definitely get more pop and less shadow with a mounted flash:

GadgetRick

johng wrote:

again, not as good as several remote flashes/strobes but you definitely get more pop and less shadow with a mounted flash:

Ok, I'm following ya there. I like what you've done with the place...

But seriously, I am going to look at using flash as well. Just gotta get one. I recently switched from Nikon to Canon and I'm selling off my Nikon gear to buy Canon gear. Once the rest of the Nikon stuff sells, I'll be able to pick up the flash and another lens I want/need.

GadgetRick

Oh, question for you, are you using a diffuser? I have always used one but a friend doesn't use one and he's gotten stellar results.

Also, I've seen some pros with those big Gary Fong reflector thingies, have you used them? Do you think they're good to use?

My only other hesitation about flash is, I know sometimes they don't like people shooting flash at some sports. The kids stuff they don't care but some of the more advanced stuff they don't allow it all of the time.