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03/07/2009 01:46:40 PM · #1 |
Any last minute suggestions? This isn't for a professional job of any kind, but I got a last minute call from my cousin because she would like some better photos of her daughter in her last ever competition than what she can get on a point-and-shoot.
Unfortunately, I'm a Pentax shooter. I shoot portraiture for crying out loud. I don't have a system for the crazy fast world of gymnastics. No fast telephotos, 3 fps burst. Bleh.
The positives are that I do have in-body shake reduction, and I do have a mid-zoom fast lens (the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8), but what I'd like to know is:
What can I do to minimize the pain? Any hints and tips at all? |
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03/07/2009 01:48:30 PM · #2 |
How close can you get ?
And I guess can you borrow any other kit for the day ? |
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03/07/2009 01:52:49 PM · #3 |
A friend of mine here judges gymnastics and runs a gymnastics studio. I've tagged along with her to meets. If you can get permission to go on the floor you can find good vantage points in that range for the apparatus, no problem. But if you're limited to the stands, you are in trouble I'm afraid....
Try to talk to the organizers and sweet-talk your way onto the floor like a newspaper shooter would be allowed.
R.
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03/07/2009 02:21:30 PM · #4 |
The best events to shoot are floor and beam. If you can get floor level all the better. If your cousin has an video(most of us gymnast moms do) Watch her routines ahead of time so you know where she is going when and what she is doing. Depending on where her final meet is, lighting will be key. Most of the meets I shoot are done with ok lighting. I shoot at 800 ISO, 1/160, usually with my 28-70 2.8, but almost always on the floor level in my daughters gym. If you have any questions you can pm me, as I am the photog for all of my daughters home meets.
If you can borrow other gear, I would try to get at least to 5 fps or it will be challenging.
Tammy |
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03/07/2009 02:22:34 PM · #5 |
| If you shoot from the stands, try your Sigma 70-300 (assuming adequate lighting to allow autofocus.) It may not keep up with tumbling runs, but for static events like uneven bars, manual focus would be easy. |
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03/07/2009 02:39:59 PM · #6 |
If you don't have enough light, you'll need a very fast lens (f/2.8 or faster). It appears that you do have such a lens. At 75mm, you'll need to get down close to the action. The on-board shake reduction on your body probably won't help because it will be the subject that is moving, not your hands.
Talk to the event organizers or the venue folks. Ask if you can have access to the mat-side area.
You could try to rent a fast telephoto or zoom lens. However, I used to shoot Pentax and unfortunately, it is was difficult to find rental places that carried Pentax lenses.
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03/07/2009 03:07:23 PM · #7 |
All this talk of being down close and fast lenses... I thought these turned out decent using an f/4.5-5.6 lens (relatively slow, but the quality is good) and I was shooting from approximately 30 rows up! :)
Kristina Baskett - UofU Gymnastics
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03/07/2009 03:23:52 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by dwterry:
All this talk of being down close and fast lenses... I thought these turned out decent ... |
You're right -- what kind of shutter speeds were you using? |
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03/07/2009 03:33:22 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by dwterry:
All this talk of being down close and fast lenses... I thought these turned out decent ... |
You're right -- what kind of shutter speeds were you using? |
Thanks. Everything was shot at 1/320 and f/5.6 using ISO 2000.
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03/07/2009 03:41:01 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by dwterry:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by dwterry:
All this talk of being down close and fast lenses... I thought these turned out decent ... |
You're right -- what kind of shutter speeds were you using? |
Thanks. Everything was shot at 1/320 and f/5.6 using ISO 2000. |
Ahhh ... now I see how you get away with it -- on my camera, I'd have to be at ISO 200 to have a usable picture. I'm pretty good when shooting at 1/30, but not that good. ;-) |
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03/07/2009 05:07:19 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by tjbel05:
Watch her routines ahead of time so you know where she is going when and what she is doing. |
That's an excellent piece of advice (of course, getting as close as possible is also key). You'll probably find that all of the girls may be doing the same routine to the same song, especially if they're younger. That's handy because you can watch what the first girls are doing and basically memorize the routine and pick out the best opportunities to shoot.
I did a match a couple years ago, and almost all of the girls were doing the same thing, so I quickly learned what the best times were to get shots. There were points of the routine where they had nice poses, or times when they jumped in the air, etc. Being able to anticipate exactly when those moments were coming sure helped a lot. |
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03/07/2009 05:48:14 PM · #12 |
Another tip from your Uncle Chromey:
relax.
Don't let the "last-ever" part dominate you, or you'll be too tense.
From your description, it seems that she is primarily interested in better than p/s quality images from her daughter's last-ever competition. So, if you sat right next to her in the stands, you would produce higher "quality" images than her p/s does, and she would probably be thrilled. If you apply your skills and also manage to get some more creative shots than she would or could, get some shots from the floor, etc. she will be ecstatic.
Practice some shots on other gymnasts, maybe, so that you are dialed in ahead of time.
frankly, the only reason you should be fearful is if your reflexes on the shutter are like mine: best measured with a calendar....
Good luck, have fun with it.
Post some results!! |
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03/07/2009 06:00:27 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Originally posted by tjbel05:
Watch her routines ahead of time so you know where she is going when and what she is doing. |
That's an excellent piece of advice (of course, getting as close as possible is also key). You'll probably find that all of the girls may be doing the same routine to the same song, especially if they're younger. That's handy because you can watch what the first girls are doing and basically memorize the routine and pick out the best opportunities to shoot.
I did a match a couple years ago, and almost all of the girls were doing the same thing, so I quickly learned what the best times were to get shots. There were points of the routine where they had nice poses, or times when they jumped in the air, etc. Being able to anticipate exactly when those moments were coming sure helped a lot. |
The girls who compete through level 6 are compulsary. They all do the same routines on every event. If your niece is a level 7-10 every routine for every girl will be different. This is important to know before you go so you can do your homework. My daughter is a level 9, and I am lucky enough to know all the girls and their routines since I have been shooting their meets for the last three years. It helps so I know what to look for. If you can get to a practice or two ahead of time, just to get an idea of what you want to shoot it would also be helpful.
Message edited by author 2009-03-07 18:33:27. |
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03/07/2009 07:48:30 PM · #14 |
Thanks everyone. We'll see what happens.
Can't post results Chromey, it's under a "do not post on the internet" order! |
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03/07/2009 08:19:39 PM · #15 |
Not the greatest shot, but for ISO 1600 and existing light I think this one was a pretty decent snapshot.
F4.0, 1/250 sec.
This wasn't a competition, though, so I was able to get fairly close.
Message edited by author 2009-03-07 20:20:34. |
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03/10/2009 04:07:52 PM · #16 |
Well, it turned out to mostly be forgettable, but I got enough to satisfy, and I'll never be shooting gymnastics without the proper equipment ever again.
C'est la vie, as they c'est! |
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