JV & Varsity Football - Week 2

[Homer]

Just wanted to share some shots from this last weeks games. The varsity game started with some sunlight but quickly went away. I was able to get some shots before the sun went down and then used the flash for the remaining two quarters and then shot the second half without the flash.

These first shots, with red over white uniforms is the JV team.







In this shot the QB was tossing the ball out to the running back.


Now for the Varsity games shots.






And you can't have football without the cheerleaders.




Jim

[JSPhoto]

Great job as usual Jim Are you using the flash in the fill flash mode? They look great.

JS

[Homer]

Great job as usual Jim Are you using the flash in the fill flash mode? They look great.

JS

Thanks JS, No on the flash. I had to play with it for a long time to get it to the way I liked it. I really need to look at the manual again about the flash.

Jim

[JSPhoto]

hmmm, OK. Even in fill flash you can adjust the power output + or - the fill flash does use less power so it saves the batteries a bit too as it isn't always using full power. Granted, it sometimes does get thrown by a dark area or even a hot spot and it will give too mich or too little flash on occasion but it's pretty even most of the time.
JS

[Homer]

JS, it's just about not knowing your equipment. I'll be the first to say that I don't use my flash that much and when it comes to lighting with it, I just don't know it. It's really something I need to work on.

Jim

[SenorNikonMan]

They're all great shots but the last one is amazing!

[petertpc]

I loved your pictures. Great color, sharp focus, good action. I just purchased the following:

Canon 30D - my accessories
○ 18-55 EF-S (short back focus)
○ 24-70 2.8EF-L (luxury)
○ 70-200 2.8EF-L-IS (L series = top of the line)
○ EX430 Flash
○ BG-E2 Battery Grip

My shots of our High School game are not near the quality as yours. I hope it has to do with the settings. You can see some of my pix at http://www.debtfreechristian.org/Rob...207/index.html. Any chance of you providing me some suggestions as to the best setting for this shooting venue? Any help would be appreciated.

[rgusberti]

Jim -
Congratulations, I think...your photography has convinced me I need the 300 f2.8. (will have to check finances, cannot get a new body and a great lens all in one shot!) Your 3rd shot of #2 airborn, making the tackle, is my favorite. These are all great shots. Just curious about ISO and the adjustments you made from JV to Varsity.
Bob

[Homer]

I loved your pictures. Great color, sharp focus, good action. I just purchased the following:

Canon 30D - my accessories
○ 18-55 EF-S (short back focus)
○ 24-70 2.8EF-L (luxury)
○ 70-200 2.8EF-L-IS (L series = top of the line)
○ EX430 Flash
○ BG-E2 Battery Grip

My shots of our High School game are not near the quality as yours. I hope it has to do with the settings. You can see some of my pix at http://www.debtfreechristian.org/Rob...207/index.html. Any chance of you providing me some suggestions as to the best setting for this shooting venue? Any help would be appreciated.

I've taken a look at your shots and the first thing that comes to mind is your shots have a yellow tint to them (a bit warm in color). The other thing is these appear to be SOOC (straight out of camera). You have some nice shots but you have to look for the action in the shot. This is something that could be fixed by using a tighter crop.

What were your settings on these?

Jim

[Homer]

Jim -
Congratulations, I think...your photography has convinced me I need the 300 f2.8. (will have to check finances, cannot get a new body and a great lens all in one shot!) Your 3rd shot of #2 airborn, making the tackle, is my favorite. These are all great shots. Just curious about ISO and the adjustments you made from JV to Varsity.
Bob

For my day shots I almost always shoot aperture priority at f/2.8 and have the ISO set at 100 or 200 depending on the speed I get. As for the night shots I'll start out the evening with an ISO set at 800 and then it quickly goes to 1600 or 3200 as the night hits. Now I will shoot at aperture priority f/2.8 but once if I boost the ISO to 3200 I'll set my camera to manual at f/2.8 and 1/320 or 1/250.

Jim

[JETA]

JS, it's just about not knowing your equipment. I'll be the first to say that I don't use my flash that much and when it comes to lighting with it, I just don't know it. It's really something I need to work on.

Jim

Add me to this list. For some reason I always balk at my flash.

Love the second photo, but that said I love all of your photos. Congrats on potw. It's more then deserved.

[JSPhoto]

Add me to this list. For some reason I always balk at my flash.

Ok you two! What have you heard me say ....OK... what have you seen me write over and over and over? Practice, practice and more practice.... and that my friends goes for FLASH too Just go out in the back yard at night and play with your flash. If you have kids have them run around as you take pictures at different distances so you can see how the flash works and get used to it. No kids here so I used my dog

JS

[SenorNikonMan]

And your neighbors don't say anything about you flashing your dog in the backyard?

[JSPhoto]

Neighbors..... no worry there it's called country livin...... I have neighbors but they are all in before dark

JS

[dhyravy]

I find that I get the most consistent results using flash on manual for football. Usually at 1/4 power which gives me 3 or 4 pops before a recycle. ISO is usually 1600 at f2.8 and shutter at 1/320 or 1/400. (One advantage of the D50 with a manual (non-Nikon) flash is that it can sync at almost any shutter speed) This will usually give me good results unless the play comes too close, then I get overexposure. I have been getting better at a quick spin of the thumb wheel to raise the aperture on the fly which takes care of the overexposure issue. That is, if I'm fast enough!

[masdog]

Wow, Jim. That cheerleader picture is sweet! Great catch.

Scratch that...all your shots from that game are great. The only thing I would change is a couple of crops on some images - they appear to be too tight and you cut off a couple of legs.