Middle School Basketball - C&C

Dreadnote

Here are a few from Tuesday's basketball games. Im still trying to work out the light placement and a few other issues. Just wanted some outside opinions since I've been staring at them for too long to be objective.

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Thanks for looking.

pipster

Looks like your lighting is really close to being dialed in. Not much to be gained. There is some light fall off in some shots but overall pretty good.

In #3 is the ball handlers face really in focus? The ball looks good but the face seems off to me.

IMO shooting basketball players from down low is the way to go for most shots.

Dreadnote

pipster wrote: »

In #3 is the ball handlers face really in focus? The ball looks good but the face seems off to me.

IMO shooting basketball players from down low is the way to go for most shots.

Yes I think that the face on 3 is a shade soft, the focus seems to have grabbed the ball. As far as shooting low is concerned, I try to get as low as I can but with only 3 feet from the baseline to the wall it's a juggling act to shoot low and not get trampled by the players or the refs. But, it is a good point and I'll try to get a bit lower if I can on the next game.

Thanks for the feedback.

pipster

If you want to get low and are afraid of getting trampled then move out to the where the three point line intersects the baseline instead of shooting from within the key area. You may have to deal with the referee getting in the way of the shot more often but the players will be less likely to run over you from there.

Moving Pictures

As one just entering this field (strobe-assisted sports pics) I'd be interested in knowing what your setup is. Your lights seem way softer than mine.

Icebear

From the look of the reflection in the glass backboard at the other end in #1, I'll guess he's bouncing them off the wall.

Dreadnote

Icebear wrote: »

From the look of the reflection in the glass backboard at the other end in #1, I'll guess he's bouncing them off the wall.

Good read! Yes, i haven't been able to get a consistent exposure from putting the lights in the corners and pointing them up toward the top of the key like most seem to do. The court is not placed in the middle of the building. Looking down the court, on the left side are the bleachers and it is about 50 feet from the wall to the rim. On the other side there are no bleachers and it is about 30 feet from the wall to the rim. So, anyway, like I said in the beginning, I'm still working out how to best place the lights in this gym as I have been getting erratic results. I think for the corner approach I need to get the lights a lot higher, at least thats what I'm going to try next.

For the photos in this post, they are in fact bounced off the back wall and ceiling, which make for much softer light (which I like) but limits my range to about the free throw line. The lights are SB900's (2 of them) placed one on each side about 1/3 of the way from the rim to the outside of the court on the baseline and mounted to some electrical conduit with super clamps. I can barely reach the conduit on my tip toes and I'm 6'4" so I'm guessing they are almost 8 feet up. I placed them the way that I did because the conduit runs right along the line where the wall turns from green to off white. I've had them lower before and was rewarded with a wonderful green hue on everything. Its certainly not perfect, and when I am shooting out near the free throw line I start to get some ghosting, so its defiantly a work in progress.

My goal is to get them decent enough to sell to the parents of the players. I think I'm getting close, I guess. There is not exactly a stampede to come buy my pictures. Im still working on figuring that out as well.

Icebear

Dreadnote wrote: »

My goal is to get them decent enough to sell to the parents of the players. I think I'm getting close, I guess. There is not exactly a stampede to come buy my pictures. Im still working on figuring that out as well.

Good luck with that. Most people are satisfied with cell-phone-camera shots.

Dreadnote

Icebear wrote: »

Good luck with that. Most people are satisfied with cell-phone-camera shots.

So I take it you feel it's a bit of a non starter? I was hoping better advertising might do the trick, but maybe not.

Icebear

Dreadnote wrote: »

So I take it you feel it's a bit of a non starter? I was hoping better advertising might do the trick, but maybe not.

I'd definitely not try to build a business around selling youth sports images to parents.

MDalby

I think you could use more ambient so the background isn't as dark. Will need to increase your ISO or lower your SS to 200. But then you may need to increase your strobe power a little to avoid ghosting. Personally, I think you will have better luck with direct flash rather than bouncing. Just position your strobes to shoot diagonally to middle court and the flash doesn't have to be directly on the players. The reflectors will direct light to the players so you don't get harsh lighting. You are wasting too much power bouncing and you can't shoot in burst. I like the color and contrast more with shooting direct rather than bouncing.

MDalby

Another couple of pointers... Especially with younger athletes, you want to get your viewpoint as low as you can. It makes the athletes look more imposing. I think you are standing up in your shots.

Also, I use 15' light stands. The higher the better for all lights.

Dreadnote

MDalby wrote: »

Also, I use 15' light stands. The higher the better for all lights.

Yeah, Im defiantly going to try to get the lights up higher so as to feather the light in more.

MDalby

Dreadnote wrote: »

Yeah, Im defiantly going to try to get the lights up higher so as to feather the light in more.

If you are bouncing your light, I guess it really doesn't matter. I was speaking about direct light.

Dreadnote

MDalby wrote: »

If you are bouncing your light, I guess it really doesn't matter. I was speaking about direct light.

Yeah I meant for direct light. Tried it a few times before but the lights were too low and the shadows too hard. Was a bit distracting.

MDalby

EDIT: If your SHADOWS are too hard, lower your SS and increase your ISO a bit and lower your strobe power.

Moving Pictures

MDalby wrote: »

Another couple of pointers... Especially with younger athletes, you want to get your viewpoint as low as you can. It makes the athletes look more imposing. I think you are standing up in your shots.

Also, I use 15' light stands. The higher the better for all lights.

The only problem with going lower is that you may run into issues with ceiling lights ...

This was taken while standing .. low roof on the gym ...