Just wanted to post a bunch of images I've shot this past basketball season that show some real emotion.
Shooting HS & College basketball can be fun, because you see some real emotion. As a photographer, lighting the gym can be a challenge. To really stop the action you need to be 3 - 4 stops above the ambient light. What does that mean... If you shoot without the strobes, you see almost a black image. If the light meter reads 3200 ISO, 1/500 f/2.8; your reading with the strobes should read f/2.8 - 3.2 at an ISO between 200 and 320. Your strobes should not be used at full power... why, because the flash duration is too long and will cause image drag. If you turn down the power, the flash duration becomes lower. Half power is a good place to start.
Many of the games I shoot, I use studio strobes so I don't have to worry about batteries. I also have 1.5 seconds of recycle as opposed to 3 with the batteries. The biggest problem, finding an outlet on each side of the court and a good place to clamp the strobe heads.
Hi Phil,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question!
I use DynaLites and put two heads on each pack. I turn the power down slightly so the flash duration is faster. I have also used Canon 580's at half power. One in each corner and one near mid-court pointing down court. This stops the black hole appearance.
I mount the strobes at lease 10-12' high and out from the baseline corners. I point one head just below the "elbow" and the other at center court. I use stands or I clamp the heads to the wall or bleacher railings
I usually get f/4 at the basket and f/2.8 at center court at ISO 320. This depends on the size of the gym.
Thanks again,
John