advice on shooting low light photography

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twilightfootball

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Ali
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Hey there, I’m working on behalf of Sony UK, and we’re doing this low-light football photography event (check out the Flickr page here - http://pea.to/twilightfootball ) and I’m doing some research on low light and sports photography.

As low light, dusk/dawn photography is pretty tricky, and action/sports photography also isn’t that simple either, I’m basically looking for some advice to give people interested in the event.

What’s the essential kit to have, how should I set up my gear, and do you guys have any shots to show me of sports shot in low light or any stories on the topic you could share that could help me out?

Ali Plumb (on behalf of Sony Twilight Football)
 
They'll be wanting 2.8 lenses and a body that can cope at a reasonably high iso, that should deal with the low light. To deal with the speed, they'll need a fast shutter to freeze the action, that will relate to the iso that they are working at though. They'll probably want a monopod too.
 
Depends on how low light.. Some league grounds are so bright its like daylight.. But lower league clubs are very dim..

Open up the lens to at least f2.8
Up the iso as high as possible..
Then see what your left with re shutter speed.

Fill the frame.. dont shoot things a way off hoping to crop.. the more you fill the frame the better.

Use a monopod.. your shutter speed will be so low you need all the help you can get... Ignore IS (Image stabalisation or equivelant)

Dont be scared of slow shutter speeds.. I have keepers at shutter speeds of 250 on a 300 lens.
 
I'm thinking about this and surely if the surroundings are twilight there shouldn't be any problem doing a bit of strobism on this. Using strobes to light up people playing football. From looking at the website link the people don't necessarily need to be playing football on a full size pitch, so say you have some people playing street football, you could easily have strobes set up to light the scene while the surrounds remain under exposed... a lot of skateboard photographers do this. That way you don't need to rely on a fast lens... but does mean you'll need extra kit in the way of flash guns and remote triggers.
 
I think KayJay has got a great idea here - flash is inefficient given the circumstances, and will only distract and annoy the players - but flash guns and remote triggers, maybe, if you could hire them would work really well, thinking about the way people do it with Skateboarding shots, as you say.

Does anyone happen to have or know of any examples of football/soccers shots taken this way? Would be very grateful if we could see them.

p.s. kipax, I'm sure this is a stupid question but how come IS is a bad idea? I'm sure there's a really obvious reason, I know...
 
whats the enviroment for these football soccer shots.. I am now thinking NOT in a real football ground with a real football match,.. are you tlakign setup poses?

IS is slow to kick in.. not good for fast sports.
 
I was thinking of a set up thing - sunsetish, maybe earlier, at a park or field, with someone trying to beat the keeper, maybe just taking penalties - so there's be movement, but controlled movement, that way we can use some lights maybe, but maintain the sunset, dusk sky in the background.
 
So whats the point if your not using the lighting from the sunset.. its a sham if you dont use the natural lighting that would be produced... i cant think of better natural lighting.. wiht the right lens and setting it would make a brill picture..

flash? kinda defeats the whole concept of twilight ... why not call it flashfootball ? :)
 
Don't be quick to dismiss the ideas presented in this thread. Try them all out and see what works best.
 
highish asa settings
wide apertures
some way of steadying the camera
cable or electronic release...no vibes to the camera from your hand
and a help if
your camera shoots frames per second...the really interesting shot has gone before the shutter opens...so shoot ahead of the action
 
Interesting. Looks like the first shots are making it into the press now. This months Digital SLR Photography magazine has a twilight football image on page 28.
 
Flash? Noooooooo! You just end up with some nasty lit stuff.

However, before you get too carried away about gorgeous evening light, fantastic sunsets etc you have to remember one thing.... you can't control any of that!

If thats what you want then you will have to keep restaging your shoot until the weather is correct - could get pretty boring/time consuming/expensive* (*delete as applicable)

Also remember that your twighlight conditions will be getting worse as time goes on, you've got to work out your window of oppurtunity and really get cracking - there won't be time to monkey around or start guessing your setup on the day - things happen quickly, especially at this time of year!

So, failing any of that, your next best bet is some good old cheating just like the movies - underexpose your shots to make it seem darker than it is :D
 
Hmmm maybe :D
 
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