My first indoor basketball attempt...

Dreadnote

After weeks of lurking here and trying to take in as much information as possible, I finally got my first opportunity to shoot indoor basketball at the basketball tournament that starts the basketball season at the middle school I work for. I take the pictures hoping to raise money for the teams by selling photos to families and friends of the players (any other revenue generating suggestions are welcome). My setup is a D300s with grip, nikkor 24-70 2.8, SB900. I also have a nikkor 50 1.4 and a nikkor 70-200 2.8. I am still contemplating which remotes to get and which strobe to get for a second.

These were taken this past Saturday with the following settings:
f/2.8
1/500
flash 1/2 + 1/3 stop power, camera mounted and bounced off the wall that was about 4 feet behind the baseline.
ISO 1600

C & C welcome and requested. I need the feedback to find out if I am even close.

Thanks in advance for your comments and consideration.

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Scott293

For your first time not bad at all. Why are you shooting at 1/500 your camera sincs at 1/250 or 1/320 plus you might want to go with about 800 iso or less. I shoot with a D300 and a SB-800. Also try bouncing off the ceiling as well.

Over all not bad!!

Dreadnote

I was just assuming that the SB 900 would not give out enough light when bounced to properly expose if I was shooting 2-3 stops below ambient so as to freeze the motion? But I was just guessing, I never tried. Ill give it a try next time out.

Thanks for looking.

Dreadnote

So here are some of the latest from our most recent home game. I tried what you suggested and shot these at 1/320, f2.8, ISO 800. The flash, an SB900 was at full power and bounced off the ceiling which was about 20 feet up or so.

Am I correct in my belief that the only way to alter the ambient to flash ratio in this scenario where I am wide open on the aperture and shooting my at max flash sync speed of 1/320, is to drop the ISO and increase the flash power which in this case would require another flash as I am at full power on the one I have? It is my intention to add another SB900 anyway so that I can drop them to half power and be able to shoot at least 2 pictures on motor drive instead of the one I am able to shoot now while waiting for flash cycling. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as another flash is going to set me back about $450 or so.

One more thing while I am asking questions: If you notice in the first picture the lower part of the walls in our gym are painted the school colors which are quite dark and the ceilings are black except for a small portion of ceiling near each goal that extends from the wall about 8 feet or so on an angle. This section of the ceiling is where I have been aiming the flash for these shots. Are there any ideas that might improve the lighting?

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