Thanks... if you like challenging 'indoor action' - basket ball & volley ball are all of that. Football at night is also. These are some of my personal favorite basketball shots: http://mercer.smugmug.com/HighshoolBasketBallOregon/Oregon-State-6A-Highschool/Published-in-Mail-Tribune/16205654_9VGnTm/1217327282_LvE4V

Track & Field timing & angle are everything, if your settings are correct... the challenge is the changing sky on rainy or cloudy days. http://mercer.smugmug.com/TrackandField/2011-05-13-Western-Oregon-U

I found a set that was a few years old... of a Martial Arts Tournament my little sister was participating in (I had those photos posted to my old Flickr account - for the family sharing stuff). These are all 'as shot' (no post processing, cropping, or other alterations)... so there are some not so great ones. But, they might give you an idea of what the settings & angles can do (and which to avoid).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/sets/72157623658578190/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448961746/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448293775/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4449103918/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448992894/in/set-72157623658578190

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/4448227191/in/set-72157623658578190

Settings on the Flickr martial arts set is:
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 250 mm
ISO Speed 1600
Exposure Bias +2 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

Moving around, to find different angles is important (depending on the location & match). Obviously, if you are shooting a cage match, a good location is a good location... and ya don't want to give that up. But, the average tournament has 3 to 6 'rings' going... and you'll need to scope out the back ground and angles of each - and be ready to move as the athlete you're following moves. Pay attention to where the judges are - as more experienced athletes will 'play toward' them more often than not. Best of luck.

1/250th isn't usually fast enough... 320 is, unless they are demonstrating weapons or just ULTRA FAST. There's one guy I've shot that can't be fully stopped at 1000.

When I shoot sports action... I go to full manual... set shutter speed first, most open aperature second, then adjust for the ISO (with indoor stuff - usually 1600 to 6400). With the 60D, you have the ability to crank the ISO, but will start to get a bit of noise after about 1600... so noise reduction will be helpful in the post processing. But 6400 works beautifully. (ALL of these were 250, f3.5 to 5.6, 6400 ISO: http://mercer.smugmug.com/OtherSports/2011-11-11-SMedford-vs-Centenn/SMedford-vs-Cenntenial-TOP/20091907_cMG3kB/1585137208_CGvzMRB... you can see a bit of blur on the ball in some frames, and 320 would have stopped that in all but the kick offs... but the lighting wasn't bright enough to allow that, and I would have lost more of the other shots).

Also, consider either center spot focus points OR all... with AI Servo, and use the focus button at the back of your body while shooting (your thumb should reach it - and just hold it down during the action). Best of luck...

There are so many factors to consider... ambient lighting, tripod or freehand... lens, etc. One of MY best moon shots was at:

ISO 200
350mm (with an EXII 2x doubler, 1.6 crop factor)= 1120mm
f/5.6
0.0025s (1/400)

http://mercer.smugmug.com/NaturePhotography/Moon/Moon/15685700_P6krLs/1201231767_8xJWj

But, I shot the orangish Lunar Eclipse at: ISO 100, f/5.6, 0.005s (1/200)

AWESOME review site... thank YOU... very useful...

ROTFLMAO - EXACTLY my initial thought... 35 years ago, before I *thought* I had a clue what the difference between a snapshot & photograph was.

I looked at the photo a couple different times... and even showed it to my son... I don't get it how it had a $100 value, much less millions!

Biltmore Estate - even with a press pass... no photography INSIDE. Which is sad because it's particularly beautiful in the spring, fall, and at Christmas... because of their decorations. The outside, gardens & orchids are fair game.

I've been to a few 'private' museums that don't allow any photography... and have even seen them kick people out for attempting to use cell phone cameras or pocket cameras without the flash on. Their verbal excuse is 'it degrades the art' (sorry, not unless there is a flash)... their real reason is selling their own licensed pictures, postcards, calendars, etc.

