Cold night at the football field....I should have brought more of my cold weather gear from Alaska.

Ralston Valley won 42-0 and faces Pomona on this Friday night for a chance to head to the final 4

All photos with the 7D, 120-300 2.8 and 580ex II

1.

Nice work Carl!!

Thanks...I think I am going to switch things up on Friday night. The 7D does ok with higher ISO than the Mark II, so I thing I might use the 1D on my 120-300 with 580EX II and then use my 7D as a grab camera with either the 85 1.8 (fastest lens I currently have) or with my 24-70 2.8 on it...with the 1.8 I might be able to get 1/500th at ISO 800-1000 on this field.....would have to go to 1600 to 2500 for the 2.8 lens without flash....

Hey Carl what's max preps reasoning behind having to use a flash?

Ben

Keep the noise down as much as possible for larger prints.

Ah makes sense

I have a feeling things will lighten up over the next couple years as more of the photographers upgrade to newer cameras. Canon 1DX and 1D4 and 5DMkIII's and D4's and D800's/700's handle high ISO's so much better than cameras from just 2 or 3 years ago that flash is going to be a thing of the past soon for MaxPreps. However, I will still strobe basketball because of cycling lights... There are a few guys shooting for them now that are using 1Dx's with 5D3's for backups that do not use flash for night games and their images look fabulous.

I am curious to know how often you get "called off" and have to stop using flash. I have been thinking about trying this myself.

Paul

Not once for football. Here in Colorado, CHSAA, the governing body, actually has written into the photographer rules that flash/strobe is permitted unless it directly affects the ability of players or officials to compete/perform their duties. So, as long as I am not pointing the flash/strobe directly into a volleyball players face, or putting strobes/flashes in areas the players or officials can run into them, you are good. I know in Alaska, strobes are not allowed for volleyball, but allowed for basketball, football, soccer (though not needed) wrestling, hockey and ROTC comps. Also not allowed for gymnastics