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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Pocketwizards and prep football?
Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 8:44 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> Just wondering if anyone else in here had ever tried it. I'm sure some have and was wondering what your experiences have been like. I liked the results I got (anything to avoid red eye).
I had my brother stay anywhere from 15 to 30 yards away from me as I shot the game and I just told him to follow the action with the flash. I used a Nikon SB-80 DX. All of the images in my most recent update are shots using the PW's. |
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Vern Verna, Photographer
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Greenville | SC | United States | Posted: 8:57 PM on 08.20.05 |
| ->> i wouldnt have him move that far away cause it will cause a shadow that show up to the side of the players. have him move 2-3 ft away and the shadow will be less noticable and will still eliminate the red eye. there is a formula to eliminate red eye which basically takes the lens length and u need to be a certain distance off the lens to eliminate it. wedding photogs use the bracket are are maybe 12 in at most off the lens and eliminate it but they are using shorter lens. i forget the formula but from practice i usually have very little problem with the flash about 8 inches off the lens till i get over about 80mm so if u multiple that by 4 u get 320mm for u 300mm lens so multiple ur distance by 4 and u get about 32 inches or 3 ft. now if practice the shadow wont matter if the guys are 40+ ft away but when they r closer it makes a difference. |
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Robert Caplin, Student/Intern, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 8:57 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> I think it's a great idea. Last year I paid a young kid in the stands to do the same for me, but he kept getting distracted...so I never got the frames I wanted.
It looks like your results came out quite well, way to go.
Please keep updating ad you perfect the technique!
Robert |
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Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 9:07 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> There was a shot you had Bob of a player for Athens that looked like it was off-camera flashed. I dunno, I just kinda' liked the side-lit look. I liked it much better the farther away I was from the speedlight. I see what you're saying Vern and I'll study up on it a bit, but I think I'm going to try the way I'm doing it and POSSIBLY, if I'm fortunate enough to be able to get two people I can count on, maybe having someone shooting in through the endzome and the other on the sideline. But I'd have to teach whoever is operating the lights how to back it off with the +/- settings if the players get too close.
On a side note Bob, some of the best frames I didn't get were because my brother was pointing the flash down at the grass. Frustrating, I know.
HM |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington, DC & Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 9:47 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> Howie...the images look really nice. I do not shoot night football because of the poor light.
One thing...is it really worth paying someone (just thinking from a business stadpoint) to stand there with a flash and follow the action? I know you can get that person cheap, but is it even worth the effort? Teach them to adjust the output?
I guess it would be worth it assuming you can sell 1-2 additional prints per game huh?
Anyway...I think I'll leave this to you guys that like dealing with stuff like this.
Delane |
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Robert Caplin, Student/Intern, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:22 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> Ok, this is where I will jump in again...
When I was shooting prep sports last year, it was noticeable my void of creativity that came from making the extra $$ from shooting quantity over quality.
With every creative lighting technique, the images are hit or miss, but the quality is far better than dead on flash in poor high school stadium light. It was always hard for me to justify trying a new angle or lighting technique when shooting prep sports for $$ through my web business, but it also sucked because I wasn't making any amazing new images! Everything was the same, John Doe running down the field, court, or track...yes parents were buying them, yes I was making $$, but I wasn't growing as a photographer!
Trying new techniques is VERY important, you might take a small...or large hit in business because you are putting quality over quantity, but I, personally, feel that the new lighting advances you as a photographer.
Howie, the pics are great. I know this is how you make your money...but keep up the innovative techniques and keep QUALITY over quantity. THAT will set you apart as a photographer.
Keep it up!
Robert |
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Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 10:34 PM on 08.20.05 |
| ->> Thanks Bob... that's the way I like to think of it. With every Tom, Dick and Harry going out and getting digital cameras you have to keep EMPHASIZING why you're better than the other guy. I choose to let it show through my work. And Delane, it was my brother who really had nothing better to do on Friday so he came along to hand out flyers and just give me a hand if I needed it. I didn't have to HIRE anyone. Basically I was eager to see how it would look and so I tried it. Now, if I only sold 1-2 prints per game, I don't think I would be in business still. I've been running my own business for going on 3 years now and it's because I know how to keep my customers happy, just as I'm sure you feel you do. Now, this is a supplement to shooting for newspapers and other larger publications on occasion, as well as T&I photos and wedding photos. Most HS games I shoot I'm getting paid for them whether I sell prints or not. |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 10:36 PM on 08.20.05 |
->> Howie:
You should get in touch with SportsShooter member Mike McNamara -- as I recall, he did the exact thing you're describing a couple of times back when he was at the Trib.
