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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
For the basketball remote professionals out there
Jim Slosiarek, Photographer
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Cedar Rapids | IA | USA | Posted: 11:38 AM on 03.08.10 |
->> I'm setting up an overhead remote for some boys state basketball games later this week.
I'm wondering where everyone sets their focus?
The bottom of the net?
Midway up the net?
Somewhere just below the net? |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 12:02 PM on 03.08.10 |
->> Jim:
I'm no professional or expert on the matter, but I've usually had the best luck with remotes (overhead and otherwise) when I get someone to help me as a stand in or whatever. A colleague is usually best as they understand what you're trying to do, but I've never had bad luck enlisting the help of a ball boy, eager fan or the like. Just being polite and honest (as well as insanely thankful) works for me.
Try lugging something white and with some height with you -- something the "spotter" can hold in his/her hand that will be as tall as a jumping/dunking player and give your AF some contrast to lock on to. At Mavs games we've been pretty luck that they have these paper clapper things on all the seats that work *perfect* for this.
One more thought, though admittedly I've not tried it myself. A fellow shooter a while back said something about focusing on your shoes, like if you're standing straight up and down. I guess the average male -- about 5'9" - 6'+ -- is about the right distance, more or less, of your camera to the player jumping at the basket. Make sense? In other words, before you mount the camera, do a quick pre-focus of your feet and then lock the focus into place.
Again, I've never tried it before, but it does make sense to me. Still, I've just always been more comfortable working with a spotter. Nothing sucks more than going through the trouble of setting up a remote and fudging the AF enough to ruin everything.
Good luck,
- gerry - |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:06 PM on 03.08.10 |
| ->> have someone hold the broom or floor sweeper just under the net...that'll work |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 12:13 PM on 03.08.10 |
| ->> I get in position and then have Chuck Liddy go up for a dunk and hang on the rim. Works for me every time. |
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Jordan Murph, Photographer, Assistant
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Carlsbad & Honolulu | CA/HI | USA | Posted: 12:21 PM on 03.08.10 |
| ->> Focus at no more than 8 feet. Put an 8 foot ladder in the paint and have someone hold a large focus card on top of the ladder or maybe one rung down for high school players. Experiment. Use the ladder legs to test your depth of field. Good luck and don't forget tape, zip ties, and safety cables. |
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G.J. McCarthy, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | US | Posted: 12:21 PM on 03.08.10 |
->> George FTW!!
Oh, and all that typing on my part for what was a pretty simple answer -- sorry Jim.
I agree with Chucky Poo -- just under the net has worked well for me in the past. |
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Joel Hawksley, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens | OH | USA | Posted: 1:08 PM on 03.08.10 |
| ->> Without sounding too redundant, just under the net is the way to go. I like Jordan's ladder idea, might just have to try that some time. Remember, depth-of-field is 1/3 before the focus point and 2/3 after it, so focusing just below the net gives you the most wiggle room, up to the rim and back towards the floor. |
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Mark J. Terrill, Photographer
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Simi Valley | CA | USA | Posted: 5:33 PM on 03.08.10 |
->> Jim,
Normally you would want to go about 6-8 inches below the net with the pros, but it really depends upon how high the players that your shooting get. I would just watch them practice and see how high there faces get and go from there. |
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Joel Hawksley, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens | OH | USA | Posted: 6:08 PM on 03.08.10 |
| ->> Mark brings up a good point. I find there to be about a 12in different between men's and women's college basketball alone. An easy way to figure this out is to look at your takes from previous games and see what height the player's heads are at. |
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Jim Slosiarek, Photographer
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Cedar Rapids | IA | USA | Posted: 9:29 PM on 03.08.10 |
->> Great information from everyone.
Although George's was a little sketchy. :P
Thanks |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 4:11 PM on 03.14.10 |
| ->> And remember to bring proof of liabilty insurance and safety cable everything ---including the clamp and radio. |
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Matt Brown, Photographer
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Fullerton | CA | USA | Posted: 8:41 PM on 03.14.10 |
| ->> 8 Feet! No More no Less. |
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Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 11:51 AM on 03.15.10 |
->> "When is Cinco De Mayo?"
[Make yourself a focusing target as Jordan suggested, you could also include a color target for white balancing in post.] |
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