Shooting Basketball

Paulmack

Paulmack

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Paul
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I am lucky enough to be able to shoot a basketball match tomorrow just for the experience and to test myself to see how I fare but now I am thinking about I think I may be in a bit of trouble with lenses.

I have a 24-105, 17-40 & 70-200, all L glass....but all f/4. Is this going to be enough or do I really really need something that is f/2.8?

I know flash is not allowed but not entirely sure how bright it is going to be in the sports centre until I get there and I dont really want to waste such an opportunity.

So anyone got any experience and can put my mind to rest or do I really need to find some fast glass and quick?

Cheers
 
I did a shoot the other day at a presentation and the ISO was at 1600 which was OK but not brilliant. Zoomed to 100% isnt that good but they are probably only going to be about 6x8 for a publication so shouldnt be too bad.

Just hoping to not have to go that high today, with a bit of luck the overhead lighting at the sports centre should be quite bright...fingers crossed!!
 
Paulmack said:
I did a shoot the other day at a presentation and the ISO was at 1600 which was OK but not brilliant. Zoomed to 100% isnt that good but they are probably only going to be about 6x8 for a publication so shouldnt be too bad.

Just hoping to not have to go that high today, with a bit of luck the overhead lighting at the sports centre should be quite bright...fingers crossed!!
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Fingers crossed for you here too Paulmack.
I tried taking some shots of basketball about two years ago in Georgia and came back with a load of erm....rubbish.
Its true that the light is bright but being overhead it tends to put faces into shade.
Focusing is also very difficult as the game seems to be played at the speed of light.
I look forward to seeing your photos, they can't possibly be worse than mine.
 
Paul_UK said:
Fingers crossed for you here too Paulmack.
I tried taking some shots of basketball about two years ago in Georgia and came back with a load of erm....rubbish.
Its true that the light is bright but being overhead it tends to put faces into shade.
Focusing is also very difficult as the game seems to be played at the speed of light.
I look forward to seeing your photos, they can't possibly be worse than mine.
Click to expand...

Well it was one of the hardest things I have done. Trying to keep up with play was a nightmare as those lads dont half move fast!

I picked up a tip once where a guy said its better to try and shoot with both eyes open instead of just one behind the viewfinder and it was difficult to do but you can see the benefit of doing it, you get to see the whole of play and try and follow it instead of just through the camera.

I am just sorting through the images now to see how they turned out and admittedly some of them seem ok. The ISO was cranked right up to 2000 and above at times to cope but as long as large format printing isnt required then they shouldnt be too bad. I was glad I had a fast camera in my MKIII though because I took my 40D along too with a short lens on for the close action and this just could not cope at all, the ISO range wasnt high enough and it just could not cope with the low light really as well as the speed.

All in all I enjoyed it but boy it was hard, takes some doing to do that every week and get great images.
Will post a few up shortly so you can see what I mean.
 
Hi Paul,

Where was the Basketball? We have links with Everton Tigers (used to be Toxteth Tigers) through work and lots of the kids we work with follow them and attend games. One of our team plays for them as well. I keep saying that I will go down and take some pics but so far have never managed it. I should imagine it is pretty hard with the speed and the lighting so well done for giving it a go. Looking forward to seeing a few pics.

Chris :)
 
Hi mate,

Its in Greenbank Sports Centre, just by Sefton Park and it was indeed Everton Tigers. I know a few people at Everton and asked if I could attend as I was keen to give it a go so they gave me a pass and full access to walk around and shoot whatever I wanted which was good.
Because I wasnt there under an official capacity there was no pressure to get a certain shot off or produce anything, it was basically just experience for me and I enjoyed it.
The guy who runs it wants to see my pictures as they might want to use a few which would be nice and I might go again because now I know what is involved I can go back and do it a bit different.

Will get some shots up shortly, just going through them now and there are hundreds.... surprising how many you take when you leave the camera on continuos shoot and fire at will!
 
Look forward to seeing some shots :)

My most used lens shooting from the corners is the Canon 85mm 1.8 :thumbs: (I've been shooting for the Sheffield Sharks).
 
1
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2
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2 (Straightened)
3437109605_17fe47e2fc.jpg


Cant go to the game and not get a few images of the cheerleaders

3
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4
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I would love a prime with an f/1.8 but the best I have at the moment is a 70-200 f/4 so had to do what I could. If I were to do more sports then would definitely look to getting something faster :)
 
I hear the light at Everton is one of the better venues in the league.....certainly looks good in the shot above :)
 
It wasnt too bad but I was still at ISO 2000 which is why they are a little grainy at larger sizes
 
I'm usually @ iso 2000 to 3200.

The tog who shoots Newcastle is usually up @ 6400.
 
Good shots Paul. I like No 2 in particular. It may need a bit of straightening. I also spotted someone I know in that pic :lol:

The light looks to be fine :thumbs:

Chris :)
 
Blue Moon 7 said:
Good shots Paul. I like No 2 in particular. It may need a bit of straightening. I also spotted someone I know in that pic :lol:

The light looks to be fine :thumbs:

Chris :)
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about the straightening but if you look the players appear to me to be straight which is what I focussed on, its the court lines which are out. Will have a play and see what I can do.

Thanks for the comments :thumbs:
 
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