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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
NCAA Wrestling - Help!
Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 10:43 PM on 02.15.10 |
->> I am starting to shoot wrestling matches at a Division I school and their setup is a nightmare. They have all the lights in the gym turned out, except for the 4 lights up inside the scoreboard, which has been lowered to only light the center of the mat. What I am finding out is that my 70-200 f/2.8 Canon lens on my 50D is not a good enough combination to capture images without a lot of noise. I can push it at 3200 ISO or H1, but that only looks acceptable with Neat Image and making it a B&W image.
So... seeing as how they do NOT allow flash or strobes, is there a different lens I should look into? Or, do the newer Canon bodies and their ISO performance seem to be the solution?
The lighting gives very harsh shadows on anything that isn't facing upwards. Reminds me of a circus and the lighting at center circle. Very difficult for me.
They are allowing me to mount a remote camera IN the scoreboard shooting straight down, semi-wide angle to the center of the mat which may help, I don't know.
Any help/recommendation is appreciated. As always, thanks in advance for any replies. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:57 PM on 02.15.10 |
| ->> Geeese, is there enough light for the referee to call the match? |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 11:30 PM on 02.15.10 |
->> It's so dimly lit that the wrestlers actually go off into almost darkness when they reach the edge of the "circle".
I guess my alternative would be to wait for moments with little or no movement and lower the shutter speed. But, as a sports enthusiast, of course I'd like to be able to catch some true action.
I am thinking my only chance of getting action is to mount a remote camera up in the scoreboard between the lights. At least I can maybe get the first few seconds. I'm at a loss. Wasn't sure if a 50mm f/1.4 or a 85mm f/1.8 would do any good. |
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Joel Hawksley, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Kent | OH | USA | Posted: 11:50 PM on 02.15.10 |
->> I've been working on a project covering youth wrestling lately, and one of my professors here at OU referred me to Preston Gannaway's Under the Light.
You can see it at http://www.prestongannaway.com/ under Stories and Essays. |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 11:56 PM on 02.15.10 |
| ->> Thanks! I'll take a look. From the first shot, it's pretty much what I am dealing with. Maybe I'll get some inspiration from it. |
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Max Gersh, Photographer
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New Castle | IN | USA | Posted: 1:07 AM on 02.16.10 |
| ->> If you're shooting from the edge of the mat, my favorite lens for wrestling is the 135 f/2. That little bit of added light probably won't help you enough but it might be something to look into. |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 1:24 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> That, and the 85 f/1.8 is the toss up. I can be at the edge of the mat and the decision is one that I am struggling with. Perhaps I'll rent each one and see which one does the best.
I laugh when I go to these matches. It's almost as if they are trying to recreate an atmosphere of a dungeon or a WWE Wrestlemania cage match with the lighting.
I should let them try and shoot it once. I bet they'd fix the lighting. LOL |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 4:34 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> My gym doesn't use that dramatic "gladiator" lighting, but it is dark. My 50/f1.4 and ISO 3200 does the trick, though. Actually I can get ISO 2000+ when I allow the ISO to float. Shooting D300 and D300s.
http://sportsphotoguy.com/d300-does-wrestling/
But I really think they are out to lunch not allowing you to use flash. Never had an official, wrestler, or coach complain about either on-camera or remote strobes. |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 5:00 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> Is this something new, not allowing flash for D1 wrestling?
I don't want to sound argumentative, but I've been shooting D1 wrestling since the late 1970's and have never been refused the use of flash ... even at EWL, ACC, PSAC or Big 10 meets ... or NCAA nationals for that matter.
While the Preston Gannaway essay is quite remarkable and an excellent body of work showing awesome control in capturing light, I can't see that shooting in that light would be an every match type of thing most shooters would want to do ... considering that wrestling photography is a lot about facial expressions and identifying the participants ...
If it were me, I would work on softening up the AD to allow at least moderate fill-flash to at least give you a fighting chance. |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 10:49 AM on 02.16.10 |
->> Not argumentative at all. I appreciate all comments and opinions. After all, isn't that how we get to a solution?
I don't think it is new, just something that they are picky about at this venue. After talking with them this morning, I think they will at the very least let me use some remote flashes mounted off the corners.
I figured two 580ex II units and some pocket wizards should help me out a little. The remote camera up in the scoreboard should give me a few interesting "face-up" shots as well.
I, too, agree that the essay was interesting but would not be suitable when most of my work ends up in the media guides/programs, etc.
I'm going to push for some fill-flash. That might do the trick. Thanks, Butch for the comment. |
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Jason Heffran, Photographer
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Natrona Heights | PA | USA | Posted: 10:58 AM on 02.16.10 |
| ->> Sorry, Chuck. Didn't mean to ignore your comment. I looked at your site and it's good to see the end result of what I "thought" might work. Gladiator lighting - EXACTLY. |
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