Wrestling shot with a different lens...

[GadgetRick]

Ok, I decided to shoot my son's latest wrestling match with my 50mm F1.8 Nikon lens. I feel I've done ok with the flash but I really hate using it to capture these shots as, well, it just doesn't look natural.

Anyway, here's one of the shots...



f2.2 ISO 800 1/125

Obviously, I could have gone larger on the aperture and gotten a faster shutter speed but I wanted to see how this came out. I'm (more or less) pleased with the result. Would have liked a narrower DOF but....

[73rocks]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

Ok, I decided to shoot my son's latest wrestling match with my 50mm F1.8 Nikon lens. I feel I've done ok with the flash but I really hate using it to capture these shots as, well, it just doesn't look natural.

Anyway, here's one of the shots...



f2.2 ISO 800 1/125

Obviously, I could have gone larger on the aperture and gotten a faster shutter speed but I wanted to see how this came out. I'm (more or less) pleased with the result. Would have liked a narrower DOF but....

You and I are on the same wavelength, although I do basketball and use Canon equipment instead. When space allows I use my 85mm f1.8 or in the really cramped gyms I use my 50mm f1.8. I have a Sigma 70 - 200 f2.8 zoom but I have found that it is just too cumbersome to use right under the basket so I have found that for basketball I leave the Sigma zoom at home.

Although there are some venues where the light just isn't good enough, whenever I can I too try to go without the flash. I agree the flash makes it look like you are shooting in a dungeon and the preflash focusing bursts can be a distraction.

Anyway, I think by the result of your example you have it down very well. I wouldn't change too much, I like what you have now . . . good job.

Here is one shot that I took last week . . .


1/400 sec f1.8 ISO 1000 no flash

[wamplers]

You might crop in some from the left to cut out some of the crowd, but overall a very nice shot. Would be nice if you could get an angle that cuts out the crowd.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by wamplers

You might crop in some from the left to cut out some of the crowd, but overall a very nice shot. Would be nice if you could get an angle that cuts out the crowd.

That's something I grapple with (pun intended ) when I'm shooting these shots. On one hand, I really like to have the crowd in the background, you can see the concentration of some people watching the action. On the other hand, I'm not getting a tight enough DOF to blur them quite enough to my liking so it becomes somewhat distracting.

When shooting in these gyms for wrestling, it's very difficult to get shots without something distracting in the background. The walls, in all honesty, usually are much more distracting than the people in the background. Also, they allow people (in these kinds of matches) to sit/stand right beside the mats. On top of that, they'll have 4 matches going on at once. Not quite like a high school or travel match where there's only one match at a time and people are made to sit in the bleachers (farther away from the action (allowing me to blur them more).

But I agree, would be great to be able to shoot without the distractions...

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by 73rocks

You and I are on the same wavelength, although I do basketball and use Canon equipment instead. When space allows I use my 85mm f1.8 or in the really cramped gyms I use my 50mm f1.8. I have a Sigma 70 - 200 f2.8 zoom but I have found that it is just too cumbersome to use right under the basket so I have found that for basketball I leave the Sigma zoom at home.

Although there are some venues where the light just isn't good enough, whenever I can I too try to go without the flash. I agree the flash makes it look like you are shooting in a dungeon and the preflash focusing bursts can be a distraction.

Anyway, I think by the result of your example you have it down very well. I wouldn't change too much, I like what you have now . . . good job.

Here is one shot that I took last week . . .


1/400 sec f1.8 ISO 1000 no flash

I like your shot! Looks good, great moment caught.

I'm thinking of getting the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. I feel it'll give me just wide enough for what I need and just enough zoom. I'd been shooting with my big zoom (Sigma 18-200mm) but it's only f3.5 (at 18mm of course) and I rarely ever wanted/needed to zoom past 70-80mm. I don't need a lot of zoom because I can get right on the mat (as you can see) close to the action.

I'm still getting used to shooting with the 50mm and learning how to get good focus. Practice, practice practice...

I plan to upgrade my body (yeah, that one, too ) to something which will allow me to shoot at higher ISOs to get a faster shutter speed. My Nikon D50 doesn't seem to like going above 800 ISO so I'm somewhat limited in shutter speed. I can (kind of) get away with it in wrestling but forget about it for basketball or something which moves faster.

