I won't even comment on the strobes because I can't get past the focusing issues. Did you look at these before you posted them? I know things can go awry during re-sizing for the web, but you gotta see these appear OOF.
The point of a strobe is to get some more DOF and a lower ISO for crisp images (maybe some isolation from ugly BG's). I don't think you are accomplishing that. Some of your shots are:
ISO 1600 F1.8 and 1/250-
Try to cut out some of the ambient by narrowing the aperture and lowering the ISO. One AB400 may not cut it especially bounced.
My suggestion is try to get to F4 1/250 and ISO400 if possible. Also try the strobist blog to get setup ideas. bouncing might work there...you have some white in the ceiling and they aren't too high. Good luck.
Thank you for the tip. I will try that next time. I assume adding a second light would be beneficial in this case? Since the gym is so dark without it. Or just run the power higher?
Do you understand the basic principles behind strobing? It sounds like you are trying to use the strobe as a fill. That's not right. The philosophy in a nutshell is this... when shooting ambient, light is your friend. When strobing, light is your enemy.
Before you head out to strobe next time, head to the gym with no strobes and normal game lighting and do this...
With no strobes at all...
Set your aperture at f/4
Set your shutter speed at 1/250
Now raise the ISO until you get a perfectly exposed image with no strobe. Note the ISO.
Now from there, lower your ISO in 1/3 stops leaving the aperture at f/4 and SS at 1/250. Keep taking a shot until you have lowered that ISO just enough whereby the frame you've shot produces a completely dark frame. Note that ISO.
Report those ISO numbers (perfect exposure and dark frame) here and then we'll talk.
I agree with Paul, you need to understand why you use the strobes, then you can understand what you did wrong, and how to make it better the next time.
These guys are Pros take their advice and learn from it. You will be surprised how much you can improve by following what they say.
