This may be totally off the mark, but I would suggest that you try to
think B&W rather than color. I suspect that the lighting and color
balance problems might be masked a bit in a B&W rendering, and if you
have to shoot at a higher ISO, the "noise" will have a gritty Tri-X-
pushed-two-stops feel to it.
One other suggestion - see if you can get access to the venue ahead
of time and decide where you want to be, taking into account the
lighting, location of the bleachers, location of the (distracting)
basketball hoops in the background, etc. Also the time to set your
white balance and run a few test shots. Back on "where you want to
be", consider back, front, left, right, etc. but also lower (floor
level), low (kneeling) medium height (crouched), high (standing) and
higher (standing on a chair or even better a step ladder. Or standing
on the top step of a bleacher.)
I agree with the others' comments - the 50/1.4 will be your friend.
And one of the longer zooms will be handy. But if you can handle the
load, I would also have one of the wider zooms - I am visualizing a
wide shot, taken from floor level, with ref and wrestlers in the near
foreground, excited (?) fans on the bleachers behind, and you won't
be able to get far enough back to get such a shot with the 50/1.4 in
a typical gym.
stan
On Feb 10, 2009, at 8:24 PM, Ed Keeney wrote:
A lurker coming out...
Let me preface with I'm an advanced amateur, but an amateur non-the-
less.
I've been asked to take photo's this Friday for a high school
wrestling match. The coach is my brother-in-law. He's having Senior
Night as well as Alumni Night (asking for pictures of both) as well as
some shots of the match's themselves. I'll be on the mat during the
matches.
I've been kicking around what I need for this.
My current equipment...
Pentax K100D
Pentax SMC-DA 18-55 3.5-4.6
Pentax SMC-FA 28-80 3.5-4.6
Pentax SMC-FA 70-200 4-5.6
Pentax SMC-FA 100-300 4.5-5.6
Vivitar 285HV Zoom Thyristor with vari-power
I'm expecting that the lighting in the gym will be poor, especially
during the matches. I've asked about using the flash and he's
checking to see if it will be allowed or not (sometimes it is,
sometimes it isn't).
Since the most I'll be is about 30-40 feet from the action, the long
zoom is out.
I think the FA28-80 lens is pretty much the same as the DA18-55 (the
28-80 was a kit lens for my old PZ-20). I could use this with the
flash to get close and well lit shots (if I can remember how to use it
- flash pictures have been the bane of my photo experience). I'm a
little afraid of too much flash and harsh shadows.
The 70-200 could fit the long range shots, but I'm afraid of losing
too many close in shots.
In my quest to get more light, I've purchased today a Pentax Normal
SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens from B&H and should have it by
Friday. This really was one of the few, if only, prime in my price
range.
My questions...
Did I do right by getting the new lens? (at least in the terms I
need it for, not in overall "yes, it's a great lens").
Has anyone shot this type of event?
Any suggestions or comments?
--
Thanks!
Ed
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above
and follow the directions.
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