Cockatoo's are 'powder bearing' birds (hence massive dander)... and require a great deal more care in high humidity areas and often daily 'baths' or it tends to 'cake up' on their skin, and cause irritation. Whereas the Macaws, and African species are 'oil bearing' and it helps insulate them from the humidity... and aren't AS messy or allergy causing (when indoors). Anyhow... boring & off topic, I know. LOL

Only early in the morning... or when they are thinking they need something. The rest of the time they are pretty quiet. Kids... birds... the birds are usually quieter. LOL It's funny watching the kids interacting with the birds, and visa versa. But, the plan is to get down to just one macaw... at one point, we had nearly 1,000 birds on 10 acres. Amazon's are the loudest through out the day... usually. Those Cockatoo's & Macaws are often the loudest volume wise... so long as they have what they need, they are more likely to talk than scream. The exotic bird business died off about a decade ago... but it was fun & interesting for nearly 20 years. A lot of work though, daily.

Love the Rose Breasted Cockatoo looking into your lens hood. They are such sweet birds. I had one for a few years... moved to TN where there was humidity, and the cockatoos didn't do too well... so brought them back to the west coast where it was drier & they were happier. I only have Macaws now (down to 5). LOL

I like the Scarlet head shot... very nice detail... I don't think I ever got any shots of my Scarlets back in the day.

Not sure what type of bird... but I really love the forward wing position in that bottom photograph. Very nice capture! Tough to get that angle & position.

Love the cropped version...

OK - the 'Yoga' shot is REALLY REALLY cool... I've NEVER seen anything like that before from or with any Heron. Cormorants yes, but never a heron. Quite interesting. Koodos on a totally unique shot!

@WisconsinPat... FYI - the 'website' link on your profile page has an extra '/' which causes an error that some beginners might not be able to figure out.

Thanks... my email is foghornleg90@yahoo.com... I would appreciate a price list on assorted sizes. Also, what methods of payment do you take, and is there any shipping or other fees added?

If you are at a flat $40 per, 2 minimum, with a reasonable turn around, and either no added (or minimum) shipping costs... then I'm interested in having a backup source available for getting these done.

Do you clear coat or use any added UV protection?

The sizes I'm usually asked for are:

8x10
11x14
16x20
20x30
20x20
30x30
24x36
30x40
and 12 x36 for most of the panoramic shots (usually 'stack them' 3 up... so there is no waste, which gets me a discount over just printing one or two, in most sizes).

Most of the show banners I've done (they are usually rolled edges & grommetted - 1 in each of the 4 corners, and depending on the length, another on the top edge ever 12 to 18 inches, to hang flat from the top bar at the back of the booth or display) are:
24 x 48
24 x 60
24 x 96
24 x 120
36 x 48
36 x 96
36 x 120
48 x 96
48 x 120
60 x 120

The printer usually gangs or stacks the prints (another words, giving me quantity breaks for x number of the same size (even if different photographs/projects) if I'm reducing the waste... and flags if there are any issues or problems, or if he doesn't think a particular shot will look great on canvas for what ever reason.

Don't know what RIP software he's using, but I've seen some amazing enlargements of stuff I didn't think could be enlarged THAT big (one 8MP finished shot was enlarged to 8 feet x 20 feet for a tradeshow back drop... and it came out amazing).

I usually get them either stretched or wrapped (or if being used as a banner or tradeshow booth back drop grommetted). Are those services you offer?

And usually get them shipped either to my Oregon or Tennessee address, or drop shipped directly to the customer (which are 99.99% in the lower 48 states).

I usually don't mess with framing, unless a client specifically points out a framing style I have - or suggest - for a given photograph.

My orders are generally in spurts - some months 0 to 6, some months 12 to 50. Only once have I ever had a month that exceeded 50 on canvas - and it was a 'saved up' (accumulated) order of assorted projects... and my current printer cuts me a pretty good discount for quantities above 1 to 3 (depending on size).

Anyhow, if you are interested, please feel free to send me an email.

Thanks,

Terry