Advice Needed for Sports Gig

[macka]

Hi everyone,

Next month I'm going to be shooting at a sporting event run by my Dad (see details here: http://handballpacificcup.com).

For those who have not come across it, Handball is considered to be the fastest land ball sport. It is played on an indoor court with soccer-like goals defended on each side by a goalie and 6 other players in a formation comparable to water polo. The venue will be the Dural Sport and Leisure Centre, which I have not yet been to.

I plan to hire a lens for it, (cost will be covered by the budget), and I'm thinking of an 80-200 2.8.

Hopefully I will get in a bit of practise beforehand, but I was wondering if anyone has had experience shooting a fast-paced ball sport or similar who can give me any pointers, advice and tips they might have. I've never done anything like this before, so assume I know nothing. Any advice will be appreciated.

Finally, anyone who is interested, please go along and check it out - the Aussie team needs more supporters for this exciting, fast-paced game. It's one of Europe's best-loved games, right up there with soccer, and Dad doesn't usually charge too much for tickets!

Cheers,

[shaunus]

if you know the game well, just anticipate the play.

i've found with aussie rules after playing it and knowing the game its easy to photograph, as most times you know where the ball will be and what could and can happen.

[birddog114]

macka,
Very interesting! thanks.
If you need any "weapon" to defence, pls. drop me a line.

Sorry, I don't have the 80-200/2.8 but can loan you a 70-200VR with or without TC and hope it will help.

80-200 or 70-200Vr sometimes could not cover all or too long for what you're aiming to achieve.

If there's any other lens which you wish to play with, I may help you out.

[johndec]

Hi Macka. I think the 80-200 is a good choice. A 70-200 would be even better due to it's slightly better AF speed but the budget may not stretch that far. The most important thing is to try and freeze the action. What is the lighting like? If it is poor it will make your job difficult..

I would suggest using shutter priority so that shutter speed doesn't fall below about 1/500th. Use Auto ISO so that the camera can bump up the ISO if needed. Try not to go wider than f4. All lenses are a little softer at maximum aperture, f2.8 in this case, but as an 80-200 owner it is OK at f2.8, good at f4 and sharp as from f5.6 upwards.

[macka]

Birddog,

Thank you very much for the offer - as payment would come from the budget and not me I'm sure you mean to loan for a price. I will be very interested in doing this and will PM you closer to the event.

Cheers

[birddog114]

Birddog,

Thank you very much for the offer - as payment would come from the budget and not me I'm sure you mean to loan for a price. I will be very interested in doing this and will PM you closer to the event.

Cheers

macka,
I'm not seeking any type of payment for my loan gears.
Those sums maybe a small contribution to the Aussie team as a small donation to support them.

[macka]

macka,
Very interesting! thanks.
If you need any "weapon" to defence, pls. drop me a line.

I'll let you know about this as well!

Thank you for your very generous offer Birddog, I will be in touch.

[redline]

practice is a good idea, attend a few games before hand to get use to the feel of the sport. even if it practce or low ranked matches.
look up some mags or overseas clubs to get a feel of what usually norm of photos are.

[Oneputt]

Macka you are right about it being a fast game. many years ago I watched the final of the premier French competition in Bordeaux. It was super.

[macka]

Oneputt, it's a great game, and please excuse my little *cough* plugs *cough* but it's a shame that not many people here are familiar with it, as the Aus teams could really use the support. (Thanks again Birdy!)

[birddog114]

macka,
A d2 series camera may suit this type of game, your D70 may not cope with it, 3 or 4 fps may not enough to cover the fast actions.

[macka]

Birdy, PM sent.

[macka]

Thanks all for your suggestions so far, some good ideas and I will take it all on board.

[losfp]

My approach would be slightly different - For sport, I like to use manual mode unless there are going to be large areas of contrast between light/dark. Indoors, it shouldn't be a problem.

At least 1/500 shutter speed, and as large an aperture as you're comfortable with. Adjust ISO to suit conditions. As mentioned before, you'll get best sharpness at f/8 and more, but the 80-200 should cope with 2.8 pretty well (better than my 70-300G, which is barely adequate at f/11, and comically soft wide open at f/5.6 )

200mm will be just fine for handball I reckon - it's a smallish court isn't it? On the weekend I found that 300mm was not quite enough for aussie rules, but the SCG is just a bit bigger than a handball court

It might be my lousy technique, but I find a monopod to be really helpful shooting sport. When following the action around, I don't always pay attention to the old tips- elbows tucked in, squeeze, don't jab etc etc

If you know the game, try to stay ahead of the play so you can stop for a split second to steady, and wait for the subject to enter your focus area.

