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Post by ekimzulad on Jan 17, 2011 22:09:15 GMT -8
I'll be going to my first game Wednesday and would like to take some nice pictures and videos. I'll be sitting in the bleachers and plan on being there 1 hour early to get good seats. I'd appreciate any help you can give me in answering the following questions:
1) Any suggestions on where I should try to sit to be able to get the best shots? In the center, under a basket, in a corner? And should I try to sit in the highest or lowest row in the section?
2) Are there any standing room only sections that I can hang out in for awhile to take better pics closer to ground level, even for just a few min? Maybe even before the game while they are practicing?
3) I'm really lost as to what gear to bring to get nice pics & videos. I have a Canon 7D with access to the following lenses: 300mm 2.8 IS, 100-400mm IS, 85mm 1.8, 30mm 1.4, 10-22mm, 1.4x TC, 2x TC. I also have the following Panasonic P&S cams: FZ100, FZ35, ZS7.
4) Should I bring a tripod, monopod or flash? I'm guessing that since I'll be sitting in the bleachers that these will be pointless (is my thinking correct on that?)
5) Any other tips/suggestions?
Boy I'd love to get some sort of media credentials to be able to take pics from the floor. If I could do that, I'd have to go out and get a 70-200mm 2.8 IS, since I imagine that it would be the perfect lens.
Thanks in advance for your help.
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Post by ellbee on Jan 17, 2011 22:46:11 GMT -8
Ernie's the guy you'll want to talk to - he's THE Aztec photographer... He can tell you everything you'll need to know. (but I'm not sure about getting credentials...)
If you've got some kind of ridiculously powered flash, you could probably sit with The Show - as long as you fire that handheld sun right as the opposing team is getting ready to release their free throw... a la this guy:
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Post by lostcoast on Jan 17, 2011 23:08:03 GMT -8
A 70-200 2.8 would be a great choice(you don't really need IS since sports call for such high shutter speeds) especially if paired with a 24-70 2.8 or something similar, but we have to make do with what we have. I wouldn't recommend a prime without having a second body because you will be pissed when the action moves away and the 30 1.4 makes everyone look like ants or the 85 1.8 cuts off 3/4s of someones body. From the stands you could probably get away with the 100-400 since the 7d does pretty well at higher ISOs. The 300 2.8 would be nice but it's a whole lot of reach and not a lot of versatility, plus it's huge and might annoy people around you. Leave the flash at home, shoot at the widest aperture you can, use whatever ISO it takes to let you shoot at something like 1/800 or 1/1000.
As for where to sit, i would probably sit behind the basket but off to the side so you can at least see peoples faces when the ball is on that side of the court. If you are at half court you are going to get a lot of shots of peoples backs and that isn't much fun. If you do go with the 100-400 you have to be careful not to be too close since the 7d magnifies lenses by 1.6.
Also, you may want to check with the arena, i know some sports venues are pretty strict about what they allow fans to bring in. A 300 2.8 on a monopod might not be kosher from the stand. Ernie may know if there are rules or not.
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Post by aztecphotos on Jan 17, 2011 23:31:04 GMT -8
1. Check with the arena regarding cameras and lenses. I don't think you can get in with a camera and telephoto. 2. If you can, a 70-200 should meet your needs. It's a sell out, so the whole arena itself is a good shot...bring a wide angle. 3. As to location, the closer to the court the better. Problem is people in front of you. First couple of rows of the student section adjacent to the tunnel the opposing team comes out of would be a good around spot. 4. No flash for D1 basketball!
Good luck!
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Post by seagull on Jan 17, 2011 23:40:14 GMT -8
Video is not allowed during the game action. Like I haven't done it myself. Be unobtrusive!
