Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

SnapLocally

I took these last night:

robscomputer

Really great work! I've seen a few MMA photos from various events but these really stand out. Seems like the cage is very difficult to work around.

ckaspar

I am always impressed when I see your photos. Great work!

I had a question for you. I was watching the UFC fight this weekend and could not help myself but to take a few glances at the photogs around the ring. I saw them switching between 2 lenses. They looked like 24-70 and a 70-200 lenses. Why would they have to switch between the 2 lenses? Are you only allowed/supposed to bring only one camera? The folks had their other lens laying on the mat in front of them and would switch when the action got closer or further away. I would think an easier solution would be to "double-barrel" it with two cameras.

Anyway, Just wanted to comment and ask my question. Take care.

JBHotShots

Is he biting him...:jawdrop

r3t1awr3yd

Awesome shots. Love the low key portraits too.

jrowphoto

Great stuff!! would love to hear more about how you shoot these through the cage. I would think shooting the 70-200 wide open would work fine, but how do you get rid of the cage/fence for wider shots with more DOF??? i.e. 24-70?

GadgetRick

jrowphoto wrote: »

Great stuff!! would love to hear more about how you shoot these through the cage. I would think shooting the 70-200 wide open would work fine, but how do you get rid of the cage/fence for wider shots with more DOF??? i.e. 24-70?

Depending on the promotion, you can literally shoot up against the cage. This will allow you to shoot in between the fence and only get a little bit of the fence (way out of focus) on the edges. Works quite well.

The bigger shows make you sit back farther (sometimes)--like you see in the UFC.

SnapLocally

Hi guys, I just realized this thread got a late start.

I was watching the UFC fight this weekend and could not help myself but to take a few glances at the photogs around the ring. I saw them switching between 2 lenses. They looked like 24-70 and a 70-200 lenses. Why would they have to switch between the 2 lenses? Are you only allowed/supposed to bring only one camera? The folks had their other lens laying on the mat in front of them and would switch when the action got closer or further away. I would think an easier solution would be to "double-barrel" it with two cameras.

I don't know of any camera limits for covering the UFC; chances are the photographer in question didn't have an extra body. The fact is most photographers don't know how to shoot MMA, regardless of previous sports/action photography experience, so you were most likely witnessing the inexperience factor.

Great stuff!! would love to hear more about how you shoot these through the cage. I would think shooting the 70-200 wide open would work fine, but how do you get rid of the cage/fence for wider shots with more DOF??? i.e. 24-70?

Rick pretty much nailed it- with small shows you shoot right up against the cage. When using something as long as a 70-200 the cage "disappears", but that presents another issue- sometimes autofocus can catch the cage instead of the action. The solution: manual focusing.

GadgetRick

SnapLocally wrote: »

Rick pretty much nailed it- with small shows you shoot right up against the cage. When using something as long as a 70-200 the cage "disappears", but that presents another issue- sometimes autofocus can catch the cage instead of the action. The solution: manual focusing.

Yup, manual is about the only way to shoot long like that. I've tried auto and it just doesn't work.

firewire

Crisp shots! Great color and lighting. Great job.

SnapLocally

Cool, thanks.