Spent a great weekend with the Hammy Family again shooting some Cheer in San Antonio..
Since I have yet to post any of my Cheer shots from the last few shows I did with him, I figured I would share a little.
Here's a very small sampling:
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3)
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11)
12)
Wide angles were shot from remote MKIIn w/ 12-24mm at 3200 ISO 1/320 @ f/8 while I was shooting my MKIIn w/ old school 80-200 f/2.8 L at 800 ISO 1/400 @ f/2.8
#3... about as good as it gets from the WA
#6... nice hand Detrick*
#10... a different from the norm WA mid stage pop pop that I would only expect from a Level 6. Nice!
*Detrick: Any digital atoms coming at the camera other than the face.
Beats the hell out of shooting wheels and planes. Then again, maybe not.
Well I was going to say that #3 just knoced my socks off, but it looks like everyone else beat me to it, so I will just sit here and lurk some more. (grin)
I have to let you all know that image 13 through 8,725 from Dan are also outstanding - and that doesn't include the night shots from The Alamo or Coyote Ugly!
He did a great job managing both cameras simultaneously - I know of less than a handful that can do it successfully and get the shots timed right with both cameras! (CB and weeezel, you're both included).
Ditto on #3 and #10. Best images I have seen for cheerleading.
One thought/question...
As great of a shot as #3 is, a bit of fill light on the front guy's face would have made the image from excellent to excellent+. The trick is to how to do it without sacrificing the safety of the Cheerleaders. I am not suggesting a flash from low angle just wondering about the reflective nature / reality of those blue mats.
PS: As for the girl on the left corner, it is mostly a situation where she may not have that jump nailed.
Regarding #3, the girl at the rear left most likely cannot complete the required skill (toe touch). She wouldn't be preparing for a tumble pass while the entire squad is in the middle of required jumps. These are all-stars, which means this shot is the first, second, or even third of a series of consecutive toe touches. The girl would be standing at the rear too long to be prepping for a tumble pass. Besides, you would never see a solo tumble pass during jump sequences. Those two skills conflict with each other.
If this were high school, there would be a 1/4 or 1/3 point deduction for a missed group skill. However, this is all-stars and the rules vary widely from cheer company to cheer company so it's unknown what kind of penalty, if any, this squad would endure.
This angle also reveals that the strongest jumpers are at the front where roughly the first six rows or so are able to achieve an overextended touch. The cheerleaders at the rear can do only straight horizontal touches. Nothing wrong with either one as both count as executing the required skill. But the judges aren't sitting on the floor at this same angle. The angle from where they are sitting is dominated by the best jumpers at the front, a good way to conceal "average" jumpers.
(No use providing C&C since I agree with most comments)
Indy... always look forward to reading your responses to cheer posts because I learn more and more about the sport. Everything you said makes sense. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
