Anyone shoot a Cage event?

[4jallday]

I just got the ok to go and shoot a Extreme Kage Kombat venue! They are like the UFC but local. My problem is I have never shot a major event and they told me if they like my stuff they may hire me for some commercial shoot and more events. My only lenses are a 50mm 1.8, Sigma 28-70 f/2.8-4, and a Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6. I want to look as professional as possible and get some spectacular shots to get myself in the door with these people. I have about $700 to spend on a nice quality lens for this shoot. If they allow flashes I will bring my 580ex but I don't think they do. Please give me some advice on this it would be greatly appreciated.

[Loupey]

I assume that you will be ringside most of the time? If so, your 70-300 will be too long and too slow. Your 50mm and 28-70mm will be sufficient in my opinion. You will have two main views: 1) up against the fence trying to poke your lens through the the opening, and 2) farther back to intensionally use the fencing to make your point. Both examples are below.

Another tip: don't obscure the view of the same group of paying spectators - move around and spread your opaqueness. These folks tend to be a bit rowdy and verbose - even before the alcohol

[4jallday]

Thanks for the info Loupey. What did you use for those shots? At the 70mm - f/4 range will I have enough light by the ring? Will 70mm get me a photo against the cage from the other side of the ring? This is great help.

[Loupey]

I used the Canon 10D with the Canon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5. I actually prefer the natural lighting look over flash. But you'll shoot at ISO 800 or 1600. I think I used 800 only as the digital noise on the 10D is quite bad.

With the ring being quite small, I think the 70mm will be fine (especially with the 1.6 crop factor). In fact, you will want to be a little wide at times to get those crazy jumping kicks. I think your 20D images will allow you to crop in tighter later when you want to isolate the players.

As for lighting, they usually have banks of spotlights from many angles (360 degrees usually) so there is not any dead spots, just shadows underneath. Set your exposure ahead of time (with test shots confirmed before contestants arrive), lock it in manual mode, and just concentrate on the action and composition.

Hope this helps. Please post some of your results after your match.

[4jallday]

I will do that. You have been a great help. It is schedueled for April 28th. I did think it would be 800 ISO do you think I should get noise ninja or some noise reduction program? I will be shooting in raw and I have 4gb and 1gb cards. Do you think I will need more than 5gigs?

[Loupey]

From what I've heard about the 20D, the noise at 800 is not that bad. As for Noise Ninja, I don't know that program and hopefully others can chime in on that issue.

I think 5 gigs is more than sufficient. I believe that that should give you over 500 raw files with the 20D. Unless you want to process that many images, I would delete obvious ones between every round - unless you get distracted by the ring babes

Good luck, have fun, and don't drink and shoot

[4jallday]

No drinking and shooting but I will have to take some photos of those ring girls. That would only be fair to them for all the hard work they do!

[Loupey]

Some more examples of what you might encounter. Can never be too mentally prepared

Oh, forgot to mention that some of these matches are over before the end of the first round = no ring babes.

[4jallday]

Great shots! I hope mine turn out as good as those.

[4jallday]

Heres a link to my recent Xtreme Kage Kombat photos. I used my Sigme 28-70 f2.8/4 raw, av mode and most at 250/500 for speed and 1600 ISO and ran them thru neat image but think I might have wanted to leave the grain for that rough nightclub look. They saw my photos and want me to be their exclusive photographer. Now all I need to figure out is how to structure the contract!
http://www.jwnphotography.com/-/jwnp...9&pID=1&row=15
Tell me what you think.

[Photo-John]

I like the tight, grittiness of Loupey's photos better. You definitely have some room for improvement in the exposure, framing, and editing departments. On the other hand, if this is your first shot at this subject, I think you did great. I know that the first time I shoot a new subject, I always make all kinds of mistakes and encounter all kinds of problems I didn't expect. Live and learn, go back and do it better next time, right?

Overall, I'd shoot darker, tighter, and I'd share a lot less. One thing you can do to improve the quality of your photos is keep the mediocre ones to yourself. If it's not great, don't make it public. That's called quality control. I probably only would have posted about ten of the images you shared on your site. Part of the reason I have a really good reputation as a mountain bike photographer is I never show the mediocre stuff. And I only show it after I'm done with the post-processing. There's very little public experimentation.

Post some more on the site when you shoot again. I think it's a cool subject and it's good to have some variety here. Plus, I'd like to hear what your learning and the problems you're discovering and overcoming. I want to be able to learn from your experience.

[4jallday]

Your right about keeping the mediocre ones to myself. The only problem was all the fighters e-mailed me the next day asking to see the shots of them fighting. First lesson is make sure all your batteries are FULLY charged. I went thru 3 sets of 6 in my grip and I charged them 2 days before the shoot. I didn't use a flash or anything but I wanted to get the action stopped so most was shot at 2.8 and a 1/500 sec. I may drop it down to ISO 800 next time. I have another shoot this Friday and one more on the following Sat. Wish me luck!

[Loupey]

4jallday, if I can recommend for your upcoming Friday/Saturday events to shoot some from their level. I see that most of your shots where done from over top the cage. Sure you'll have to shoot through it, but it is a cage event. Mix it up, try new things, experiment.

And 1/500s is plenty fast enough. Most of the time they're grapling so even 1/125s or even 1/60s would work and may show action in better context.

Please post a few here after these two events.

[Photo-John]

Your right about keeping the mediocre ones to myself. The only problem was all the fighters e-mailed me the next day asking to see the shots of them fighting.

People always e-mail me asking to see photos. If they aren't up to my standards, they never get to see them. That's all there is to it. Then they never associate my name with substandard photos.

Good luck with the next shoot!

[4jallday]

Well this last event went pretty good. I shot from outside the cage instead of above it. Lights were not as good as the last venue so ISO was still 1600. I went with center weight metering. The biggest problem was the focusing thru the bars. I hope you like these ones. No processing has been done on these except sharpness and convert from raw.

[Loupey]

Great job! Much better IMO. These make the viewer feel more like a participant rather than just an observer. That overcomes the issue of having to shoot through the cage (I don't see it really when I'm looking at the expressions).

I like the tighter shots of the 2nd and last one. The others feel somewhat unfinished as small but significant parts of the bodies are cut out (hands, arms, feet, etc). If you're going to crop, crop so that it is unquestionable.

You've done better than me. I've only watched one and shot one

[4jallday]

Thanks Loupe. I like the last shot myself but I wish it was in better focus!