HS Basketball - What did I do wrong on this shot?

[MDalby]

I had strobe problems. I just got my new La Crosse charger and apparently I didn't charge the batteries correctly :scratch

So, without strobe this is what I got last night.

I am getting pretty frustrated. Maybe I just am not going to get what I want until I get my White Lightning flash into production. I am waiting for my triggers.

What could i have done differently given no strobe?

I have really started using my 50mm 1.4 lens a lot and opening up to F/2.

Any help is appreciated.



http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914643_YFEoK-L.jpg

Photo #1 - Why are the hands and basketball so soft. Is this called ghosting? The face is still soft. Am I not able to get both the face and the basketball focused? The face is still not as clean as I would like. Given that my !@$%!@#$% strobe wasn't working... By the way, I used 35% intensity on my USM. Is this about what you guys use on USM?

http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914659_j4Eg9-L.jpg

#2
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914637_d6QAT-L.jpg

#3
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914377_xXy3r-L.jpg

#4
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914429_r5LWw-L.jpg

#5
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914237_RkNtu-L.jpg

#6
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914682_vs3Ch-L.jpg

#7
http://dalbyphoto.smugmug.com/photos/464914531_AHLj5-L.jpg

[donek]

I think you've made some huge improvements in a relatively short period of time. #1 is the worst you've got here. Depending on the distance to your subject and your focus lock settings, this could just be the focus is locked a little too far away. The others all seem well timed and quite sharp given your approach.

[MDalby]

Thanks guys for the advice. Sean, I learned a lot from you. :bow

I will give hte single point a shot and see how that works.

MD

[MDalby]

you just need to adjust your expectations...

jlw,

That is what I keep telling my wife. If she would just lower her expections I am sure that I can make her happy :D

I just want to do things right and get good results. It is just going to take time to figure things out.

Thanks again for the great help.

MD