Below are a few photos I shot at Florida's last home gymnastics meet in the O'Connell Center which has very good lighting but very cluttered backgrounds (except for uneven bars). I'll see if I make 2 posts with 4 photos each:

#1: Alicia Goodwin (beam pose) - 1DMkIII-85L@f/1.4

#5: Corey Hartung (Khorkina on bars) - 1DMkIII 200L@f/2

As usually, you have an awesome set of photos. I usually try to photograph UGA gymnastics (from the stands) - and I have seen you in Athens a couple of times (but I didn't want to disturb you). Currently, I have an injured shoulder; so, I am unable to shoot. Anyway, maybe I will see you in Athens soon - keep these outstanding photos coming.

very nice indeed. How difficult is it to get focus with the 85 1.2? I wouldn't think that it is fast enough in focusing speed to keep up with the action, that by the way was my impression but you have dispelled that.

acrabb wrote:
Anyway, maybe I will see you in Athens soon - keep these outstanding photos coming.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm planning to drive up to to Georgia on February 28 for the Georgia-Florida meet. Georgia looks unbeatable this year from the first meet I've seen on video. They'll get their first real test when Utah competes against them tomorrow. I've seen some great shots from the stands. With the change in the floor layout for video in Stegeman Coliseum, it is getting tougher to shoot beam and bars from the floor. Before the change, Stegeman used to be my favorite location to shoot beam.

don mash wrote:
......How difficult is it to get focus with the 85 1.2? I wouldn't think that it is fast enough in focusing speed to keep up with the action.....

The 85L II focuses fast enough for gymnastics where the action is very fast (i.e., fast twitch muscle) but the subjects generally aren't moving away from or to you at a fast rate. Also, the gymnasts have standard routines. Once you learn them by watching warm ups, its relatively easy to predict where the gymnast will be at any particular point.

I wouldn't want to try to shoot basketball with the 85L.

Nice set! It's great to be a Florida Gator!

William: I've long admired your gymnastics work (and your access!) and I've often hung on your every word in your equipment reviews (it's why I own the 85L II). So it's great to see you posting here. A very nice set, and I enjoyed the entire gallery. Florida offers some beautiful gynastics, and we're fortunate here in Utah that our home season will wrap up with a visit from the Gators.

Love the action in # 4 and the smile in # 7 - Wow! Great job!

Great shots, Looks like some good lighting is available there too.

Russ Isabella wrote:
..... Florida offers some beautiful gynastics, and we're fortunate here in Utah that our home season will wrap up with a visit from the Gators.

It will be good to see some photographs of the Gators under Huntsman Center lighting. From what I've seen it's a little top heavy. However, your photos and those taken by Jeff Sipsey (was shooting UCLA) at the meet look great.

Wow, I am a fan of your reviews, and now these photos. Outstanding!

Excellent work, great action and light 3 4 and 5 are my favorites.

William,

Great set of images. Just a pet peeve of mine but the horizon in 3,5,6 and 7 are a little crooked. I'd crop 5 and 6 a little tighter, but that's a personal taste I think. All appear to be 1/3 stop overexposed. Imagine that, too much light for gymnastics...

I have got to try to shoot some college gymnastics!!!!

-John