Night Football - Flash vs No Flash

[JSPhoto]

There is a lot of talk about shooting night football so I thought I'd throw this into the mix.
I , like 99% of the media photogs shoot football with a flash. The two shots below, one uses flash the other dosen't. The settings are all manual, including the flash. for the flash shot the settings are: shutter 1/200, ISO 800 88mm flash 1/4. The non flash shot is: shutter 1/200 ISO 800 110mm flash off.

One of the most noteable differences is there are no dark areas and you can see the players faces. Basically the flash settings I use act simply as a fill flash to eliminate the shadows and dark faces. I change the flash power according to how close the action is, It takes practice but the results are well worth it. I never go above 1/2 power on the flash as this uses a lot more power and it takes the flash more time to recycle for the next shot. Using 1/4 and 1/8 power allows for multiple flashes as quick as the shutter reacts. This flash shot was the second firing of a multiple shot series using the DRebel 300D body.
The difference is really noticeable when the two photos are printed, especially in newsprint.

hmmm, my numbers were 2 & 7 yesterday, these were shots #27 and 72
JS

[JETA]

What I don't understand is why is a flash undesirable for sports?

I want to kick my rebel to the curb so bad, but $$ will stop me for a while. I think my next purchase will be a flash.

[JSPhoto]

What I don't understand is why is a flash undesirable for sports?

I want to kick my rebel to the curb so bad, but $$ will stop me for a while. I think my next purchase will be a flash.

It's not thats it's undesirable for all sports per say, basketball it's only a problem once we get to the sectionals... regular season is fine From sectionals on you have to use strobes mounted way up in the rafters, out of the way

Football, no problem at all, the burst required is so quick players dont notice unless they are looking right at you... they do that to me a lot I guess they like their picture taken!

Wrestling same as basketball

Volleyball - a no no ... lol (I have 5 games scheduled the next three weeks I think) - Under certain circumstances you can use flash - if BOTH coaches approve of it prior to the game! rare...

Swimming - NO FLASH period. something about bothering their eyes... if they are swimming they won't notice it

Soccer - No flash.... bothers the goalie.... give me a break!!!!!!!! I was a goalie in hockey and it never bothered me... they scored on me whether a flash went off or not

We have specific rules for each sport and the use of flash here in the IHSAA rules that cover high school sports in Indiana. I imagine other states have similar rules. All photographers have to read the rules each year to make sure they understand the rules. I carry a book with me.

JS

[JETA]

Thanks for the low down. Since I don't shoot anything other then baseball and football for the most part I never knew any of that.

Where is OT? I get the feeling he uses flash as a last resort. I just wonder why. I think his photos are awesome with flash and without....

[JSPhoto]

Oh he's around... peeking in the window... I think, but he's around!

Yup, I'd check out the state athletic association and, in your case the college rules as well. I beleive the NCAA has rules such as you have to have a soft hood for basketball.

Before you ask....

A cheap and EASY soft hood: the rubber adapter for PVC plumbing, sized just to fit the lens, and under $5.00!! Use the clamp that comes with it to hold it to the lens.... I've seen a lot of pros use that setup.

JS

[JETA]

A cheap and EASY soft hood: the rubber adapter for PVC plumbing, sized just to fit the lens, and under $5.00!! Use the clamp that comes with it to hold it to the lens.... I've seen a lot of pros use that setup.

JS

Oh no! I've become predictable!

[JSPhoto]

hahaha...or I'm psychic....;)

JS

[Old Timer]

Where is OT? I get the feeling he uses flash as a last resort. I just wonder why. I think his photos are awesome with flash and without....

Been just a little busy here the last day or so. Your right I use flash as a last resort. I will shoot available untill it is not longer practical from an ISO/shutter speed perspective. A couple of reason on that. First the distraction factor, two regardless of how carful you are you end up with some red eye which takes time to correct and doesn't always look natural. Third if your flash is to strong you lose all the background that you have with available light. The last and maybe the most important factor is unless you are really fast and good at changing settings you limit yourself to the area on the field that you can shoot because of the travel of the light and also the possiblity of over exposure if they are to close. Hope this answers your question about my reluctance to use flash.

[jmagrino]

So wait... I'm the new guy here. I thought when you had an f/2.8 lens, you wouldn't need a flash for night football games. Am I wrong??? I'm in the process of getting my first pro-like setup, but I wasn't planning on getting a flash yet. I will be shooting Friday night High School Football games under some crappy lights usually. Should I get the flash too??? I've seen some results of other phtoographers with flash and the picture looks too bright or fake and the players look shiny. There has to be a way around that??? Man... I didn't do flash research yet.

Please fill me in.

[JSPhoto]

I use flash, primarily to fill in where the fields lights can't get. I'd give more examples but the paper ran the really good stuff. Next weekend I will have some more once I get my new gear. This time I bought a 580EX to go with the camera. This flash is designed to work with the camera, they communicate and give the light required, not an excess.
The two shots below have the same settings except one is with flash. The flash was set to manual, 1/4 power works well with my Canon's (1D and DRebel) and my f2.8 lens. As you can see the faces are better, and no real shadows on the players.

JS

[Ironman11]

I definately shoot some fill flash at the high school football games. It lets you see inside the helmets much better.