Basketball - Help Needed!

[gmen]

Well, these images are from a newbie basketball shooter who needs all the help he can get! Any advice would be appreciated as this basketball thing is incredibly tough to photograph!

[Old Timer]

Well, these images are from a newbie basketball shooter who needs all the help he can get! Any advice would be appreciated as this basketball thing is incredibly tough to photograph!

I'm not going to try and give you any advice here, even though I have been shooting basketball since I first picked up a camera. The images you posted have the elements needed in any good action sports photograph. You have stopped the action at a critical moment and they are well focused and composed. The direct flash is unfortunate but as you knew at the time was unavoidable to accomplish the other goals. Basketball is like every other sport you shoot the better you know the game and can predict the next move the more success you will have. Gyms in my area where the lighting is good enough to shot a fast action sport like basketball, without additional light, are few and far between. The pros at SI and other big mags and newpapers will many time hang high powered and high price remote firing strobes in the rafters or other out of the way areas to achieve the light levels they need. You will rarely see these guys shot with any type onboard speedlights. In most gyms and in most leagues and conferences they will not allow flashes in the areas of the floor where you need to be to get good closeup action shots anyway. I know I have not told you anything you are not aware of with your experience, but I just hated for your post to sit here without some type of reply. Keep posting your great action sports photo.

[gmen]

Thanks Old Timer. I really appreciate your comments.

You have confirmed much of what I was thinking. It would be good to be in a position to put up some nice big studio flashes around the venue like the SI boys!... but basketball is a minority sport in the UK and my local paper budget wouldn't stretch to it! Believe it or not, these teams are only one division down from the very top level of hoops in the UK!!!!!

I suppose I should just be grateful that I can get close enough to the action to use a flash on-camera AND the teams/venue allow it.

Despite the limitations, I now have the hunger to shoot more - my next plan is to get hold of some pocket wizards and use a second off-camera flash somewhere OR stick a remote camera behind the backboard and have some serious fun!

That's sports for you - you've just got to keep shooting!