Over the holiday break I got a chance to shoot a HS basketball tournament for the local newspaper. The tournament typically attracts some pretty good talent including some
highly recruited D1 prospects. Here is a sampling of some of the shots that were used.
Always looking for feedback! http://www.dnjsports.com/fm/IMG_6049_2.jpg
Action isn't terrible in these, but it's not the most compelling, either. Many of the images look similar...guys driving to the basket. Beyond the action, I'm curious about your exposure settings. These are a bit underexposed and there's quite a bit of motion blur. You're using a 7d body and were only at ISO1250, 1/400, f2.2? Strange settings to say the least. I'd go with f2.8, 1/640 and crank up the ISO to whatever gets you that shutter speed. The 7d is great at handling high ISOs so take advantage of it.
Thanks for the input! I was a bit nervous pushing the ISO as I did not want or have a lot of time to post-process. Next couple of local games I will push it up and see what I get. Finally able to MA the 85 on the 7D body and get reasonable shots at f2.2 that I never could before.
mxrider641 wrote:
Thanks for the input! I was a bit nervous pushing the ISO as I did not want or have a lot of time to post-process. Next couple of local games I will push it up and see what I get. Finally able to MA the 85 on the 7D body and get reasonable shots at f2.2 that I never could before.
For the future, if the images are for newspaper print, bump the ISO and don't worry about post, grain isn't too noticeable in print. 6400 on my D7000 in b&w newspaper print always comes out fine. Even for regular images you should feel more than comfortable bumping it up more.
mxrider641 wrote:
Thanks for the input! I was a bit nervous pushing the ISO as I did not want or have a lot of time to post-process. Next couple of local games I will push it up and see what I get. Finally able to MA the 85 on the 7D body and get reasonable shots at f2.2 that I never could before.
I don't do any processing other than a slight levels and sharpen adjustment (no NR applied at all) to my D1 work.
Gear and setting? Canon 1d Mk2n and Mk2, f2.8, 1/640, ISO3200. Seriously, the 7d is much better at handling noise so I honestly don't know what you're worried about. Expose properly and noise is much less of an issue than most people think.
I have to agree with Scott that some are not that bad but if I were assigning you to shoot the game I would expect a better overall production. 1,5,6,7 are all decent frames although I would crop 6 much tighter. The rest either have no action or are out of focus. Unless you are totally stuck or it is a hugely significant moment when content trumps all, don't move (send) the stuff that isn't sharp. You are just making your editor at the newspaper question your skills by sending them. I understand gear may be a limiting factor here but remember that editing properly is as much a part of the job as shooting. I work regularly for the wires as well as major dailies and I take hundreds of bad photos in a game, some might look like these..... they just don't get sent!
I would crop it to keep the player's hand above 12's head and just enough at the bottom to see some of the court. On the sides get rid of most of the guy on the left and straighten the horizon. Just my opinion though.
Quite a few of these look like the focus is about a foot or two behind the player. The feet look nice and sharp but since these were shot at 2.2 the faces are lacking that nice critical focus.
Good timing, and good faces on all but #2.
Seriously, the 7d is much better at handling noise so I honestly don't know what you're worried about. Expose properly and noise is much less of an issue than most people think.