Comments on: Event: Sparks at Mercury

By: PShizzy

PShizzy — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:14:24 +0000

Larry,

I used 2 Canon 1D mk3′s with a 300 2.8 ISand a 70-200 2.8 IS. on a 1 series body, the 300mm focal length suits me well for shooting basktball. The 70-200 is a little tight nearcourt, but I tend to focus on the upper body not the whole body. Also, I’m used to having a wide (fish, 17-40, etc) remote for action in the paint, so shooting tight gives me two different image types on the same play. This is not the case with the WNBA, so I may have to shoot a little looser than I’m used to.

if I had to work with 20/30/40Ds, Id consider the 70-200 and 24-70 a good lens combo. the 300 may be a bit tight downcourt, but it is an excellent lens. If you already had a 200 2.0 or 1.8, then I’d easily shoot that, wide open, to get the lower ISO. The DOF would still be good, because of the distance downcourt, and the crop factor.

With a full framer, like a5D, or 1Ds mk3, I’ve shot with a 400 2.8 farcourt. It’s a great lens, but my reaction times tend to suffer, as the encumbrance of the lens slows me down. With a 300 2.8 I see it, I do it. With a 400 2.8, I see it, I start to do it, hope the moment is still there, then maybe do it in time. But a well composed shot with a 400 2.8 and a full frame camera is a sight to behold. The 70-200 also becomes the perfect nearcourt lens. The true 70mm becomes just right for nearcourt.

If there’s dominant play inside (post moves, lots of slashers against a solid help defense team, etc), then I consider the 24-70. It limits me to the paint, but when it pays off, it pays off. I stopped using it because my wide remote would cover all that, letting me get in tight to get different perspectives of the same play.

By: Larry Mainer

Larry Mainer — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:38:34 +0000

Great images. Equipment and settings maybe, or did I miss that somewhere..??

By: Abraham Pedraza

Abraham Pedraza — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:43:01 +0000

These photos are pretty freaking great!!!! Like you said emotions are very important. I am not a sports photographer, but I need to get involve with this since I am working with several schools out here in west Texas. But as a portrait photographer emotions are our bread and butter, a photo without an emotion is simply a snapshot, Lately I have being doing many quiceneras and couple of wedding and most of my customers the first thing they say about the photos is that they are seeing exactly how their daughter is and then they realize how is it that I was able to capture those emotions and such, this is where you touch about researching about the game and the players before an event. It is very important to get to know the game and the players so you know what to expect and it gives you an idea of how you can also control the situation since you know their routines by knowing all this you can pretty much visualized and predetermine your shots, of course this is not the case all the time but it gives you the basics of what you think is going to happen. As I portrait photographer specially in quinceaneras and wedding I plan this events six months in advance where I develop several photo shoots which will help me understand and get to know my clients so that at the day of their spacial day I know more or less how things are going to run, also during the lapse of the pre event i may have met other key members of this even such godparents, best friends etc…also by the time the event gets around I have being involve with the people that they do not see me as an stranger and I will have more access to more private and intimate situations and I can request for situations which I would not have being able to get if this was the second time I meet my clients. So research, know the game, know your equipment, and have a passion to what you are doing are the main keys for a successful photo shoot specially where people are involve and they want to be photographed adequately. Like you said Max although sports is a game there are a lot of emotions and people identify with this emotions, so it is your job to be able to record this and connect people who were not able to attend such event, make them feel what it was to be during this event, show anger, termination, love, passion, defeat, victory, stress, worryness (is this a word?), focus, mystery, agony, etc… some one said “it is not the job of a photographer to take pictures, but to preserve the emotion and the integrity of the subject” I think this is how it said….so a photographer is not made by the best equipment (although it helps) a photographer is made by the passion and integrity of that photographer because people identify with this!!!! sorry about the long comment…. but you touched a very important topic of how photo shoots, need to be organized and covered..Great job!!!Max….

Abraham Pedraza

By: Nba » Event: Sparks at Mercury

Nba » Event: Sparks at Mercury — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:46:47 +0000

[...] PShizzy wrote an interesting post today on Event: Sparks at MercuryHere’s a quick excerptPlayers, coaches, benches, fans. Look for moments all the time. Just because the clock stops doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to shoot. It’s up to you to find it. Look for the money players of the game. Sometimes it’sa star, … [...]

By: Mark Alexander

Mark Alexander — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:29:53 +0000

Max, I was hoping you would cover this game since it was in Phoenix. My wife & I are big womens BBall fans. We think not being able to do the soaring dunks are a plus as we feel that keeping the ball below the rim encourages more discipline in running plays and you are right, there is always a lot of hustling going on.

I’ve been a Tn Vols fan all of my life and my wife graduated from Georgia so we get to have some fun with the rivalries.

I only wish Candace was a little more used to dishing assists. She passed up 2 or 3 easy opportunities and seeing her get the first triple double would have been cool…

Mark