My first time shooting sports.

[powerslave]

This is a repost from my old post in xBhp. <insert smiley here>

I had my first sports shoot this Sunday. I shot the Women's Basketball game for my university.

A few things:
- This was the first time I ever used a telephoto lens.
- This was the first time I ever used L glass.
- This was the first time I ever did a sports shoot.
- This was the first time I shot for 'someone'.

I had a LOT of fun.

After uploading to photobucket, the image quality seems to have gone down considerably, don't know what's up with that.

Some analysis from my side:

0. I was using my Rebel XTi + (not mine)70-200 f/2.8L (I am selling my kidney soon) + No grips no nothing.

1. I shot 1/320~1/400 at ISO800 f/2.8, instead, I should have shot 1/800 ISO1600.

2. I need to anticipate the players moves.

3. I was having a weird time framing the shots having selected center point AF Servo.

4. Need a battery grip for vertical shooting.

5. Not lose orientation and keep the camera parallel to the ground (or the background).

6. I should learn to make use of the burst mode, I did not use it at all.

7. I've missed focus in quite a few photos, I must make better use of the AF point selection.

I had a 30D to use, but I stuck to my XTi cos I was more familiar with it, and also because I wanted to see what the lens does to my Rebel "Clark Kent" XTi.

Many more, but I'd like to hear from the pros. I had a lot of fun on my first outing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_6305_.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_6333_.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_6296_.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_6253_.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_6136_.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_5944_.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_5903_.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/badd666/Tiger_WBB_1/IMG_5830_.jpg

Sunny: What's your take on limiting images to just 4 per post? And including smileys as images!

[Sunny]

Topic Approved and shifted to PhotoCritique

Manas: The image limit per post was unintentional and has been removed.

Regarding the images i feel:


As you said, the focus points(subjects) could have been better chosen. Perhaps you can try with the AI Servo option since the lens in question is Ultrasonic (USM)
The colors are off, dont know why, maye better PP required
Composition could have been much better for most shots posted
Would have loved to see some panning shots with background blur to add to the drama and to get more focus on the subject, maybe a lone basketball player on the court while handling the ball

[powerslave]

Sunny: Thanks :)

Thanks for the critique.
- I did use AI servo, but what I didn't use was the AF-ON button. Since then I've started using the '*' button to lock focus and the regular shutter release button to just click shots.
- I agree, I need to work on the PP style.
- About the composition, I agree, but its really really tough. Now I have a vertical grip so I can hold the camera more comfortably, and it was only my first time shooting sports, so I did feel the need to learn to anticipate the players moves.
- Panning shots, personally I think would be a little tough to achieve in a basketball game, since the motion of the players is haphazard and moreover, the best position to take shots is on the edges of the court where the baskets are, and so that kinda panning seems a little improbable unless one moves to the side of the court. Moreover The shutter speeds need to be 1/400th to 1/640th to capture the players, and so motion blur seems tough.
- I do have (many) more shots from this batch, I'll put those up and would love to hear any more suggestions.

Loving this forum :D

[Psycho_McCrazy]

The colors are off, dont know why, maye better PP required
I believe that has the white balance to blame. If the game was under tungsten/sodium lamps(orange tint makes me think sodium), the autoWB of the cams usually cannot keep up.
if you shot raw, you can play around with the conversion software to get the correct hues, and even JPGs can benefit from colorbalance fixing.

also, try setting a manual or custom WB under different lighting. manual by Kelvin temperature and custom can be set by shooting a white card (or a good quality matte white paper will work too) or gray card under the given lighting conditions and setting that as the base for the camera to caliberate itself.

[powerslave]

Yup, it was the tungsten lighting plus my University's colors are orange, so there :P

I must admit though that the place is lit very well, I've noticed other people shooting indoor BB have a much harder time setting up some arrangement for lighting.

[KrishnenduKes]

I think we have already talked about this before...
1,2,3,4 and 6 are pretty good despite the severe shortcomings you have enumerated. For a first-timer basketball game, extremely dynamic game, I think you have done a tremendous job. Though the one with the cheerleaders could have been even better framed and/or cropped with more sharpness.

As psycho says... do a white balance always whenever you have artificial light. Always carry a sheet of white paper. Do a custom WB and calibrate your camera for the whole shoot. Makes a huge difference.

[powerslave]

Noted. Will be carrying a 18% graycard next time.

[manav]

Nice shots indeed, good to see you getting to use some great *free* equipment. This might be OT for here but does they greycard really compensate well for setting the Custom WB? I mean how much of a difference can if possibly make if we totally ignore the preset WB options in the cam like sunlight, fl, tungsten etc?

Pic # 1 was by far the best.