Good luck! Handball is pretty cool, but we don't often get much coverage of it outside the olympics etc. PS: If I were you, I wouldn't take birdy up on his offer. It'll cost you in the long run, in expensive plastic surgery to remove the grin it leaves on your face, and the financial hit of absolutely having to buy one after you use it!!

[terminaltackle]

Gday macka, I hope your ready for this, EHB is fast. I have done a primary school carnival, not having a clue what the game was it took me a bit to pickup.

My first mistake was trying to follow the ball even at this level I was twisting my head off and going from one end to the other and back again.

My second mistake was I just tried to cover to much.

What started to work for me, was to follow the player. you then anticipate what is going to happen. If they accelerate shoot if they change direction shoot and that is for the recieving shots or defensive shots. When they have the ball it gets easier but it is still fast. Then of course there is the expression shots, head in the hands the group hug the yell and many more.

Personally I beat myself up a lot, to try and achieve the perfect shot, if I ever get it I will let you know. The other thing I repeat to myself is something I heard or read sometime ago "if you see the shot, you've missed the shot".

I hope this helps a bit, and be sure to have some fun along the way, you know crowd shots, umpires coaches. These things will help you change your focus and then who knows what will happen..

Brett

[macka]

 PS: If I were you, I wouldn't take birdy up on his offer. It'll cost you in the long run, in expensive plastic surgery to remove the grin it leaves on your face, and the financial hit of absolutely having to buy one after you use it!!

 ROFL Don't worry, we won't have these problems, it's a little beyond reach atm!

Thanks for the suggestions. Currently thinking of going with a 70-200 on the D2h body (Birdy is very generous) and then the 85 1.4 on one D70 body and our 50 1.8 on the other body for wider shots and a bit of variety.

I think 200mm will be adequate, it is a smallish court, bigger than basketball, but definately smaller than the SCG.

[ABG]

Hey Macka, thanks for the heads up and good luck with your gig there. From what I've seen you post here, you'll kill it.

I went with my wife and kids to the handball events at the Olympics and they loved it (I played it at school and knew it would be great to watch). If there's nothing stopping us from attending, then we'll be there for sure.

[macka]

Fantastic Andrew, if I convince even one person to go I'm happy. Tickets are cheap and can be purchased as you rock up (there won't be a shortage). Glad to hear that you liked Handball at the olympics. My Dad was the competition manager back then and now he is Aus Handball Federation President. Or "El Presidente" as we like to call him. If you were at the olympics you would have seen me or my younger brother - we were there most days as slaves to my Dad - mostly as 'mopgirl' and 'mopboy' during games.

[Michael]

macka,
Very interesting! thanks.
If you need any "weapon" to defence, pls. drop me a line.

Sorry, I don't have the 80-200/2.8 but can loan you a 70-200VR with or without TC and hope it will help.

80-200 or 70-200Vr sometimes could not cover all or too long for what you're aiming to achieve.

If there's any other lens which you wish to play with, I may help you out.

I don't suppose you have any spare talent laying around that you could loan me?

[birddog114]

macka,
Very interesting! thanks.
If you need any "weapon" to defence, pls. drop me a line.

Sorry, I don't have the 80-200/2.8 but can loan you a 70-200VR with or without TC and hope it will help.

80-200 or 70-200Vr sometimes could not cover all or too long for what you're aiming to achieve.

If there's any other lens which you wish to play with, I may help you out.

I don't suppose you have any spare talent laying around that you could loan me?

Michael,

I loaned my gears to several members on this board very often (subjects to availability) in the past without any questions or paperwork needed to be filled, even interstate's members.

The only main issue here is the trust and I value it in each case and it's one of the benefits to be an active member on this board.

I wish the gears returned same as their original conditions once they were out. It's only my major point.

If someone asks within my reach, then I'm happy to send my gears off without further question.

Don't blame me if you get hooked and sufferring with the NLD after the loan