[Help] Cage fighting

mmamail · June 12, 2010

I want to take photos of cage fighters. However I am finding it difficult to get nice photos through the cage. Can anyone give me some advice on this?

The problems I have been having are:
- too much noise under low light
- autofocus is done on the cage as opposed to the fighters. (I use the point focus thing but it's annoying because I spend more time making sure it's not pointing on the cage lines as opposed to taking nice shots of important action)

Also, I am looking to buy a flash(cost is not an issue) for my canon 50d. Ideally I want a flash that is easy to carry around and use. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Gary Peterson Photography · June 12, 2010

I don't know if this helps...
I put a lens shade on the lens, put it right up against the chain link, and shoot through it...obviously taking into consideration the safety of the fighters and refs... you can see a bit of chain at the top of this image above the head.

I have also gotten some really cool shots using a lens baby at events...keeper rate...lol....very,very low!

The low light and noise...hmm..I think it lends atomosphere to these events..and honestly, I have never had a fighter, or their parents or fans complain about it..and they are the ones paying me...

Also, exlpore other venue points....don't be afraid to ask a promoter for a ladder or access to rafters..

mmamail · June 12, 2010

do you use a flash when taking photos from the position of having the lens hood against the cage?

Gary Peterson Photography · June 13, 2010

Flash

mmamail wrote: »

do you use a flash when taking photos from the position of having the lens hood against the cage?

No flash was used for this event..it was lit fairly well.

mmamail · June 13, 2010

For the first two photos:

1. what camera/lens did you use?

2. what iso/shutter/arp/etc did you set?

I need to take those types of photos and they don't come out very good. It's always a compromise for me between iso and shutter speed. Do I capture good action in low light with low quality outcome? or do I shoot low pace action with a slower shutter speed for better quality?

I have Canon EOS 50D plus EF-S 17-55mm IS USM Lens. Is this the correct lens to use for such shots?

Gary Peterson Photography · June 13, 2010

...not too sure

mmamail wrote: »

For the first two photos:

1. what camera/lens did you use?

2. what iso/shutter/arp/etc did you set?

I need to take those types of photos and they don't come out very good. It's always a compromise for me between iso and shutter speed. Do I capture good action in low light with low quality outcome? or do I shoot low pace action with a slower shutter speed for better quality?

I have Canon EOS 50D plus EF-S 17-55mm IS USM Lens. Is this the correct lens to use for such shots?

1. I used two bodies at this event....I think one was a Canon 40D with a 24-70 2.8 on it, the other being a Canon 50D with a 70-2002.8 on it.

2. Normaly this would be easy to answer...once I find something that works for the venue, I stick with it...this event I played quite a bit, and ws all over the place. I shot at 1600 ISO minimum for the evening though, and shutter speeds were all over the place.I prbally bumped up the exposure by a 1/3rd or so. I dont have the exif data available, as I don't load it onto my smugmug galleries, and these images are long gone off my laptop. I always try to capture the action first I guess, as lighting issues and noise are easier to work on in post, for me at least!

I really can't answer the lens question for you, as I don's use that lens. It should be fast enough to do the job at 2.8, besides the noise issues do you like the images you are getting?

GadgetRick · June 14, 2010

Great questions and the challenges you face is something we all face when shooting MMA.

If you can gain access next to the cage, as was explained, just shoot right up against the links and shoot through the holes. I shoot wider and crop later which allows me to get rid of the links for the most part. The ones I can't get rid of are out of focus (I shoot with the 28-70 f2.8 L at f2.8).

With your 50D you can pump up the ISO much higher than you think. These were shot at 2500 ISO with a little noise reduction.

Most promoters will allow you cageside access if you explain you're a photog and you'll send them the links to the shots. Offer to send them a few low-res photos if you need to. They can use them for the web or other online advertising. They usually don't mind.

Lighting at these events is all over the map. Most of the amateur shows I shoot aren't as well-lit as the ones I posted above. However, the pro show I shot the other night (working on the photos and will post soon) was lit EXTREMELY well (was broadcast). So you have to be ready for all types of light.

Nobody shoots flash cageside. Never had anyone tell me I couldn't but it is frowned upon. Besides, you really need to shoot in burst mode to capture the action. Unless you're shooting with your flash at low power you'd burn it out quickly (or you'd trigger the over heating circuitry to shut down the flash).

SnapLocally · June 14, 2010

Yep, no flash for Human Cock-fighting, even in the worst conditions. Ditto for boxing and kickboxing.

mmamail · June 16, 2010

Gary Peterson Photography wrote: »

1. I used two bodies at this event....I think one was a Canon 40D with a 24-70 2.8 on it, the other being a Canon 50D with a 70-2002.8 on it.

2. Normaly this would be easy to answer...once I find something that works for the venue, I stick with it...this event I played quite a bit, and ws all over the place. I shot at 1600 ISO minimum for the evening though, and shutter speeds were all over the place.I prbally bumped up the exposure by a 1/3rd or so. I dont have the exif data available, as I don't load it onto my smugmug galleries, and these images are long gone off my laptop. I always try to capture the action first I guess, as lighting issues and noise are easier to work on in post, for me at least!

I really can't answer the lens question for you, as I don's use that lens. It should be fast enough to do the job at 2.8, besides the noise issues do you like the images you are getting?

Apart from the noise I get, I am very happy with the shots I get. I just wanted to see if I am doing something wrong or maybe I should be shooting at lower ISO to get less noise. I have never captured a shot when the sweat is flying off a fighter though. I think those shots look really good.

GadgetRick · June 16, 2010

mmamail wrote: »

Apart from the noise I get, I am very happy with the shots I get. I just wanted to see if I am doing something wrong or maybe I should be shooting at lower ISO to get less noise. I have never captured a shot when the sweat is flying off a fighter though. I think those shots look really good.

That's also the angle of the lighting. I tend to stay low and shoot up. I like the perspective it gives as fighters are supposed to be larger than life (imo). Because the lights are above I get some flare (at times) and lights in the background (at times). It also allows me to capture sweat and other nasty things.

You want to use an ISO high enough to get a high enough shutter speed to capture the action properly.

SnapLocally · June 16, 2010

The bottom line with with choosing the right ISO is this- you can fix some of the noise, but you can't fix a blurry shot. I shoot at whatever ISO is needed to get the shots. If I can get away with ISO 1600, I consider it a blessing. I usually shoot at ISO 3200, and sometimes 6400. Regardless, the best way to avoid unnecessary noise is to properly expose the shots.

SnapLocally · June 16, 2010

These were taken at ISO 1600- as you can see, under decent lighting and being properly exposed, noise isn't an issue:

[Help] Cage fighting

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