Girls basketball

[L40]

I'm trying to improve my shooting so comments are most welcome. I am very much an amateur so there should be plenty of room for improvement.
For these pics I used an EOS 20D, EF 70-200/2.8 (without image stab). Rather poor lighting inside the gym.

1: http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ebqYurzWEzk/SjK3ZtyJ_uI/AAAAAAAABdY/yr7Ou19nNa4/s800/IMG_8551.JPG

2: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ebqYurzWEzk/SjK3ZctYyHI/AAAAAAAABdU/6P3Gbi0PDus/s800/IMG_8405.JPG

3: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ebqYurzWEzk/SjK3aPbhptI/AAAAAAAABdg/0URBiKs7VVA/s800/IMG_8861.JPG

4: http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ebqYurzWEzk/SjK3aG-wmyI/AAAAAAAABdc/TakfM3QXHZY/s800/IMG_8815.JPG

[Gringriff]

Just curious if you used custom white balance. If not that would probably help the colors.

[johng]

In addition to custom WB, I would suggest investing in an 85mm 1.8 lens. On your 20d you'll get much better results in such gyms with that lens. Faster shutter speeds and possibly move down to ISO 1600.

Finally - FACES - capture faces. The first shot is great. Last one, no faces. Middle one is just OK in that regard (1 out of 3 faces).

[L40]

Thx for the advice.

For these pics I used a borrowed D20 (I'm in the process of buying an SLR) so I guess the 70-200 was 110-320 in practice, on the D20? Auto "sports" setting, which probably means auto WB as well.

I will probably buy a D90. I guess the need for the 85/1.8 will be smaller on that body?

[attorneyjay]

For these pics I used a borrowed D20 (I'm in the process of buying an SLR) so I guess the 70-200 was 110-320 in practice, on the D20? Auto "sports" setting, which probably means auto WB as well.

I will probably buy a D90. I guess the need for the 85/1.8 will be smaller on that body?

The 85 1.8 is a great asset on any SLR. You will be able to achieve faster shutter speeds with it - key to good sports action shots.

RE: Pics above, also try sitting or kneeling on the floor when shooting. Shots will look more dramatic that way.

Jay