Hi BJ,

First, welcome to the Hog. As to your question, you may have already found the 28-300 isn't teleconverter compatible. A very affordable alternative to buying another lens (150-600) as already suggested ( a beast of a lens) for what you're looking to do, which is get closer to your subjects to avoid excessive cropping is to buy your self a set of extension tubes. These will decrease the minimum focusing distance of your lens. Ranging from $50 to $125 a set that will allow you to maintain communication between lens and camera is a very good option to get you closer to your subject. There are even cheaper alternatives which in essence are just spacer tubes but you'll have to go full manual with them for focus and other settings. Like a teleconverter you'll loose a bit of light (f/stops) depending on the number of tubes you choose to stack between the lens and camera.

Unlike converters though there is no glass between the lens's elements and the sensor and therefore will not degrade your image quality. There are a host of manufacturers to choose from Kenko, Polaroid and Fotodiox among others. One draw back to extension tubes though is with their use you'll loose the ability to shoot out to infinity, but as you'll find out photography is all about trade offs. They're quite quick to change out though should you want to go back to shooting at distances once you've finished with your close up stuff. Which ever way you go I wish you the best of luck and happy shooting...

I get it and did agree that the gimbal makes great sense but, the OP clearly stated she didn't want to spend much money to accomplish what she wanted. Rethinking positions is all fine and dandy, in most cases it's our budgets that prevent us from pursuing those avenues.

Orbs, the spirits of long dead bagpipers...

Insure your gear. No sense in getting yourself injured over things that can be replaced.

It does make more sense than a ball head, although the OP is talking inexpensive. You'd be hard pressed to find a good quality gimbal for under 200 to 300 dollars. The gimbal head Steve's sporting in the video is a Wimberley, to the tune of 500 to 600 dollars, I pretty sure it's out of her price range.

Generally use of a monopod is with a camera and large lens combination, the monopod affixes via the foot on the lens collar, no need for a ball head to go vertical, loosen the collar and spin the whole rig to the vertical position.

Rather than a ball head you'd be better served with a tilt head as you can already rotate about the axis of the monopod.

Hey Jules, In looking at the exif data I can see a few issues with your settings that weren't in your favor, the (ISO 560, f5, 1/2000 and +1.3 exposure comp.), I'd suggest ISO 100, f8 to f11 maybe even as much as f16, 1/3000 - 4000 and no exposure comp., then PP to bring your shadows up. Test your settings for the conditions pre-game, check your histogram and run from there. The D500 is pretty sensitive and has a tendency to blow out the specular highlights, I find it's easier to deal with a little noise in PP should you need to pull your shadows up any significant amount. Shadows are still going to have a hard edge anyway, just the nature of bright sun light. Good luck and keep shooting...

You may find many UHH hogs have accounts, they do have a free trial period you can take advantage of.
https://rondubreuilphotography.smugmug.com/

Based on your lenses you'll definitely need your flash, both are what would be considered relatively slow lenses in the f/3.5 - 5.6 range, not ideal for shooting indoors. At the very least get yourself a mounting bracket to get the flash off the top of the camera and a diffuser/softbox cover for it. You'll be bouncing the light most of the time, the attachments that came with your speedlight will also help in this regard, depending on the ceiling and walls and their color. If you've got the funds get yourself a faster mid-range zoom (f/2.8) or prime 35/50mm 1.8 if you intend some lower light type shots.


Otherwise as suggested, beg off and don't do it as you clearly don't have a bunch of experience in this area based on the question you first posed. If you do decide to move forward with the shoot, good luck and I hope it turns out well.

Thank you PG, I'm glad you like them. I also enjoyed your series from the Old Mill.

Thanks RR, I appreciate it, I hope all is well in Quebec. Recently visited family a couple weeks back up in Facette.

Thanks lhammer, I'm glad you enjoyed them, gives me encouragement.

Thanks Judy, glad you liked them, much appreciated.

Thank you Sunnybuck, I'm glad you enjoyed them, they are quick little buggers.