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Archive 2013 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball

  
 
Fish On
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Dragged my ass to shoot basketball for the first time this year as there was a tournament that was being played close to my home. It was a good thing that the first game was a girls game so I could shake the rust off. BTW, I shot the games standing up, so that I could move around as the ref's ass kept getting in my way.

Decided to use some "vintage" equipment to shoot the game. I used the 1DMark2N, 70-200/2.8 non-IS and Vivitar 285's. Some pics of my set-up are at the end. 1st game started at 11am and this gym had skylights. To start off, I was at ISO 400, manual mode, ss@250, fstop @F4. As the day wore on, I upped the ISO to 500 or 640.

For the first game, I was using the yellow zone on the Vivitar 285's and found that the recycle time was just taking too long(3 seconds) and there was also some motion blur. Here are some pics from the first game.

1) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-VbnKQt7/0/L/JRLS7187-L.jpg

2) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-8wFtD4J/0/L/JRLS7264a-L.jpg

3) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-6RLpJ3X/0/L/JRLS7194-L.jpg

For the second game, I decided to change from the yellow zone on the Vivitar to just using 1/2 power and got better results for the rest of the afternoon. Faster recycle times and less motion blur.

This was a boys game and a much faster pace. The team in blue scores just about every 7 seconds when they have the ball. They do a 5 man line-up change every 20-45 seconds as they do a full court pressing defense. They scored 134 points at the end of the game with a running clock in the 4th quarter. Not bad for a 32 minute game.

4) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-5bkpWJk/0/L/JRLS7409-L.jpg

5) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-C2XHK7Z/0/L/JRLS7335-L.jpg

Pics from the third game

6) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-FHtTxMz/0/L/JRLS7496-L.jpg

7) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-ctwGrsp/0/L/JRLS7456-L.jpg

8) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-BXHB42T/0/L/JRLS7506-L.jpg

Here is the set-up that I use. Lightstands are secured with a sandbag and bungee cord and the lights are 12-13 feet above the basket, pointed towards the top of the 3 point arch.

9) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-62KR4df/0/L/JRLS7112-L.jpg

10) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-kR7cfSP/0/L/JRLS7113-L.jpg

11) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-HJzQJXX/0/L/JRLS7234-L.jpg

12) http://jrlsphotos.smugmug.com/Photography/Fred-Miranda-postings/Fred-Miranda-postings/i-FK8kQw9/0/L/JRLS7119-L.jpg

C&C appreciated.



Jan 20, 2013 at 05:30 PM
Russ Isabella
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Sweet stuff, Jerry! I really like that first shot, along with 3, 6 and 8. That's some smokin' vintage gear you've got there.


Jan 20, 2013 at 05:39 PM
rdalrt
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


I really like the look of these. Nicely done!


Jan 20, 2013 at 05:42 PM
Ralph Thompson
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Potty mouth Jerry (Too much a$$) ! Nice stuff Jerry! I love my 285's though they haven't seen much use lately... The 2N is still a worthy tool.


Jan 20, 2013 at 06:15 PM
DennisC
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Excellent; and thanks for the set up shots!


Jan 20, 2013 at 09:27 PM
canonrick1
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Good balance in lighting, shadows are minimal. Good color and skin tones. appreciate you sharing your setup.


Jan 20, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Bryan Crowe
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Nice work and on a budget.

Light looks great.

Bryan



Jan 21, 2013 at 01:03 AM
drbob
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Very nice light. Looks like 12 - 13 feet above the floor, though, not the basket.

bb



Jan 21, 2013 at 09:32 AM
OntheRez
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


I've always felt that if you've got the light, the IIn can do the job. Question, how many strobes did you have in place? Also, were they all placed similar to the one you have pictured?

Shooting at ISO 400 is a dream for me as the games are always at night and the gyms old and dark. Starting to wonder about strobes. Really like the symmetry of the players in #3.

Nice work,
Robert



Jan 21, 2013 at 09:48 AM
wbunnell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Nice work. I've been using a couple of speed lights on light stands myself for my last two games. I'll be switching to clamping them directly to railings whenever possible as the light stands have had a couple of close calls with being bumped into.

I have a friend that is using older Canon bodies to shoot basketball and wants to upgrade to something newer for better high iso. I'm trying to convince him otherwise and invest in lighting equipment first and a new body later.



Jan 21, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Fish On
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Russ, Rdalrt, Ralph, DennisC, Canonrick1, Bryan - thanks for the comments

drbob - good catch on the typo. I meant 12-13 ft. from the floor

OntheRez - I used 2 Vivitars for this shoot. One in each corner, set-up the same way.

wbunnel - Make sure they're secured tight to the clamps. That's why I use the sandbags along with the bungee cord and a cable(not shown) to the flash to secure it from falling. Just wanted to show what you can do with "vintage" equipment. No need to break the bank.



Jan 21, 2013 at 11:05 AM
andyz
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


The images are very sharp and you did a great job getting action. There was a comment about the height to the flash. On no. 4 there is a noticeable shadow that prevents seeing the players hand and ball at the hoop. Was this due to the low placement of the flash?

Also, I keep hearing about "don't even consider this without insurance." Your post makes it sound like a spur of the moment thing. Was there any hesitation on the part of the school to allow the flash setup, was insurance discussed, are folks going without insurance and just accepting the risk?

It isn't my intent to move the discussion away from the photos, they're good, I'm just trying to get a broader understanding of the process.



Jan 21, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Fish On
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Andyz - the shadows are just the result of the flash whether they're high or low, you'll always get the shadows.

I shoot for an outfit that covers high school sports and there was no need to contact the school. All the schools in my area know this outfit and we are always welcome to shoot the games, be it basketball, football, volleyball...etc. I'm not saying that just because I shoot for this outfit that everything is okay. I've been shooting for them for seven years now and I know the majority of the officials, ad's and coaches in my area and what equipment I can use when taking pics. I've also talked to them beforehand as to what is allowed in the gyms and on the field.

Insurance is a must when you are taking pics where injury could happen anytime, anywhere. Take for example, a daytime football game(no flash equipment involved). If you are shooting from the sideline and the play comes towards you and the player runs into you and injures himself where he cannot play the rest of the season or his career is over, guess what is going to happen.



Jan 21, 2013 at 11:28 AM
wbunnell
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 1D2N & Vivitar 285's do HS basketball


Fish On wrote

wbunnel - Make sure they're secured tight to the clamps. That's why I use the sandbags along with the bungee cord and a cable(not shown) to the flash to secure it from falling. Just wanted to show what you can do with "vintage" equipment. No need to break the bank.


I wasn't implying "break the bank at all". I was agreeing with you on "vintage" equipment getting the job done and even shared a link to this post for my friend to view. Personally I am going to switch to clamps whenever possible since I have felt uncomfortable with stands at some games no matter what precaution I have taken. I heartily agree on insurance and making sure everything is secure.



Jan 21, 2013 at 12:24 PM





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