He shoots! Did he score?

[shutternut]

I shot my first basketball game last night for my college newspaper, and this is what I think is probably the best shot from the night. I just wanted to see how I did - please provide insight on any and all aspects that can be improved. (ex. composition, color, framing, the action itself, etc.)



Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 1600

[Jim Bryant]

Good work and managed to captured the peak action. Us sports shooters always get the best seats in the house. You might want to try shooting and focusing on the basket from an upper level. That location provides for great slam dunk and rebounding shots. Good luck!

[barabe]

You shoot you score, at least on this one .
You cannot be more into the action than this.
We can almost hear the people going crazy after the play.

Great shot.

[shutternut]

Thanks Jim and Martin! I really appreciate the feedback. Glad to know the shot is a keeper

[waffles]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

You might want to try shooting and focusing on the basket from an upper level. That location provides for great slam dunk and rebounding shots. Good luck!

That is, if you can get back down or don't mind staying up there for a good while. I got some shots of warm ups from up in the rafters and that was really cool. Did a volleyball set from up there too. High up is such a great angle. But I really love to be down low, so try it out at a time when you know you'll be able to get back on the floor.

As for your shot, there are some things to remember when shooting for the paper.

1 - You'll most likely get printed in black and white, but let them do that work unless they really screw it up. Which isn't to say that color isn't important, but it's a few notches lower.

2 - You've got to get a shot where the player is recognizable. Most of the time this means a face. But I've gotten some great stuff with the player's back where you could use their number as the ID. You've got both, which is great.

[Jim Bryant]

I posted a shooting basketball in the tutorial section with photos if that'll help anybody.

[overturn]

it seems maybe a little bit dark to me? might just be my screen on my laptop though. great shot, love the band of red color from the fans in the background, too.

[mdruziak]

Originally Posted by overturn

it seems maybe a little bit dark to me? might just be my screen on my laptop though. great shot, love the band of red color from the fans in the background, too.

I agree. Maybe a little to contrasty too. This should be an easy photoshop fix.

I agree, needs to be lightened, otherwise good shot.

[shutternut]

Thanks guys. I agree that it is a bit dark and contrasty - especially on certain computer screens. I have noted that but haven't had the chance to adjust it. I overkilled it a bit but my paper seems to require a lot of contrast - although in this case it could probably be less. The good new is this one got printed along with 3 or 4 of my other shots which was my first ever published work in a newspaper (pretty much my first published work ever if you don't count a calendar at a wildlife refuge ) Thanks for all the feedback! I've got a few other shots I want to share with you all when I get a chance.