Brazilian Jiu Jitsu C+C

[Ballistics]

Maxum9 by The Photo Major, on Flickr


Maxum2 by The Photo Major, on Flickr


Maxum12 by The Photo Major, on Flickr

All shot with either 24 or 50mm 1.8
ISO 1600
Shutter Speed 320
F2 or F2.8

The issue I have is that they are so noisy and soft. Plus the red mat reflecting onto their faces makes it hard to adjust to white balance. I seriously need work and I need to improve. Would like to get a few pointers from you indoor sports photographers, especially if you shoot wrestling.

 

[Ballistics]

Bump for some tips

 

[Trever1t]

Don't let you opponent get a leg under you....

They all look a bit dark. Expose for your subject, let the rest fall where it falls.

 

[Ballistics]

The issue in my gym is that the light ballasts are so far apart and that it is so dim. If I expose for the subject, what do I do about the background if it is overexposed?

 

[Jaemie]

I'd crop out the blue ass in #1.

Sports / martial arts photos always seem to have a lot of extra body parts in the background. I guess there's little to be done about that.

 

[Trever1t]

Unless you are packing lighting gear I wouldn't even worry about the backgrounds and let them blow, it's your subject that needs to be lit properly.

Also, I agree with the above, a crop on the #1 shot would take it to a new dimension.

 

[Ballistics]

Sports / martial arts photos always seem to have a lot of extra body parts in the background. I guess there's little to be done about that.

Indeed

 

[spacefuzz]

Id say shoot in RAW, spot meter, and try a narrow DOF if you can to de clutter the background. You will most likely have high ISO or a really pricey lens. You could try renting a f/2.8 or 1.8 lens and see if that helps.

 

[Ballistics]

Id say shoot in RAW, spot meter, and try a narrow DOF if you can to de clutter the background. You will most likely have high ISO or a really pricey lens. You could try renting a f/2.8 or 1.8 lens and see if that helps.

You didn't look at the Exif data in the OP huh?

 

[imagemaker46]

The first one, a tighter crop behind the ref would make it work a little better, I think the other two look just fine. As long as you can get a decent background you can make the gym stuff work. The backgrounds in 2-3 are great. I wouldn't be so concerned about a higher iso, stopping the action is what works, but there are also times when you can drop the iso and shutter speed, then wait for the holds on the floor, you usually end up with some good faces. Throws in martial arts often end up having the bad backgrounds, and are most times tough to crop. I like shooting form a higher angle as a good second spot to be, you can get those really clean just the mat background. Whatever works.

 

[Ballistics]

The first one, a tighter crop behind the ref would make it work a little better, I think the other two look just fine. As long as you can get a decent background you can make the gym stuff work. The backgrounds in 2-3 are great. I wouldn't be so concerned about a higher iso, stopping the action is what works, but there are also times when you can drop the iso and shutter speed, then wait for the holds on the floor, you usually end up with some good faces. Throws in martial arts often end up having the bad backgrounds, and are most times tough to crop. I like shooting form a higher angle as a good second spot to be, you can get those really clean just the mat background. Whatever works.

I'll try a closer crop, I was kind of going for the story of an instructor overseeing his students.

 

[Ballistics]

I was just told that the last 2 shots are snap shots merely snap shots with out any compositional thought put in place, in another forum. Agree or disagree and why?

 

[Jaemie]

I was just told that the last 2 shots are snap shots merely snap shots with out any compositional thought put in place, in another forum. Agree or disagree and why?

I disagree. I see elements of thoughtful composition (given the dynamic circumstances), strong emotional engagement, and fairly good technical work aside from some areas of poor exposure.

 

[imagemaker46]

I was just told that the last 2 shots are snap shots merely snap shots with out any compositional thought put in place, in another forum. Agree or disagree and why?

Really, I think they are pretty good sports images. Nothing wrong with either one.

 

[Ballistics]

I figured that my composition wasn't horrible. Exposure is an issue because of how horribly lit the gym is.