Advice wanted - Youth Wrestling

[ARKreations]

I've been contacted about shooting tournament for a local youth wrestling club in March. I have the opportunity to practice at a couple of their practices and also shoot another tournament before "the big one". I understand that gymnasium lighting is - well terrible at best. I'll be using my Nikon D80 and have 24-70 and 80-200 f/2.8, as well as a 50mm f/1.8 lenses and an SB-800 flash. I'm told I will be able to shoot from just off the mat, so I'm sure I've got the lens choices covered. I'm hoping I don't have to take the ISO over 800. But I'd really like some input on lighting.

Would I get better results with the flash on camera or positioned off-camera? If off-camera, where and how far away? Bounced, diffused, etc.?

Any and all input will be desired, appreciated, and devoured!

[OsmosisStudios]

You might want to check with the club: the wrestling matches ive covered are all no-flash-allowed.

[ARKreations]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You might want to check with the club: the wrestling matches ive covered are all no-flash-allowed.

That was my first concern and has already been confirmed.
Thanks.

[Jim Bryant]

Here at Washington State, while covering the WIAA State Wrestling championship, regionals, districts and individual meets using flash is okay. The only two sports that ban flash photography is diving and gymnastics competitions. Officials have tried to keep me from using flash at volleyball matches, but I just tell them to read their WIAA handbooks.

But then again each state and school has their own set of rules.

I don't like to use flash photography at any sporting event, but if the lighting is so bad, I'll set the camera on manual and shoot at 320th second shutter speed @ f2.8. The flash is set at 1/8-1/16 power output, just to a little light on the subject. I just can't stand the shadows it throws and looks so amateurish.

This Saturday, I shot a wrestling tournament using ISO 1600, camera on manuat, 320th at f2.8. The image was shot in RAW, pp in Photoshop and saved as a jpeg.

[ARKreations]

That helps a lot and reassures my line of thinking.
If I could get results like your example, I think they would be thrilled. (These will be for parents of 8-14 yr old kids)

Where and how do you have the flash oriented for shots like that?

[Jim Bryant]

I go into my Speedlite 580 EX and change my flash ratio output settings. I use canon, but I'm sure all those Nikon users could steer you in the right direction.

If I use on camera flash, I use bounce, not direct.

That example was shot at ISO 1600, camera on manual, 320th at f2.8. I used the 70-200mm lens and was able to shoot action on three mats.

Originally Posted by krossk

That helps a lot and reassures my line of thinking.
If I could get results like your example, I think they would be thrilled. (These will be for parents of 8-14 yr old kids)

Where and how do you have the flash oriented for shots like that?

[ARKreations]

Last night, I went to a practice for the youth wrestling team that wants me to shoot their tournament in March. I arived before my contact, but initially met the president of the team, who was already expecting me and instantly very excited to have me there. I chatted with her for a few minutes discussing the operating parameters, her expectations, and providing her with my contact info.

The facility was an older practice gym with a low, concrete ceiling with average quality flourescent lighting. I spent about an hour and a half just trying to get the feel for the conditions and what types of shots the action might provide. After I had taken about 55 pictures, I transferred them to my laptop for a closer look and was really surprised. While the white balance did look a little cold ( I shot with both custom and flourescent settings ), most of the pictures came out pretty clear and sharp. I then let the president look through a lightroom slideshow just to see if I was on the right track with what they are looking for. The next thing I know, she is surrounded by about 4 other parents and they are all "ooh-ing and aah-ing" through the whole set. She even identified a couple that she said would be great shots for their advertising brochure.

We then spoke a bit about what the conditions at an actual meet were like, how I would control access to the photos on my website, and how the parents were really excited to be able to get some decent quality action shots of their kids. So I think I passed the initial evaluation!

I think that if this goes well, there may be a better than average chance that I'll get an opportunity to do their portrait shoot next year as well!

I'll post a couple of shots in a day or two when I've had a chance to go through them.
Thanks for all the advice to this point.

[ARKreations]

As promised, here's a few samples from my first attempt at shooting wrestling.
The lighting was not great, just some sparse florescents in a small practice gym with a very low concrete ceiling. I found that the florescent WB setting was actually a little better than the custom WB setting, but they all were still a bit cool - nothing that a RAW adjustment couldn't correct. The actual gym where the meet will be held has much better lighting, but I thought these were pretty decent for the first time. The club was really pleased with them and is looking forward to my shooting the meet for them.

[Jim Bryant]

You did just fine with the wrestling photos. Might want to crop just a bit tighter.

[ARKreations]

Thanks - that's good to know.
I've got another opportunity to "practice" on an actual meet next weekend before the local tournament. So hopefully I'll be ready for prime time by then.