First time NBA shooter

[groovehouse]

Greetings everyone...

Here are few pics from my first couple of NBA games. I am hoping to be shooting one to two home games a month for our local alt weekly.

I am shooting with 2 cameras and I usually take 2-4 lenses with me. I have noticed I mainly shoot with my 70-200 and 28-75.

Canon 5D & Canon 5D Mark II
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0
Canon 50mm f/1.8 or Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye

I never thought shooting an NBA game would be easy. It's not. I shoot a lot of vert skateboarding and thought that like that, freezing action, would be easy at a basketball game, it's not. I'm familiar with the game, but I hardly ever know exactly where the ball's going. We also have assigned seating, so it's not easy for me to move during the game to get a better vantage point, although it may be easier to move during the 4th quarter when some photogs have vacated their positions.

From the past (and only, so far) two games I've shot, with a full frame camera, I think I am going to concentrate on full body action shots. I've noticed online in our local newspaper, a lot of the images from their slideshows, are cropped a lot. Especially those shots near the basket.

I'm also not shooting the game solely for basketball action either. I am taxed with getting an overall sense of the whole game experience. So I arrive extra early, shoot fans coming into the stadium, shoot the pregame shoot around, the pregame warm-ups, the intros, the people in the stadiums, coaches, staff, mascots, opposing team, the refs and the game itself.

For me, it's a unique opportunity because I don't have to solely concentrate on game shots. If I shot for a basketball publication or the local paper, I'm sure I'd have to focus more on game action only.

Both of my 5D's aren't known for their fps capabilities. While the guy sitting next to me is snapping 6-10 fps in rapid succession, I'm usually popping off one or two and mostly getting the shots I want. I won't be publishing many basketball sequence shots, but I am completely spoiled by my full frame cameras. I've considered taking my Rebel XTi as I can get a few more fps, but I just feel like I'd regret not having both full frame cameras with me. Maybe during a future game I'll take all three.

Anyway, check out my photos below.


Rockets Season Opener - 10.30.10 - 5D_1479A by groovehouse, on Flickr


Rockets Season Opener - 10.30.10 - 5D_1428A by groovehouse, on Flickr


Rockets Season Opener - 10.30.10 - 5DII_8147A by groovehouse, on Flickr


HOU vs SA - 10.07.10 - 5D_0182b by groovehouse, on Flickr


HOU vs SA - 10.07.10 - 5D_0047b by groovehouse, on Flickr


HOU vs SA - 10.07.10 - 5DII_5648b by groovehouse, on Flickr


HOU vs SA - 10.07.10 - 5D_0148b by groovehouse, on Flickr

Please do not edit these photos.

For more photos check out the slideshows on the website of the publication I shot for.

Houston Press Slideshows:
Rockets At Home
Rockets vs. Spurs: Preseason Victory at the Toyota Center

--
http://groovehouse.org
http://skatehouston.info

[karenoliver]

Great shots. Lots of action and drama. I'm thinking of going to some local ice hockey and basketball games to do some photography in the new year so this is quite helpful. I am impressed with the Tamron lenses, I usually never even consider them when making a new purchase.

Karen

[Cathus]

Fantastic set of shots, great action captures.

I use a 5D MkII for sports aswell.

[groovehouse]

Originally Posted by karenoliver

I am impressed with the Tamron lenses, I usually never even consider them when making a new purchase.

As you probably shouldn't if you are sticking with proprietary lenses. Out of necessity and lack of money, I purchased what I could afford that was best for the purposes I needed at the time, concert photography. I needed fast glass, but couldn't drop the money on proprietary lenses.

Tamron's been good to me, but I think some of my pictures fail to pop and need that special look you only get when you have that matching camera and lens combination.

Originally Posted by Cathus

Fantastic set of shots, great action captures.
I use a 5D MkII for sports aswell.

Thanks. I love my 5D's. I am addicted to the full frame sensors.