HELP! How can I improve this picture

[kearypik]

Well those pictures are a heck of a lot better then mine! Will I be able to get close to that with out being able to get the ISO above 1600? Also everyone color is so much better then mine. I even did a custom WB. What am I doing wrong?

 

[MLeeK]

In a few rare gyms? yes. Otherwise? Probably not. You are always going to be working with a shutter that is too slow and/or underexposure issues.
I have shot in a gym with an XTi... You just need to give over and use flash. you'll be able to stop the motion AND you'll get some much better photos because of it. A speedlight mounted on a bracket tilted forward with the diffuser screen pushed straight up and down at about 1/2 power.
1/2 power to conserve on your recycle time. Straight up usually is useless because gyms are huge with HIGH ceilings, so bouncing isn't happening.

If you can place a couple of speedlights off camera with triggers even better!

 

[480sparky]

BB pix are not the same settings the world over. One venue may have a ton of light to shoot with, while the next one is dismally dark.

 

[MLeeK]

BB pix are not the same settings the world over. One venue may have a ton of light to shoot with, while the next one is dismally dark.

YES!!! Just look at the difference between my first set at f/2.8, 1/400 and ISO 12800 and my second set at f/2.8 1/500 and ISO 6400. The first is a pretty dark gym. The second is a fairly decent gym, but by far not the brightest I shoot in. I can give you images from an awesome gym to a dungeon. High school gyms are usually fair to dark. Older ones are REALLY dark. Newer ones are much better. The pads on the walls will make a huge difference if the gym is a smaller one.

 

[480sparky]

.......Older ones are REALLY dark. Newer ones are much better.......

And the old ones are typically maintained in-house. And Willie the Groundskeeper doesn't like to get out the 20' ladder all that often. End result: 20% of the lights are out, so there's 20% less light.

 

[waikiki]

Your photos are getting better and better, you should invest in a fix lens or nice tele light zoom, that will help , I am not sure if you use tripod, you should, that will make your photos sharper.

 

[Destin]

Your photos are getting better and better, you should invest in a fix lens or nice tele light zoom, that will help , I am not sure if you use tripod, you should, that will make your photos sharper.

He just invested in a new 70-200 2.8. Why tell him to get a new lens? I think a new camera body should be his next purchase since the ISO range on his current one is so Limited.

Tripod? For sports photography? Sure buddy, see how that works for you.

The op used a monopod. Which is still a pain in the butt for sports photos because it limits how you can move the camera to follow the action.

Did you even bother reading his post?

 

[kearypik]

Well I think with what my equipment is the best i can do is increase my shutter speed. Still not sure which is best AV or TV mode? but will give both a try next tournament. The lens that I have I do really like. It takes much better pictures then what I had before. I am not in the market for a new lens right now. In the future it will be a new camera. Baby steps for me, money is an issue. This is a passion that I am working on and wanting to get better in. Thank you all for your suggestions they will help. any more is appreciated!!


P.S. I did use a mono pod. tripod would be very difficult. As said by Destin even that was a pain.

 

[kearypik]

I will also try using a flash. I just don't want to distract the players.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Well those pictures are a heck of a lot better then mine! Will I be able to get close to that with out being able to get the ISO above 1600? Also everyone color is so much better then mine. I even did a custom WB. What am I doing wrong?

Are you shooting raw?

 

[gsgary]

I have a rebel xti. I believe 1600 is the highest. The reason I didn't get a 85mm 1.8 is because Im not always close to the court. Would you set it in program or something else?

I would be in manual, are you sure your cmaera will no expand to iso3200 my old 10D would

 

[MLeeK]

I have a rebel xti. I believe 1600 is the highest. The reason I didn't get a 85mm 1.8 is because Im not always close to the court. Would you set it in program or something else?

I would be in manual, are you sure your cmaera will no expand to iso3200 my old 10D would

No. The XTi maxes out at ISO 1600

 

[MLeeK]

Your photos are getting better and better, you should invest in a fix lens or nice tele light zoom, that will help , I am not sure if you use tripod, you should, that will make your photos sharper.

Did you happen to read? That is a telephoto zoom with a fixed aperture of 2.8. She's shooting SPORTS, a tripod isn't going to help the focus issues one bit. A tripod fixes camera shake issues, not running player issues.

Well those pictures are a heck of a lot better then mine! Will I be able to get close to that with out being able to get the ISO above 1600? Also everyone color is so much better then mine. I even did a custom WB. What am I doing wrong?

Your white balance-part of the huge difference between yours and mine is years of doing this and knowing how to process for the bad color issues in a gym. It's not a matter of white balance so much-although you do need to use a good, custom white balance. It's more of knowing how to battle the yellow oranges by using the HSL. The luminance sliders are key in processing a gym to not glowing orange.
In addition to that most gym lights cycle. So you will have 6 out of 8 photos glowing orange and then all of a sudden when the lights cycle you will have green players in a couple shots. Most newer gyms are easier on the cycling, but the older ones are a cycling nightmare. Raw helps, but there will be ones you have to really adjust the WB on no matter what you do.

I will also try using a flash. I just don't want to distract the players.

Trust me, flash isn't going to be an issue. They won't even notice it. It' effective in basketball whereas some other sports it can be a concern for distratctions or isn't going to reach well. It will definitely make a difference here and won't bother the players at all.

You're camera is not really a sport camera. But a flash will help

Check my portfolio Professionel fotograf i Århus - Now & Then

Every post you make is for your own SEO. Its SPAM. Quit. Either you have something that is actually worth while to add or go away.

 

[kearypik]

Well those pictures are a heck of a lot better then mine! Will I be able to get close to that with out being able to get the ISO above 1600? Also everyone color is so much better then mine. I even did a custom WB. What am I doing wrong?

Are you shooting raw?

I am

 

[gsgary]

I have a rebel xti. I believe 1600 is the highest. The reason I didn't get a 85mm 1.8 is because Im not always close to the court. Would you set it in program or something else?

I would be in manual, are you sure your cmaera will no expand to iso3200 my old 10D would

No. The XTi maxes out at ISO 1600

Can't you go into custom funtions and set ISO expansition