p.2 #2 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Spectacular! I dream of being able to catch images like this. When shooting with primes, do you just assume that sometimes you will have cut limbs, as in #5? I would love to reach this level of shooting and I am considering going to primes only in the future when funds permit it.
p.2 #3 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
usual outstanding work Paul on exposures and comps. These girls look pretty creepy to me, though. Just, like.. what is the deal with that makeup? I'm sure the parents will love these as I'm guessing they encourage the glitz, but the expressions and michael jackson-makeup is just bizarre to me haha I'm so far removed from this, I'm sure it's the norm
a Lebron-esque effect with the smoke/powder in No. 2, first thing I thought of
p.2 #5 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Zamboni Dan wrote:
usual outstanding work Paul on exposures and comps. These girls look pretty creepy to me, though. Just, like.. what is the deal with that makeup? I'm sure the parents will love these as I'm guessing they encourage the glitz, but the expressions and michael jackson-makeup is just bizarre to me haha I'm so far removed from this, I'm sure it's the norm
-d
As a father of an all star cheerleader.... I don't like the make up. At one of the parent meetings once I suggested that we drop the eyeliner, eye shadow, etc..... when all the moms quit laughing, I just sat down. Some parents think more is better. My daughter absolutely hates wearing all the makeup and sometimes doesn't put it all on... sorry for going off topic a bit here.
p.2 #6 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
John Patrick wrote:
What they do out there is nothing short of amazing, and I'm always happy to capture their achievements for them to cherish.
John
This is key - a memory for them to take home is all they are looking for. Deliver that & you've done your job and looking at these, this is a job well done.
p.2 #7 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Great shots as usual Paul.
Funny about the makeup, if you shot girls this young in a studio dressed like this you may find yourself in front of a judge for child erotica but for pageants and cheerleading it's okay.
p.2 #8 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Gymstar wrote:
Spectacular! I dream of being able to catch images like this. When shooting with primes, do you just assume that sometimes you will have cut limbs, as in #5? I would love to reach this level of shooting and I am considering going to primes only in the future when funds permit it.
I really miss attending NCA... maybe next year.
Gymstar... this is with a 70-200. On that shot, I went tight. There are others in the routine, where it's looser and full body with the base. The key is to show the parents variety.
p.2 #9 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Aside from the make-up...it is what it is and you can't control that. What you can control...you did, and you did it like you always do. These stand out because you pulled the trigger at the right moment. Your sense of positioning makes these look off the chart and the backgrounds indicates you definitely know your mojo. The separation in some of these is outstanding.
p.2 #12 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Gymstar wrote:
As a father of an all star cheerleader.... I don't like the make up. At one of the parent meetings once I suggested that we drop the eyeliner, eye shadow, etc..... when all the moms quit laughing, I just sat down. Some parents think more is better. My daughter absolutely hates wearing all the makeup and sometimes doesn't put it all on... sorry for going off topic a bit here.
I showed these pics to my gymnast daughter and she said these girls look like clowns with all their makeup. I'm with you, I think it is way over the top as are the facial expressions.
The photos however are fantastic. Great job on those for sure.
p.2 #14 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
John P Mulgrew wrote:
Paul you guys used lighting right not ambient?
If you mean strobes, no - we've (my company) never strobed an event.
The lighting there was either 300+ 1000W par-cans in one arena, HMI lighting mixed with moving heads and LEDs.
Usually we can shoot 640ISO, 1/640 shutter at 1.8. But depending on the lighting crew, dead/hot spots on the stage (especially in the air and corners) and the whether the lighting guy actually turned the lights all the way up during the routine - we can get varying results.
(unfortunately, to a lighting crew - light is light and if it hits the stage, its all good. We usually get the opportunity to focus the lights for a very even wash, but not always.)
p.2 #17 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
Thanks for the positive feedback all. As in many sports I shoot, I have grown to really appreciate this sport and enjoy shooting it. I think its important to have a passion for the sports you shoot. That passion will inevitably shine through in the images you produce.
p.2 #20 · 15 of 335,000 images... NCA Cheer Nationals
One of the things that always hits me about great photographers is that no matter what they shoot, I shake my head and utter things like "wow" and "if only" and it seems every thread you post Paul, I have that reaction.
I hope it's not lost on folks that you were nailing these repeatedly with one shot - not spraying. Makes it all the more impressive.