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Post by jhonka34 on Jan 18, 2011 1:14:44 GMT -8
1. Check with the arena regarding cameras and lenses. I don't think you can get in with a camera and telephoto. 2. If you can, a 70-200 should meet your needs. It's a sell out, so the whole arena itself is a good shot...bring a wide angle. 3. As to location, the closer to the court the better. Problem is people in front of you. First couple of rows of the student section adjacent to the tunnel the opposing team comes out of would be a good around spot. 4. No flash for D1 basketball! Good luck! This. Most importantly, it will be a crapshoot based on who checks your bag or takes your ticket as to what you can and can't bring in. So have choices. I would agree to bring 1 wide angle for crowd shots. If you can get close to the floor, 70-200 should be fine. You'll want to be pretty off-center baseline for that. If you are halfway up, the 100-400 will be your best bet, and there are some decent shots to be made there as well. Remember that most of the interesting action happens facing the hoop. Also, that the teams switch sides at half so that will be a little harder. Go no slower than 1/250th of a second on shutter speed. Faster will be better. I haven't worked with a 7D so I don't know how the high ISO is but at Viejas (if I remember correctly and the lighting hasn't changed in the last 4 years), you'll have to go pretty high to get anything close to 1/800th even at 2.8. Also no to the monopod/tripod idea. Never gonna get it in and it will just get in the way. Also, if you ever do get credentialed, the 70-200 is pretty good if you sit at the corner of the court, but I used to love sitting as close to center as possible with the 50mm 1.4 (though I would always open it up to 2.0 since the depth of field was very narrow at 1.4.
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Post by jhonka34 on Jan 18, 2011 1:19:24 GMT -8
If you do go with the 100-400 you have to be careful not to be too close since the 7d magnifies lenses by 1.6. This is a stupid correction and I hate being that guy but, technically, it doesn't magnify the lenses so much as crop off the outer edges of the images. The sensor doesn't actually cover the entire area where light is coming in through the lens. For most lenses this is a mere techinicality, but for really wide angle stuff and especially fish-eye lenses this difference is paramount. Essentially you lose all the of the cool curvy parts of the image when you use a camera with a "crop factor." I spent my formative shooting years on a 10D and was amazed what happened to my humble 20mm when I put it on the full-frame 5D.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2011 4:26:27 GMT -8
4) Should I bring a flash? this is a no-no.
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Post by ekimzulad on Jan 18, 2011 6:39:52 GMT -8
Wow, this is a great board. Thanks for your help so far. Keep it coming. With your feedback, here's where I stand so far as to my questions.
Q: Where to sit in GA to take decent shots? A: Sit in one of the corners, but not under the basket so you can see the faces. Also, sit in a lower row as close to the court as possible.
Q: Are there any standing room only sections that I can hang out in for awhile to take better pics closer to ground level, even for just a few min? Maybe even before the game while they are practicing? A: I still don't have any answers to this. Help!!!
Q: Which lenses should I bring for my Canon 7D (I have a 300mm 2.8, 100-400mm, 85mm, 30mm, 10-22mm, 1.4x TC, 2x TC). (I do NOT have a 70-200 at this point). A: The 100-400mm (raising the ISO to keep the shutter between 1/250-1/1000) would be best, plus the 10-22 for wide angle shots of the arena.
Q: Should I bring a tripod, monopod or flash, while sitting in the GA section? A: No, leave them home.
I think that pretty well summarizes the feedback so far, but I'd open to more (Ernie, you out there?) And unless I missed it I haven't received any feedback yet for my 2nd question.
Thanks again!
Any other tips/suggestions?
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Post by jhonka34 on Jan 18, 2011 7:23:25 GMT -8
There is no SRO on the floor level. If you try to hang out there during the game you will be moved along quickly by security. You might be able to hang out there for pre-game warmups and shoot some. You have two ways to go about it, try not to be super noticeable or just talk to a friendly looking security guard, ask if they mind and keep up a light conversation with them as you shoot.
