Let me have it!! This is from my first sports event/shoot. These are from the first roll, and the other 3 aren't ready yet. Any comments/suggestions would be really great, thanks very much!

Let me have it!! This is from my first sports event/shoot. These are from the first roll, and the other 3 aren't ready yet. Any comments/suggestions would be really great, thanks very much!

Tough environment in which to get good sharp pics. If you haven't tried a noise reduction program like neatimage, I'd suggest you give it a try. There is a free trial version at www.neatimage.com I've heard good things about noise ninja, too. Here's your photo with the "auto" settings using neatimage.

You probably know that you need a faster shutter speed to freeze the motion, but may not be able to get it with the lighting. Use the widest aperture you have. Also, if you can prop or brace or use a monopod or tripod, it would help. In the second photo, you'll notice that the scoreboard is blurry. That's from camera shake. A litel blue can really work for you, but not everything blurry.

Thanks LL! This was shot with fujifilm superia xtra 800, is there something readily available you would suggest for low light with less grain? This is also a minilab scan, haven't had anything printed yet. Monopod is definately going to have to go with me next time, it was a tough shoot. I did this as a "test" as noone had shot in this new gym, and the coach didn't know if someone could shoot successfully with the lighting. Your right about the shutter speed too, I need a 1.8 or so, I used a 3.5-5.6 28-100mm here, but they weren't crucial.

That cleanup looks good too, thanks :D

Also beware of depth of field in taking your shots , if your going for that single player or them playing as a team.

I have been to alot of basketball / indoor sports games shooting video for tv stations and alot of the photographers use a flash bulb setup that flashes the celing and somehow freezes the action while not getting in the players eyes. Sorry dont know the correct name for it as i was a videographer :>

The lighting looks good just need some work on the freeze . Practice , practice - thanks for sharing hopefully more can give you some advice that sounds more tech then i can say :>

Your advice is fine. The lighting system you speak of would be called strobes. These photos would be aimed at parents, and the school's yearbook. I think where the grain became so bad is compression and cropping/resizing for web display. Tomorrow, they are going to be printed for closer inspection.

Thanks LL! This was shot with fujifilm superia xtra 800, is there something readily available you would suggest for low light with less grain? This is also a minilab scan, haven't had anything printed yet. Monopod is definately going to have to go with me next time, it was a tough shoot. I did this as a "test" as noone had shot in this new gym, and the coach didn't know if someone could shoot successfully with the lighting. Your right about the shutter speed too, I need a 1.8 or so, I used a 3.5-5.6 28-100mm here, but they weren't crucial.

That cleanup looks good too, thanks :D

When I was shooting film, 800 was usually pretty grainy. It tends not to be so noticeable in better light. I liked Kodak Supra 800 and I think they had something called 800 Press or something like that, which was a little better than the Superia. The faster films tend to deteriorate and need cold storage, more so than the slower films, so check the date when you buy and get it from a pro place with cold storage if you can. I'm nto sure if that is crucial for 800 speed, but I've seen some bad 1600 and 3200, which is awfully grainy to begin with.