Hardest Thing I've Ever Photographed; and I'm doing it again in 4 days. Help?

x2... Or just buy one! Your going to get a 50mm sooner or later.

Also on DX... the 35mm f1.8 is fantastic aswell.

 

I shot at a PBR even here in Portland once, it was in the rose quarter, one of the big ones, it was on TV. One hell of an event.

The crowd goes NUTS at 8 seconds.

Pro Photo didn't have any 300 or 400 2.8's, the best I could get was a 300 f/4, but on the D700, it did alright, spent alot of time at ISO 3200 and 6400.

We met a great guy at the even who shot for Getty Images, he was using a 1DII and a 400 2.8. We all agreed that not just him, but all three of us got dicked by the PBR staff. We had the press passes and all but it took alot of effort to get us out of the 50-row spot and down on the ground level, and when we did get down, they put us at the OPPOSITE side. Joe Blo's who got tickets had better spots than the people with the press passes. figures.

It was still fun nonetheless

 

^^^^^^^ Now Dat's Clean High-ISO...^^^^^^^^

High Shutter Speeds, motion frozen, images sharp...f/4 is one stop wider than the OP's 55-200 will past the middle of the zoom range...the above is why I suggested she rent a D3 or D700...clean High-ISO...pro-class autofocusing...

 

WOW, Sw!tchFX. Those shots are SHARP!!!! You are my aspiration (added you on Flickr). I've heard from a few photographers that the PBR are less than gracious to media photographing the events. Blegh.
Since I can't afford to Rent, let alone purchase, better equipment, I've decided to steer (no pun intended) clear of low-lit events, especially after seeing my end results. My Day-time motoX shots are clean, but these are a HOT MESS. Some of it my doing, admittingly. The darker it gets outside... the uglier they get. uke: Hate to post them....

 

Wow, Kat, with better equipment, these shots would have been totally awesome. Seriously, your timing and framing are all excellent...there are TEN incredibly SOLID images there, among those frames, that for the lack of a faster more-capable lens or a much more-capable HIGH-ISO camera body, would have been absolutely outstanding images. And I mean that...the movement, the moments, the positioning of the cowboys and the bulls and the rodeo clowns...very,very compelling in 10 of those shots...

As it is, there is still some visual excitement,and a sense of movement, or motion blur, and the shots do carry some visceral impact still, but the technical quality and the pictorial quality is just not up to par with state of the art 2010...

I had no idea you were such a capable shooter. I feel very saddened for you that circumstances and current equipment both limited your potential...you CLEARLY are at the limits of your equipment. If somebody handed you a top-shelf Nikon and a half-decent lens, I have no doubt that you would have come away from this rodeo event with 10 solid,solid,solid keepers. You might feel bad about posting the shots, but you know something? You,and this event are a perfect example of how better equipment would have EASILY, almost automatically, enabled you to get better pictures. I can SEE the pictures you tried to get....your timing and framing was excellent, but that slow kit lens at f/5.6 really,really held you back! You need a better camera. Straight up.

 

I have to agree here better gear would greatly help your situation. It has already been said but rental is a great option to get your feet wet without a massive investment. By the way great shots and you would REALLY get better results with faster glass to start with but ultimately a better body would help as well.

 

I totally agree with Derrel +JIP here, there are newbs then there are newbs who can see, I'd be looking for a bank loan to improve my equipment if I were you and sell on what you have its letting you down. H

 

Thanks so much, guys Your input means a lot. Sometimes I need a little push and motivation. I've definitely been thinking about getting a business loan. I'll check into prices for renting lenses and try to pull it off. It's not really my thing, but I may have to book several family portrait shoots to help pay for my lack of equipment. Ya' don't exactly get the adrenaline rush with family shoots like you do at bull riding. lol :lmao:

 

Family shoots pay for all kinds of things, don't knock em, as Derrel said on another thread big family shoots can be very lucrative if you know how to plan/execute/provide. H