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Post by Spud on Jan 18, 2011 7:31:37 GMT -8
Wow, this is a great board. Thanks for your help so far. Keep it coming. With your feedback, here's where I stand so far as to my questions. Q: Where to sit in GA to take decent shots? A: Sit in one of the corners, but not under the basket so you can see the faces. Also, sit in a lower row as close to the court as possible. Q: Are there any standing room only sections that I can hang out in for awhile to take better pics closer to ground level, even for just a few min? Maybe even before the game while they are practicing? A: I still don't have any answers to this. Help!!! Q: Which lenses should I bring for my Canon 7D (I have a 300mm 2.8, 100-400mm, 85mm, 30mm, 10-22mm, 1.4x TC, 2x TC). (I do NOT have a 70-200 at this point). A: The 100-400mm (raising the ISO to keep the shutter between 1/250-1/1000) would be best, plus the 10-22 for wide angle shots of the arena. Q: Should I bring a tripod, monopod or flash, while sitting in the GA section? A: No, leave them home. I think that pretty well summarizes the feedback so far, but I'd open to more (Ernie, you out there?) And unless I missed it I haven't received any feedback yet for my 2nd question. Thanks again! Any other tips/suggestions? I would call the athletic department about bringing long lenses in...from what I remember, I don't think you'd be able to bring in the 100-400mm...nor the 300mm. When I checked the Viejas arena website, it said that you can bring camera's for athletic events, but not "professional" equipment...best to call before you show up with a bag of gear that they won't let you bring in. As for your second question, just get there about 45 minutes early and head down to the floor...nobody's going to stop you then.
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Post by DukeAztec on Jan 18, 2011 8:24:13 GMT -8
you hve to have credentials to use a professional camera. - they consider a camera professional if you can remove the lens. I ran into that last year when my kid was playing at half time show and brought my camera just to take pics of them. didnt want pics of the game b/c Ernie gets some great ones.
Ernie would be the guy to talk to.
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Post by ekimzulad on Jan 18, 2011 8:48:36 GMT -8
you hve to have credentials to use a professional camera. - they consider a camera professional if you can remove the lens. Noooooo, this is not what I wanted to hear. I can't believe they don't allow SLR's. What if I super glued my lens to the camera body, then they couldn't remove it, would that work?
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Post by DukeAztec on Jan 18, 2011 8:57:11 GMT -8
EK - get with Ernie - pm him if need be....
superglue? nah - too sticky...lol
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Post by ellbee on Jan 18, 2011 10:04:54 GMT -8
I think that pretty well summarizes the feedback so far, but I'd open to more (Ernie, you out there?) And unless I missed it I haven't received any feedback yet for my 2nd question. Any other tips/suggestions? Ernie's handle is aztecphotos - he's already replied above... Perhaps you can ply him for more info - but I don't know what his usual bribe schedule is.
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Post by jhonka34 on Jan 18, 2011 11:36:09 GMT -8
Also, unless you want to try and talk him into carrying your gear in the media entrance for you, Ernie's gig is as a credentialed shooter, not getting through the gates with gear/shooting from the stands.
His info about the shooting conditions and his tips for good photos are great but I wouldn't expect him to know how to get gear into the stadium and what the rules for shooting are if you are a ticketed guest.
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Post by hoystory on Jan 18, 2011 12:05:00 GMT -8
A couple of suggestions:
Stick the lens in your pocket and have the camera body around your shoulder and underneath your jacket. Assemble once you're inside.
Alternative: Get a Chipotle bag. Wrap your lens in aluminum foil.
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Post by ekimzulad on Jan 18, 2011 13:28:36 GMT -8
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Has anyone here (other than Ernie of course), ever been able to get an SLR inside the arena?
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Post by DukeAztec on Jan 18, 2011 14:35:16 GMT -8
Clear it with the Ath Dept or sneak it in.
sorry but that's all i can think of.
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doom
Bench Warmer
Posts: 66
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Post by doom on Jan 19, 2011 10:14:14 GMT -8
I'm an editorial photographer but didn't get clearance in time for tonight's game, although I do have great seats. I just double checked with Viejas, and they confirmed that no professional cameras with detachable lenses are allowed without press certification.
I'm wondering if I can get away with just pocketing a few lenses and rocking the camera around my neck. Will they actually check to see if it's a detachable lens? How strict is the security screening?
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