Cheer Competition Results

[noreturnphotos]

What an absolutelely frustrating and valuable learning experiance this was...
I spent most of the first 2 hours trying every setting I could possibly think of with this Nikon D40. Lenses are both VR (55-200 f/4.5, 70-300 f/4.5).
Typically this is the result for most of the shots:


I finally settled in with these settings: iso 1600, exposure value -1.3 to prevent blow-out.
The lighting was a constant flashing back and forth round and round, VERY frustrating.
These are a couple of the better ones:




The competition was for 1st thru 8th grade, with several skill classes. These kids were amazing... I couldn't flop on the ground or roll over when I was that age.
I can't wait to try this again!
Next time I will have tripod and hopefully a faster piece of glass!
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
Royce

[Tom B.]

Royce, I agree that under tight light conditions, using a 4.5 or slower lens is tough. I took my Canon 100-400 5.6 lens to a basketball game recently to experiment with what my lens could do with indoor lighting. I agree - a faster lens is needed. I tried just about every setting trying to get the perfect 'frozen' shot, but yet I think I had a degree of blur in every shot. I would also say that if having blur in my pictures was my goal - I accomplished that very well...I will say that the hight school gym where I took these shots is an old school and the lighting was less than desirable. I pushed to 1600 and hand held. (This was my first time taking pictures at this gym and I was not familar with the lighting or where I could even sit to take pictures, so I left the tripod at home. Now I know where the other photographers sit, I will join them the next time...)....Luca posted hockey pictures he took with his 100-400 and was rather successful I thought. But, being as close as he was to the ice and the fact that ice was reflecting light, I bet he had a leg up on us.....

I do wish that the money tree in my backyard would grow a little faster!







Any CC is appreciated!

Tom B.

[noreturnphotos]

Tom it looks like your camera did pretty darn goodie with that lens and all! It looks to me like you you have really good color control, no blow out and very little blur.
Alot of the stuff I have from the comp is pretty good for the motionless shots. I think with the tripod, a few more of the acrobatics would have turned out.
Pat and Luca have a major leg up, with the faster lens.
Me thinks I will be attending the next b-ball game for practice.
Royce

[Tom B.]

Thanks Royce...There is another game this weekend so I might head out and try again. This time, tripod or monopod in tow....As the saying goes "practice makes perfect"...

Tom B.