Hi MP,


Freelance gave you some great advice. So, I'll hopefully try and and some more.


You have a nice setup with the 1D MKIII and the 50/1.8 so that's what you should use. You wont need a monopd or tripod. The goal would be to get the fastest shutter speed at the lowest ISO setting, so keep that in mind when making changes during the game. If you're underexposed, raise the ISO, because a noisy shot can be fixed and a blurry one can not.


Shoot in Manual Mode, AI Servo, Continuous High speed, Autofocus should be switched to the AF On button in the back. Custom WB, or a gray card would be preferable.


Below would be a good starting point depending on the lighting in the gym, so you should probably write this down. Use f/2.8 if the lighting permits it to get sharper pictures. Don't use f/1.8 because the DOF is too narrow.


1/500sec, f/2.0, ISO 1600 or higher


1/1000 sec f/2.0, ISO 3200 or higher


<span style="font-size: 11.6667px;"]1/500sec, f/2.8 ISO 3200 or higher


1/640sec, f/2.8 ISO 4000 or higher (some people don't like 1/3 ISO's, but it works)


1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 or higher


1/1000sec, f/3.2, ISO 8000


Make sure that your shot has the ball in it, unless you're shooting for a reaction. You should try to get the face of the person with the ball. Shoot low down on your knees. You should position yourself along the baseline behind the basket, and then from the mid-baseline and the corner of the baseline. Shoot from both sides of the basket, be aware if a superstar is right-handed or left-hande to get their face in the approach shot towards the basket. Choose a spot with a more pleasing background if possible. The teams will switch directions at half-time, so if the background is pleasing at both ends of the court, then you may want to switch ends after each quarter to get a different perspective, while shooting the opposing team.


Shoot most of your scoring shots, layups, dunks, blocked shots in VERTICAL orientation since Basketball is more of a vertical game, except when the point guard is dribbling low and bringing up the ball and has a defender on him. The 50mm would be good around the basket that your shooting at, some people have a 2nd body with a long telephoto so that they can shoot at the opposite basket at the other end of the court. Crop tightly when your done.


Flash is usually not allowed in High School Sports, however before you even try you must ask the Athletic Director and/or coaches and/or ref or you could be asked to stop shooting. That's why people aim high powered strobes down onto the court from high above in the stands or they bounce them off the back walls behind the baskets. But you should do fine with your equipment.


Don't forget to shoot the tip-off, coaches, bench player reaction, cheerleaders, and the arena.


http://markhancock.blogspot.com/2004/11/how-to-shoot-basketball.html





Rich