Thanks, Clarence. I usually top-out at ISO 4000 and at f/2.8, 1/800 is the best I can hope for in this arena. I also have been trying to err more on the side of over- rather than under-exposure.
Thanks, unravel. Yeah, it's a lot of fun to shoot. CW100, no doubt shooting a Duke game would be a blast, with a lot more than just the action on the court to work with.
fun shots Russ as usual. Really like #1, you can feel the power these guys have driving to the basket in this shot. One thing I noticed in my shots, which looks like it happened in yours between #1 and #2. Seems the lower I get to the actual floor leaning back on my rear end, sometimes in certain spots and depending on position of the lights, floor reflection affecting color of subjects. #1 looks like the paint helped negate the color of the wood floor. Then in #2 there seems to be something very slightly different in color. Its such a nitpick... but with your work thats the only stuff to comment on!
Is there any post processing adjustment you favor to try and minimize this effect? You seem to handle it pretty dang well I know I could probably spot adjust uniforms in LR4, just thought I would ask you.
3, 4, 6 are your usual sweetness.
7 - how can you not like both. Pretty young lady, smiling and entertaining..
Thanks, Manny. I appreciate your detailed feedback. Regarding color/white balance, the lights in this arena cycle quite noticeably and the color varies quite a bit from moment to moment. A photo sitting next to me at this game fired off a burst of one of the visiting players sitting on the bench. He chimped through the images on his camera's LCD screen and it was like watching a kaleidoscope of color as the change of tone from image to image was laughable (well, we laughed because there wasn't much else we could do). I've arrived at a Kelvin setting that works pretty well, and then I tweak from there if necessary. As you point out, some images are affected more than others. My only real adjustment in post are with the white balance sliders in ACR.
Hey Russ, so I'm guessing the reason you have the media pass is because you shoot for USA Today? And they allow you to post sample photos on places like this and your website?
Also wondering which lens you used for most of those? 70-200 for the ones around mid court? I like how they're all in focus, so I'm guessing using AF-C for focusing, and maybe a dynamic-9 range?
Lastly, most NBA games don't see like it's too squished behind the baskets. Even though I don't have a sponsor, would love to shoot a Laker game or even Clippers, but I'm guessing to get a media pass I'd have to be sponsored by a legitimate media outlet?
John: Your assumptions are correct. Near-court action is with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens, though on occasion I also use a 24-70 f/2.8. I'm shooting Canon, so it's AI Servo with a single focus point and 8 surrounding points activated. I can't imagine a media credential for NBA would be an easy thing to come by, and yes, you would need to be working for a legitimate media outlet that would take responsibility for requesting the credential.
