Advice on low light action photography - shooting football

[twilightfootball]

Hey there, I’m working on behalf of Sony UK, and we’re doing this low-light football photography event (check out the Flickr page here - http://pea.to/twilightfootball) and I’m doing some research on low light and sports photography.

As low light, dusk/dawn photography is pretty tricky, and action/sports photography also isn’t that simple either, I’m basically looking for some advice to give people interested in the event.

What’s the essential kit to have, how should I set up my gear, and do you guys have any shots to show me of sports shot in low light or any stories on the topic you could share that could help me out?

Ali Plumb (on behalf of Sony Twilight Football)

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Ali, I dont shoot that much sports in Low Light, but we do cover a ton of Musical Acts which is pretty much the same thing. I'm guessing Jana would be the one to ask about this as she covers a ton of sports and has quite the portfolio

The simpliest thing to recommend is a good, fast lens that will allow the shooter to stop down to an f/2.8 or lower. My ideal set-up is a Canon 70-200L IS f/2.8. The Image Stabilization on the lens really helps with the low light and the speed of the lens at f/2.8 is amazing. I've captured some stunning images with this lens paired up to numerous Canon bodies.

I'd love to test out the Sony stuff, but cant afford to try any of it out to see how it compares to Canon's stuff.

For Football in particular, if you have access to the sidelines and can move up and down the field with the play, a 70-200 lens will get you pretty tight in the action of the game. If you dont have access to the sidelines, then you're probably going to have to move up to a 300-400 f/2.8 prime lens. Either of these lenses are top notch pieces of glass and is what you see along the sidelines of 99% of the pro sports events anyway.

A camera body that can handle high ISO settings will really help with the shots too. Once the sun sets and the stadium lights come on, you're going to have to bump up your ISO till you can find that happy medium that will allow you to keep a fast shutter speed to stop the action. Blurry images in sports arent sold or looked for all that much, unless you've already captured the shot and are just looking for something artistic.

Here are a few shots taken with f/2.8 lenses in low light conditions to show you what they're capable of


Taken by my wife Cindy Bonish with a Canon 30D and the 70-200 IS f/2.8 lens I mentioned earlier
ISO400 1/125th @ f/2.8
Rock Bottom Chuck Wagon Rodeo in Arkansas 2009


Taken by Me, with a Canon 5D and a 400 IS f/2.8 lens on a Wimberly Head
ISO3200 1/250th @ f/2.8
Rock Bottom Chuck Wagon Rodeo in Arkansas 2009


Taken by Me, with a Canon 30D and the 70-200 IS f/2.8
ISO800 1/60th @ f/2.8
Red Bull Last Man Standing in Bulcher Texas 2007


Taken by Me with a Canon 30D and the 70-200 IS f/2.8
ISO640 1/125th @ f/2.8
Flint Michigan Ice Races 2009


Taken by Me with a Canon 1D and the 70-200 IS f/2.8
ISO800 1/100th @ f/3.2??? Not sure why I didnt open up to f/2.8, I must have had a few too many pops and wasnt paying attention to my settings
Mid-Eviel Times in Orlando Florida 2007

Hope that helps and I would bet to say that everyone will agree that a fast f/2.8 lens will be your best bet for low light sports photography.

[twilightfootball]

Wow, thanks for the advice, and the photos are stunning too.

These f 2.8 lenses are so pricey - if you only have a prosumer camera, something towards the £1000 mark, if not ideally lower, of course, how would you advise people who still want to give it a shot? High/auto ISO? External lights even?

Thanks again for your time.

[Bonish Photo]

If you cant afford to purchase the fast glass with the f/2.8 availability, then your only other option is high ISO's

Using flash in any kind of sports is seriously frowned upon. If shooting a sport and your flash causes the player to mis-judge their shot or lose track of the ball momentarily, then you've not only changed the outcome of the game, but you've put all us photographers who are shooting at risk.

NEVER use a flash during sporting events, and if you see any photographers doing this, you should approach them and tell them to shut their falsh off. Unless you can hide strobes up in the rafters where they wont interfer with the players line of vision, then flash should never be used in sports photography. If you can afford to get the strobes that will cover this distance and have the triggers to fire them off, then you've just spent the same amount as a pro lens. So its a trade off.

There really is no way to get the shot without having a fast lens and a body that can handle the fast frames per second. This is why the parents who sit along the sidelines of their family members sporting events are all so surprised when none of their pictures are turning out. It's the one time where the expensive equipment really pays for itself

[twilightfootball]

Absolutely, flash not only is a no no it seems but also, it has to be said, never seems to work either.

Anyway, this is great stuff, makes me feel like a new camera is very much in order - but, and I know this is a bit cheeky, but do you guys have any(more) shots of well taken low-light sports shots you could show me...?

I'd like to say it's just for the education, but it also be for inspiration for this competition to be honest.

[jmthompson]

I agree with Pat that a fast lens, at least a f2.8, is essential for any low-light sports. I shoot football with a Canon 70-200L IS f2.8, with an ISO between 800 and 1000, trying never to go under 1/250, using a monopod, with a Canon 40D body (hoping to upgrade the body soon, but the 40D does a great job). NEVER use a flash...I can't emphasize that enough! I was at a volleyball game the other night and I had been at the side of the net behind the ref (who is up on the ladder) taking shots. My knees needed a break, so I sat down for a second. As soon as I did, three h.s. photography students thought that looked like a good spot, and jumped down there and started taking shots WITH FLASHES! And they were shooting as fast as their flashes would fire. No one said anything to them, but I did call their instructor the next day (who is NOT really a photographer, just someone they found to teach the class), and told her what they were doing! Flashes in any sport, especially volleyball or baseball, can be VERY dangerous!

Here are a few samples from a football game on Friday night. Although they look a little noisy, it was actually raining REALLY hard!







Hope that helps! More samples can be see at my sports galleries (the volleyball, basketball, and most of the football are all shot in terrible light conditions!) at the following link: http://jmthompsonphoto.smugmug.com/Sports

[footballmom]

I am looking for some advice on what camera settings to use in taking high school football pictures at night. I own a Canon 50D and have a 70 - 200L IS f2.8 lens. I understand I need an ISO between 800 and 1000 with a shutter speed at least 1/1000th. Is it best to set my settings on P with an ISO 1000, or should I set the AV or TV?

[bob_r]

I am looking for some advice on what camera settings to use in taking high school football pictures at night. I own a Canon 50D and have a 70 - 200L IS f2.8 lens. I understand I need an ISO between 800 and 1000 with a shutter speed at least 1/1000th. Is it best to set my settings on P with an ISO 1000, or should I set the AV or TV?

Set your camera to AV and f/2.8 if you're shooting just a few players, f/4 may be needed if your shoot the team. Start with ISO800 and then check your histogram to see if you need to increase it or if you can lower it. You shouldn't need a shutter speed of 1/1000s to get decent pics.