Low Light Basketball

[Old Timer]

We have had two or three threads on low light gyms and basketball pictures. It has been a problem for me and for many others. At a girls high school game last night I was talking to photographer from the local daily paper. He shoots at several area gyms most with very low light levels. He basic had given up an everything but direct TTL flash. Well I refuse to do that. The quality isn't great on these, but I did use a bounce technique to shoot last night that I hope is better than direct flash. I put the flash on full power bounced it of the gym ceiling and used the little pull up reflector to throw a little light at the subjects. Camera setting were all manuel the lense was wide open in most cases that mean f4.5 and I shot at around 1/320 or 400 with an ISO of 1600. How about some imput for those of us struggling with every low light and and slow lenses. I have a 80-200 f2.8 but shoting form the baseline It is usely to much for right under the basket on the D70.

[gmen]

Old Timer...

I'd agree 100% that direct TTL flash is certainly not the way to go!

Your bounce technique looks like it is working well though as these are pretty good captures. The only downside I'd imagine of using full power are the flash recycling times if you want to shoot a burst of images - but the quality of light is much improved over the direct approach. I can only assume this gym has relatively low ceilings.

My only suggestion is that you shoot from a lower position to maximise the impact of your images...

I've been 'fortunate' recently to have shot in a venue where the ambient light is 1/500s, f/1.8 at 3200ASA! What joy! But at least no flash required.

If you're bored, my last couple of b-ball galleries are here:

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/tgsphoto/1182522
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/tgsphoto/1170066
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/tgsphoto/1138909

[Old Timer]

Thanks for taking alook at these images. This is the second time that I have tried this bounce approach. The first time was in a smaller gym with a lower ceiling at a small college where my daughter goes to school. It seemed to work pretty well there so I thought I would try it at home in a larger gym with taller ceilings (they are painted white). This time I did two things different. I used full power and dailed in a +1 setting on the flash and I used the little built in reflector to throw a small amount of reflected light at the players. I think the reflected light was the key to better lighting with these shots. You are right about the recycling time, it's a one shot deal no burst. I came away from the game with a lot fewer images than usual. I missed a lot of the second effort put backs and rebound shots.

I took a look at your latest basketball shots, some very nice images as usual. Loved those fisheye images added a whole new look to basketball.

[JohnR84740]

I like your bounce and reflect technique Old Timer, I will have to try it with the summer league. Now if only I could get my hands on a 2.8 .....

[Sebastian]

That is exactly why most shooters strobe gyms. Monoblocs either in the corners or mounted above, fired by pocket wizards. Ifr that fails, straight-on flash. Anything else is useless...