Gymnastics Newbie Shots

kdog

My daughter made a level 4 gymnastics team and had a couple of meets so far. This gave me a chance to try photographing gymnastics. The lighting in those gyms is terrible, as I'm sure you more experienced shooters know. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the Canon 7D performed at high ISOs.

Here are a few samples of one particular 11 y/o competitor who happens to be on my daughter's team. She won best-overall at the meet. Shots are pretty much straight out of the camera with no noise reduction. Comments would be welcome!

Beam, ISO3200, F2.8, 1/160s.
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Vault, ISO6400, F2.8, 1/320s
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Thanks for looking,
-joel

cmkultradome

Joel-

Welcome to the world of gymnastics and horrible lighting!! My son is a Level 8 gymnast, how I miss those Level 4 days. At Level 4 you can pretty much shoot any apparatus and the more familiar you get with their routines the easier it is to shoot, you know where all the poses are and you don't need a fast shutter speed for them. As the routines get more difficult I find the beam and floor are where you get your best captures, for boys I tend to do best on rings, pommel horse, and parallel bars. I am also shooting with a 7D and am also pleased with the ISO at 3200. I use the 70-200 2.8 a lot, especially for floor ex but if you have an 85 1.8 and can get close enough I really find that to be my go to lens. I love the concentration you captured on the gymnasts face in your pictures.

Stephanie

Hikin' Mike

You did good! I miss doing this. My 13-year-old, level 5 daughter decided to "retire" last year. I was using the 5D and 70-200 f/4L version though.

kdog

cmkultradome wrote: »

Joel-

Welcome to the world of gymnastics and horrible lighting!! My son is a Level 8 gymnast, how I miss those Level 4 days. At Level 4 you can pretty much shoot any apparatus and the more familiar you get with their routines the easier it is to shoot, you know where all the poses are and you don't need a fast shutter speed for them. As the routines get more difficult I find the beam and floor are where you get your best captures, for boys I tend to do best on rings, pommel horse, and parallel bars. I am also shooting with a 7D and am also pleased with the ISO at 3200. I use the 70-200 2.8 a lot, especially for floor ex but if you have an 85 1.8 and can get close enough I really find that to be my go to lens. I love the concentration you captured on the gymnasts face in your pictures.

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie, it sounds like you've been at this a long while. I can only imagine what the level 8 competitions much be like. Good for your son for making it so far, and you too. That's a big investment of time for all involved. I appreciate the comments and thanks for checking in.

-joel

kdog

Hikin' Mike wrote: »

You did good! I miss doing this. My 13-year-old, level 5 daughter decided to "retire" last year. I was using the 5D and 70-200 f/4L version though.

Thanks, Mike! I can understand the little gymnast burnout thing. A 10 y/o old friend of my daughter who was a level 6 retired last year too. However, she just rejoined again this year. So who knows what the future will bring.

Best regards,
-joel