My shots from Texas Tech vs. UT game

[Erbeman]

So, this was my first game to shoot with my brand new Nikon 70-200 F/2.8 VR and I think I did decent with it. I'm not in love with my pics but they are considerably better than my previous night shots at the games. We don't get to use flashes, so we must use our camera's to their best abilities. I think I did well at getting a proper exposure. The color is pretty good in most all of them. I hardly did an post processing to these. However, I shot most of these at 1/250, ISO 800 at F/2.8 and they aren't near as sharp as I'd like them to be. So, what do you guys think I can do to speed up my exposure? Should I bump up to ISO 1000 and maybe +2/3 EV to get my exposure up to 1/400 or so? Any advise is well appreciated. Oh BTW, this was one hell of a game to be on the sidelines at!! I get to do it all again this coming weekend when we face Oklahoma State at home. Hopefully I can get some good advise and get my pics a little more crisp. Here are a few and you can see the rest on my site at http://erbeman.smugmug.com/Sports

http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409294314_VPqX2-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409291870_tSk8p-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409304854_nXEbm-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409309164_8XPg3-XL-1.jpg

http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409315405_KmwTc-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409331498_DvcWS-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409340721_Q4Let-XL-1.jpg


http://erbeman.smugmug.com/photos/409349376_gzw3n-XL-1.jpg

[jonh68]

If you were using the D300, I think you should have tried ISO 1600, A 2.8, and SS of 1/500 and adjust from there. The D300 has fairly decent noise performance at 1600, and even 3200 if exposed right.

Did you try other settings? Before the game or during halftime is great way to try different settings. Whenever you go to soemthing like this, ALWAYS try different settings. There isn't hard rule on how to shoot games. I start out with a setting and then adjust accordingly based on how it looks and the histogram. Most of us dream of shooting at a big time stadium under better lights, but I think you handicapped yourself with your settings.

If you can you need to shoot tighter and crop even tighter. There's too much dead space in your pics. Also kneeling and shooting up makes for more dramatic pictures.

[t-rev]

That was a great game to watch! I like the pics, I think you did a great job with them.

[Erbeman]

If you were using the D300, I think you should have tried ISO 1600, A 2.8, and SS of 1/500 and adjust from there. The D300 has fairly decent noise performance at 1600, and even 3200 if exposed right.

Did you try other settings? Before the game or during halftime is great way to try different settings. Whenever you go to soemthing like this, ALWAYS try different settings. There isn't hard rule on how to shoot games. I start out with a setting and then adjust accordingly based on how it looks and the histogram. Most of us dream of shooting at a big time stadium under better lights, but I think you handicapped yourself with your settings.

If you can you need to shoot tighter and crop even tighter. There's too much dead space in your pics. Also kneeling and shooting up makes for more dramatic pictures.

Thanks John, I will give those settings a try. I've just always tried to stay at or below ISO 800. I guess that's beat into my head because I started with a D40 and high ISO's suck on that camera. I appreciate your comments.

[Erbeman]

That was a great game to watch! I like the pics, I think you did a great job with them.

Yes it was!!! Now we get to do it all over again this Saturday against OSU!! Hopefully I'll get better pics. I also bought tickets to the game against OU but I'm trying to get credentials to it now.