Going to a night time H.S. Football game tonight...

hankejp · Sep 19, 2008

So I'm going to a High School football game tonight and thought I would bring my camera, a D40, to the game. This will be my 1st night time shooting, and I am hoping for a few pointers.

This is what I am hoping to do so far.

Have my ISO setting at 1600
User a high shutter speed.

What other suggestions might there be?

Thanks

joecoulsonphotography · Sep 19, 2008

Tripod or monopod, lowest aperture possible, close to the action as possible (so you don't have to crop too much at 1600 iso) shoot raw so you can bring more out of underexposed shots and reduce noise better.

KristinaS · Sep 19, 2008

What lens are you planning to shoot with?

hankejp · Sep 19, 2008

I have my 18-55mm AF-S and then borrowed a 70-300mm ( I believe G) lense. I do have a tripod, and there is also a chest high fence going around the field.

Thanks everyone.

joecoulsonphotography · Sep 19, 2008

If that 70-300 is a VR, turn it off before you use the tripod. Or leave it on and don't use the tripod.

hankejp · Sep 19, 2008

joecoulsonphotography said:
If that 70-300 is a VR, turn it off before you use the tripod. Or leave it on and don't use the tripod.

It doesn't have VR, so I'm good on that.

epp_b · Sep 19, 2008

Is that the el-cheapo 70-300 AF lens that doesn't AF with the D40? That's gonna be frustrating.

Heck · Sep 19, 2008

Also take some test shots to get your white balence to look good..

pm63 · Sep 19, 2008

Don't use a tripod.

You'll just cripple yourself in terms of manouverability, and you should be shooting at speeds high enough to freeze the action (1/500+), so there is no way you won't be able to hand hold that. It's not like the lens is a beastly 400 f/2.8...

reg · Sep 19, 2008

Just be aware - you'll get very little to keep without a 2.8 lens.

KristinaS · Sep 19, 2008

reg said:
Just be aware - you'll get very little to keep without a 2.8 lens.

Agreed. Most high school stadium lighting is terrible. I actually just shot a game tonight, too.

hankejp · Sep 20, 2008

Well, my 1st football or any sports photography is done and it was a COMPLETE disaster. But that is how we learn isn't it?

I'm not sure what went wrong, but have an idea. I couldn't shoot faster than 1/250. If I tried I got an error saying the subject was too dark. I think this is because the Aperature couldn't open up any wider.

Is this becuase of the limitation of the lense? I didn't use the built in flash. Do you think it would've helped at all? I will post some of the disaster in the next post.

Thanks

hankejp · Sep 20, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/2872685056_ea1132f326_b.jpg

Heck · Sep 20, 2008

Keep in mind for your first sports shoot you jumped into the fire. Your lens was gonna hold you back under them lights and the fast action of the players. Like you say this is how we learn.

beaminge36 · Sep 26, 2008

What mode did you shoot on? I just shot my first sports shots the other night. I took photos of some freshman volley ball outside the dorms and some students playing tennis. Not too happy with the results either. I took in total about 400 pictures and came out with 10-20 reasonable shots (by that i mean they don't hurt my eyes). I'm sure given time reflexes will build in for capturing the right pictures. As you mentioned, the aperature is about the only thing that could have made a difference. A built in flash is only good for a short distances, maybe 15 feet? (not so sure about the number) I am going to rewind and start with day sports to get good at the technical part of taking sports photography before I invest in good equipment for night sports (which inevitably is the way to go). Anyway, good luck with future shoots.

Nick