[Ray Dockrey]

I don't want to hijack this thread but I have the 28-75 Tamron that is mentioned above and it is about all I use any more. I got it about six months ago. Tack sharp and very fast. I use it for a walk around lens and for portraits. I use it on my D40x and my D200.

[73rocks]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

I like your shot! Looks good, great moment caught.

I'm thinking of getting the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. I feel it'll give me just wide enough for what I need and just enough zoom. I'd been shooting with my big zoom (Sigma 18-200mm) but it's only f3.5 (at 18mm of course) and I rarely ever wanted/needed to zoom past 70-80mm. I don't need a lot of zoom because I can get right on the mat (as you can see) close to the action.

I'm still getting used to shooting with the 50mm and learning how to get good focus. Practice, practice practice...

I plan to upgrade my body (yeah, that one, too ) to something which will allow me to shoot at higher ISOs to get a faster shutter speed. My Nikon D50 doesn't seem to like going above 800 ISO so I'm somewhat limited in shutter speed. I can (kind of) get away with it in wrestling but forget about it for basketball or something which moves faster.

Thanks for the compliment.

Yeah . . . I guess I should add too that I did upgrade my body from a Canon Xti to a Canon 50D. This gives me a little more leeway for ISO.

As far as focusing with my prime f1.8 lenses . . . it takes some getting used to and learning which of the 3 focus modes and which of the 9 focus point settings to use. There is a learning curve there that has cost me some great action shots. But like you say - practice, practice, practice.

As far as my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 . . . the team that I follow has a game coming up at a small college gym that will provide me with both great lighting and lots of room under each basket. I can't wait for that one so I can use the Sigma zoom.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Ray Dockrey

I don't want to hijack this thread but I have the 28-75 Tamron that is mentioned above and it is about all I use any more. I got it about six months ago. Tack sharp and very fast. I use it for a walk around lens and for portraits. I use it on my D40x and my D200.

No worries. I'm glad you have had good experiences with it. I've only read good things about it. Hoping to save my pennies and get one in a month or two. I'll rent one first to be sure.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by 73rocks

Thanks for the compliment.

Yeah . . . I guess I should add too that I did upgrade my body from a Canon Xti to a Canon 50D. This gives me a little more leeway for ISO.

As far as focusing with my prime f1.8 lenses . . . it takes some getting used to and learning which of the 3 focus modes and which of the 9 focus point settings to use. There is a learning curve there that has cost me some great action shots. But like you say - practice, practice, practice.

As far as my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 . . . the team that I follow has a game coming up at a small college gym that will provide me with both great lighting and lots of room under each basket. I can't wait for that one so I can use the Sigma zoom.

Yes, it does take getting used to--shooting with a prime lens. I'm getting better but I've missed some good shots.

I happen to be one of the coaches of the rec team here in Clifton so I have all access. They'll even let me on the mat for travel matches and I could get permission to get (almost) on the mat for the high school team. Truth be told, I'm trying to get good enough to start a side-business providing action shots to parents. You always get the same static studio-like shots. Nobody seems to get action shots and all of the parents I've talked to (me included) want action shots. Learning how to shoot properly as well as learning about the biz. We'll see how it goes...

[73rocks]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

Yes, it does take getting used to--shooting with a prime lens. I'm getting better but I've missed some good shots.

I happen to be one of the coaches of the rec team here in Clifton so I have all access. They'll even let me on the mat for travel matches and I could get permission to get (almost) on the mat for the high school team. Truth be told, I'm trying to get good enough to start a side-business providing action shots to parents. You always get the same static studio-like shots. Nobody seems to get action shots and all of the parents I've talked to (me included) want action shots. Learning how to shoot properly as well as learning about the biz. We'll see how it goes...

I know what you are saying about nailing "those action shots".

This is one of the two photos that turned out using my old Canon Eos 35mm film camera my very first time photographing a high school basketball game in 2001:


After seeing these results I have been photographing High School Sports ever since. I guess you could say after that night I was hooked! And after seeing your shot and enthusiasm to learn I do believe you now have the "shutter bug" too.

I thought about selling my shots to parents too but seeing as the small town newspaper I shoot for covers my expenses it wouldn't be right so for now I do it just for the fun of it and for the recognition of having my shots appear in local yearbooks around the area.