Great use of the summer intern.
- gerry - |
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Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 11:08 PM on 08.20.05 |
| ->> Good point. =0) |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 6:55 PM on 08.22.05 |
| ->> Anyone used a multiple flash setup for football? Say one on-camera and another a few yards downfield held by someone else? |
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Michael McNamara, Photo Editor, Photographer
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St Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 8:09 PM on 08.22.05 |
->> Wow, I saw the title of this thread and thought, "I should take a look at this." So, a thanks goes to Gerry for reading my mind while I was driving home from the office ;)
I had wanted to try the remote strobe for about a year, and then we got a high school intern for the fall semester, and I thought I was set to make really really cool pictures. I spent a lot of time trying to teach her what I was trying to do, and she did her best to learn, but the results were never what I was hoping for. So one game, I finally swallowed my pride, and gave her the camera and an 80-200. "Just follow the play, keep it in focus, and take the photos. I'll tell you where to stand, and I'll take care of the light," I said. So I was the one running around with the pocket wizard, constantly adjusting the strobe output. And the results were great. The photo is at http://www.sportsshooter.com/mikemcnamara/strobe/pages/1.html
So if you're going to have somebody holding a remotely triggered strobe, they need to have some grasp of lighting. But when you nail it, you nail it. Howie, good luck what you're messing around with. It's little experiments like this that made me rather be at a high school football game tinkering with a new method than be out with my friends on a Friday night. They can wait until the paper goes to bed. |
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Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 8:24 PM on 08.22.05 |
->> Michael... it's photos like the one you posted a link to that really stand out and that's what I'm going for. That's a good way to break out of the norm like Bob was saying (same kid coming down the court or field in the same stride).
Michael, good photo. I think this coming Friday I may try a multi-flash and Jeff, I'll let you know how it turns out.
Howie |
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Michael McNamara, Photo Editor, Photographer
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St Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 9:52 PM on 08.22.05 |
| ->> Howie, thanks very much. My ultimate dream was to go out there with one of my Alien Bees, a grid and the Vagabond battery. I guess that one will have to wait. |
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Mark Smith, Photographer
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Elk City | OK | USA | Posted: 3:20 PM on 08.25.05 |
| ->> I'm going to experiment with SB-800's this year. I like the idea of being able to adjust the off-camera unit(s) on the fly. It will either be magnificent or a total flop. Either way, I promise to post results. |
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David Richard, Photographer
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Lorain/Cleveland | OH | USA | Posted: 5:03 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> I've been using SB-26s and SB-28s attached to my monopod about a foot off the ground. I use tape or velcro and a off-camera cord. I've been doing this for 3 years and I love the results. Using an assistant for these assignments is not feasible for me, so I came up with the monopod idea. I get plenty of strange looks from other photogs but it works. Especially nice on astroturf as the light bounces off the field a little more and fills in nicely.
Here is a link to some samples:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/davidrichard/monopod/ |
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Eric Jones, Photographer
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Ayden | NC | USA | Posted: 5:10 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> I would think refs and coaches wouldn't allow any type of flash during the game? I've never shot football at night so really I wouldn't know. Just asking. Just seems as though it would be distracting to the players. Maybe it's ok with highschool ball but not with college or pro.
But anyway...nice shots Howie, Michael and David. It does have a cool look to them. |
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Pablo Galvez, Photographer
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Calgary | AB | CANADA | Posted: 5:18 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> Has anyone ever tried actually "strobing" a football field? Setting up 8 (or more???) strobes up high like in an indoor arena? You might even be able to get away with four on one side and two on the other. That might produce some nice shots...
-Pablo |
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Jeff Blake, Photographer
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Columbia | SC | USA | Posted: 5:52 PM on 08.25.05 |
| ->> Without strobes you could forget shooting football, basketball, volleyball night soccer, or anyother high school nighttime and/or indoor sport. |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 6:59 PM on 08.25.05 |
| ->> A few high school stadiums I have shot in, especially the older ones, have a light pole surprisingly close to the sidelines. I have often thought it would be cool to mount a powerful strobe or two on it for shooting in that general area of the field. I don't have the stuff to do it with, though. I'm still too broke to buy my first Pocket Wizards. |
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Howie McCormick, Photographer
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Proctorville | OH | USA | Posted: 5:55 PM on 08.26.05 |
| ->> Is that Jesus in the pressbox? |
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Mike Davidson, Photographer
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Sullivan (St.Louis) | MO | USA | Posted: 8:51 PM on 08.31.05 |
->> David I like your ideal with the monopod and flash. I'm going to try it this Friday night at our high school.
Thanks for the ideal,
Mike |
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