Photo Assignment: Sept '06 - Sports/Action

[JR6ooo4]

Thanks for the tips 0bli0!

Mikeeee

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OK, can't wait to try it! Good tips 0bli0!

 

[ColoradoDis]

Does anyone have good indoor volleyball shots? I've had an Olympus ultrazoom for the past three years and most of them come out blurry.

I'm ready to take the plunge and splurge on a dSLR (looking at the Olympus E500 because of the 2-lense kit it comes with). My daughter starts her season tomorrow and I'm tired of missing good shots because of the blur. What are your suggestions for the typical high school gym pictures?

Thanks

 

[Master Mason]

Does anyone have good indoor volleyball shots? I've had an Olympus ultrazoom for the past three years and most of them come out blurry.

I'm ready to take the plunge and splurge on a dSLR (looking at the Olympus E500 because of the 2-lense kit it comes with). My daughter starts her season tomorrow and I'm tired of missing good shots because of the blur. What are your suggestions for the typical high school gym pictures?

Thanks

I don't know that particular camera myself, but you should check into the quality of the ISO before you purchase. If you can't get a decent picture at a high ISO, then your back in the same boat your already in.

 

[Geoff_M]

OK... They're from May, not September, but here goes:

Later this month I'll be doing some aerial (sail planes and acrobatics) photography...

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm ready to take the plunge and splurge on a dSLR (looking at the Olympus E500 because of the 2-lense kit it comes with).

Remember that there's a couple of variables to work with here. To get good indoor sports photos, you'll want a camera with adequate high ISO performance and good "fast" lenses. "Kit" lenses are almost universally "slow" (i.e. they have lower maximum apertures). A camera set to ISO 1600 using f5.6 @ 1/500 sec. will give you the same exposure as a camera set to ISO 400 using f2.8 @ 1/500 sec. If you can get close enough to use a 50mm lens, and can buy a 50mm f1.4, then you can use ISO 100 and get the same results!!! I spent my highschool years shooting our basketball and V-ball teams with Tri-X 400 and a 50mm f1.4 and got very good results with available light.

Another thing to note... Volleyball is notorious for prohibiting the use of flash photography, so getting a powerful flash for your dSLR might not work in the end. This isn't to say that it'd be automatic problems for you, but you might draw attention if you use something a lot stronger than a point-n-shoot flash.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Sailing is definitely a sport, so here are a couple I took off Newport, RI on 8/25/06. These are actual 12m sailboats that were sailed in the America's Cup races in the past. They were taken from our sailboat and let me tell you, we weren't approaching the speed these boats were going.

I'm a beginner so I'd be interested if anyone has opinions.

 

[boBQuincy]

 

[geetey]

0bli0 - would the Canon 50mm be a good choice for volleyball pictures? I don't have the 85mm. My other lens is the 17-85mm IS. The season starts Saturday for us!

 

[geetey]

I don't think it can get much faster than the planes and jets at the Air Show this weekend!

I took this one of the 4 biplanes...

My hands were simply too shaky so I passed the camera to my 11 yr old DS so I could pack things up, but he wanted to take a couple of shots. I showed him how to hold the XT correctly and how to pan along with the planes.

There were a couple of times the camera didn't want to take the picture but these were with the slower IS lens. All in all, I think he did an excellent job!

 

[Monte Cristo]

OK... They're from May, not September, but here goes:

Later this month I'll be doing some aerial (sail planes and acrobatics) photography...

These are awesome. Hopefully the crew guy is ok....

 

[RadioNate]

Ok I have a ZILLION. I just couldn't decide which ones to post.

I think all were taken with my S2IS. The arena doesn't allow SLR cameras for spectators.

I know I need to change my orientation. Shoot portrat mode is really hard for me.

I've posted the originals with no editing. I've cropped and used noise reduction software on most of the 'final' keepers.

Most we taken with the shoot and pray method!

 

[RadioNate]

 

[RadioNate]

Last batch!

I know white balance has been my biggest challenge. Also getting correct exposure times. The S2IS only goes to 400 ISO. I know I should be using MUCH faster shutter speeds than I do but then the photos end up so dark.

There is a good chance I'll be credentialed for hockey this year so I'll be able to bring in a dSLR, but it is really doubtful for basketball.

 

[0bli0]

0bli0 - would the Canon 50mm be a good choice for volleyball pictures? I don't have the 85mm. My other lens is the 17-85mm IS. The season starts Saturday for us!

on what body? generally speaking - yes it would be fine - you just may have to crop a bit. you can also get yourself a Tamron or Kenko 1.4 extender to use with the 50mm.

 

[geetey]

Sorry! The Canon Rebel XT.

 

[Magix]

Panning shot, not recent, but from the end of pit lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 2004. I rarely get these to come out well, so I was very pleased to get the driver's face (that's Rodolfo Lavin) in such good focus, with the sunlight shining in.

 

[0bli0]

magix - great shot! yes the face is spot on

geetey - if you can walk up close to the side who you're shooting or get the action just on the other side of the net, then yes. if you're not close or shooting across the court, then you might try the 17-85 and bump the iso all the way up.

here are a couple of paintball shots from a tourney here in oz

 

[boBQuincy]

It's always fun to see some of your sports/action photos: clear, sharp, and your timing is spot on! Makes me feel like I'm there, hand me another batch of paintballs!

here are a couple of paintball shots from a tourney here in oz

 

[sk8belle]

That second one makes me want to duck!