My first post

[Gnosis]

I just found this forum while searching for information on sports photography. I am shooting with a new Nikon D70 and I shoot high school basketball. I have been using the Nikon 50mm 1.4 without a flash with pretty good results. I have uploaded an example shot at 1000 and 1.4 using natural lighting. I look forward to sharing tips and learning. This is a great resource. I have include a link to my basketball site. http://www.perpetualbliss.net

[mtbbrian]

First off...
Welcome to PR.com!
You will find a lot of imitators, but we are the best! You will find a wealth of photographic knowledge and experience here, make sure you check out all the forums.

As for your photo, good first post. I can't say a 50 is the ideal choice for shooting basketball, but I can understand why you used it.

Keep Shooting and posting here!

Good Luck!
Brian

[Gnosis]

First off...
Welcome to PR.com!
You will find a lot of imitators, but we are the best! You will find a wealth of photographic knowledge and experience here, make sure you check out all the forums.

As for your photo, good first post. I can't say a 50 is the ideal choice for shooting basketball, but I can understand why you used it.

Keep Shooting and posting here!

Good Luck!
Brian

Thanks for the welcome. I would be happy to receive recommendations for a more idea lens choice. The main advantage of the 50 1.4 is the ability to shoot is pretty dark gym. Can you recommend a another good choice. It is very seldom that I have the option of using flash.

I noticed in your profile that you used a 24mm, would this be a good choice? Does your camera multiple the size of the lens due to the cameras internal chip the way I understand the D70 does?

Can you recommend another forum where these issues have been discussed, or is this a good choice?

Gnosis

[gmen]

Hi Gnosis....

Welcome aboard! Good to see another sports shooter here.

I've just started shooting some basketball - it's very much a new sport to me. On one occasion, I shot with the 85mm f/1.8 and the 135mm f/2L in a very dark gym where I wasn't able to use flash.

Some of the results are here:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/wp201104/index.html

The longer focal length helps you to isolate the subject matter more effectively from the background - so, I'd recommend going for the 85mm f/1.8 as your next lens choice for hoops.

Good luck with your next shoot!

gmen

[Gnosis]

Hi Gnosis....

Welcome aboard! Good to see another sports shooter here.

I've just started shooting some basketball - it's very much a new sport to me. On one occasion, I shot with the 85mm f/1.8 and the 135mm f/2L in a very dark gym where I wasn't able to use flash.

Some of the results are here:

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/wp201104/index.html

The longer focal length helps you to isolate the subject matter more effectively from the background - so, I'd recommend going for the 85mm f/1.8 as your next lens choice for hoops.

Good luck with your next shoot!

gmen

gmen,

Thanks for the suggestions. I would love to have some more distance from the subject. I checked you shots and they looked good. Which of the recommended lenses did you use?

I believe that shooting the 50mm on the Nikon D70 is the same as using a 125mm on another camera due to the size of the chip behind the lens. If that is the case the 85mm you suggested would be about a 200mm. Do you think this would be too long for a gym. I think maybe the 1.8 would gather enough light.

I have been shooting at ISO 1600 and I have been surprised that the resulting photos have not been too grainy. It will be fun to have someone to chat with about getting better shots.

I had visited your site before you posted to me and I like your work. It looks like you have found a nice niche.

Gnosis

[Gnosis]

I have done some more reading and it looks like the "multiplyer" effect on the D70 is 1.5 so the 50mm is like a 75mm lens. 50*1.5=75. This is very interesting! So if I picked up an 85mm it would act like it was a 127mm lens. 85*1.5=127.5

This seem to throw off the standards for making decision about what is the best focal length for any given situation...

[gmen]

gmen,

Thanks for the suggestions. I would love to have some more distance from the subject. I checked you shots and they looked good. Which of the recommended lenses did you use?

I had visited your site before you posted to me and I like your work. It looks like you have found a nice niche.

Gnosis

Thanks Gnosis!

Most of the shots on the link I posted are with the 85mm f1/1.8. I'm using a Canon EOS 1D MkII, so the crop factor (1.3x) gives a field of view equivalent to a lens of around 110mm. This focal length works well around the basket, giving nice tight images when shooting from near the corner of the court.

A few of the shots are with the 135mm f/2 (4, 5 & 10) - this gives a field of view like that of a 180mm lens - good for work from mid-court. I've not been in a position to use my 70-200mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8 as yet due to the dreadful lighting, so I can't comment on working with these longer focal lengths.

I'd certainly recommend a lens like the 85mm f/1.8 as your next purchase. I'm sure that will allow you to bag some even better shots.

Cheers - gmen

[Gnosis]

Thanks Gnosis!

Most of the shots on the link I posted are with the 85mm f1/1.8. I'm using a Canon EOS 1D MkII, so the crop factor (1.3x) gives a field of view equivalent to a lens of around 110mm. This focal length works well around the basket, giving nice tight images when shooting from near the corner of the court.

A few of the shots are with the 135mm f/2 (4, 5 & 10) - this gives a field of view like that of a 180mm lens - good for work from mid-court. I've not been in a position to use my 70-200mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8 as yet due to the dreadful lighting, so I can't comment on working with these longer focal lengths.

I'd certainly recommend a lens like the 85mm f/1.8 as your next purchase. I'm sure that will allow you to bag some even better shots.

Cheers - gmen

I will take your advice. I have added a couple of more photographs that I took last night that I am a little more happy with. I was in a gym with more light and I was able to change my fstop from 1.4 to 2 and still shoot at 1000 with an iso of 1600. I think the increased depth of field helped make it easier to capture good shoots. The photographs have been optimized quite a bit for display here.

I use photoshop cs for after shooting work. Does anyone have any suggestions for making the photographs better? I would gladly appreciate help!

Gnosis

[gmen]

I use photoshop cs for after shooting work. Does anyone have any suggestions for making the photographs better? I would gladly appreciate help!
Gnosis

Here are a couple more shots with the 85mm f/1.8, this time with flash...







With regards to PS work, you may want to look at the following:

Noise reduction, contrast, colour saturation, colour balance (it's always best to set a custom white balance first), sharpness and, above all else, consistency across all your images.

Your workflow will vary, of course, depending on the required end result - web, newspaper, magazine etc. - and your deadlines!

[Gnosis]

Here are a couple more shots with the 85mm f/1.8, this time with flash...







With regards to PS work, you may want to look at the following:

Noise reduction, contrast, colour saturation, colour balance (it's always best to set a custom white balance first), sharpness and, above all else, consistency across all your images.

Your workflow will vary, of course, depending on the required end result - web, newspaper, magazine etc. - and your deadlines!

Can you tell me what speeds you were shooting for these photographs and also the ISO! Thanks

[gmen]

Can you tell me what speeds you were shooting for these photographs and also the ISO! Thanks

I was shooting at 1/250s at f/1.8 at 1000ASA. The flash was set to manual at 1/16 power and diffused slightly with an omnibounce.

gmen

[gena945]

hello
First time in a forum, Can anyone directed me to where I can post a thread on this forum please.

[OldClicker]

gena945 - Here is the Welcome thread. Tack your intro onto the end. - TF

[jetrim]

hello
First time in a forum, Can anyone directed me to where I can post a thread on this forum please.

If you want to post here in sports just go up to Sports Photography and in the same place where you found the button that says [Post Reply] will be a similar button that says [Post Thread] click that.

[DHMN69]

I just read both pages of this before realizing that gena945 chose a thread from 2004 to reply to!