Basketball Shot

[morganfam7]

I'm oh-so-new to real photography. My camera is an old Canon D30. The lens was 50mm f/1.8 at 2.0. My shutter speed was 1/350. I am actually thrilled with the action shown. I didn't have much time to frame things. It was more like I happened to push the button at the right time than skill. What could I have done better? Is the white balance ok? Should I have went to 1.8? I'm the photographer for the whole team, so I'll get plenty of practice. Thanks for your input. Oh, and this is our home gym.



Marcy

[caine22]

It does show some good action, but I am not sure where the focus point is. It might be helpful to set your focus point to center only, so you can be sure to focus on your subject.

[morganfam7]

I will try that! Would that make the guy in red more crisp and defined than the others. I have been wondering about how to do that. Thanks again for the input!

[jdepould]

I think it would've worked better if you would've shot it vertically. A crop will get you the same effect, but you'll lose some resolution.

[clockdoc]

Hi Marcy,
I think you did a nice job of capturing the peak of action here. You will find that shots as good as this, with respect to hitting the peak of action, take a while to learn to anticipate, particularly with digital cameras. So just be prepared to shoot lots of images. White balance looks OK as well. The tip about center focus is good as you image will probably be sharpest there as well.
What ISO were you shooting here? I don't know what the D30 is capable of in terms of ISO and shutter speed or how it handles noise at higher ISO's but you may want to sacrifice a little grain for a higher shutter speed. Stopping action is also determined by the direction of travel with action coming straight at you being easier to stop. I think the blur is caused but the players movement here. When the action is going perpendicular to the aiming line, then that is where the higher shutter speed (and possibly panning) will help thje most. You are off to a good start with this nice action shot.

[morganfam7]

Lee, I appreciate your advice and encouragement! I think I was shooting at 800 ISO. The d30 has ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600. I don't have enough slr experience to say how the d30 handles higher ISOs / noise. lol This is my first DSLR. Also, the camera was set to center focus, so the out of focus was squarely my fault. I just need to work on it more! lol I certainly will get lots of practice at every game. I take about 600 shots per game!

Jdepould, here is the cropped image with no other post processing:



Is that where you would crop it? I cropped the guy out on the left, but then the picture lost it's sense of height.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Marcy

[jdepould]

I probably wouldn't have gone quite so tight, but cropping is a pretty individual thing. ISO800 is just right with a fast lens. Looks like you have some back-focusing going on (players we're supposed to focus on are blurry), if you look, the guys on the bench are sharp. What focus mode were you using? I usually use continuous-servo and dynamic (the camera can decide to shift focus points based on movement). I set it to the center focus point and lock the selector.

[morganfam7]

Yes, I notice in a lot of my shots the people behind the focal point are much clearer than my intended subject. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm using Auto Focus and it is set to Al Servo (is that an i or an L?). The focus point selection is on the center point. My drive mode is continuous shooting.

I'm confused about this focus point selector. You said you allow your camera to shift focus points based on movement but then you lock it to center?? So now it can't shift focus points? Doesn't that go against what you just did? I know I'm missing something here, but I can't seem to get it.

In my manual I see where I can set the focusing point to automatic selection and where I can momentarily lock the focus as long as I have the button half depressed. I don't think that is what you are talking about. What am I missing? Maybe my camera doesn't have the option that yours has. I really appreciate your help!

[jdepould]

No, I lock the AF area selector, so my nose doesn't choose a new focus point for me.

[morganfam7]

How can I get a better focus on my subject? Is it all in keeping my intended focal point in that center focus point? I don't know how I'm going be precise when they are moving so fast. I guess it's something that you acquire with experience, eh?