Night Photography: I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game. I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long...

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

Barrow lens.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

Barrow lens.

Willy Loc: Alaska

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

It sounds as though it should be well lit. I don't think low light will be an issue. Boost your ISO so you can use a fast shutter speed to stop the action. Be sure not to use any filters that will reduce the light. Shoot in RAW so that you can change the white balance in post processing. If your shooting jpg's be sure to get the white balance correct under the artificial lights.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

If you can get in a good spot with a tripod, that will help. When you see those guys with the big, white lenses, they generally have them on tripods. Willy has good suggestions.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

I plan to shoot RAW. How's 1/1000 for SS? I also plan to use AI-Servo for focus. Do I need a tripod?

Willy Loc: Alaska

gemlenz wrote:

I plan to shoot RAW. How's 1/1000 for SS? I also plan to use AI-Servo for focus. Do I need a tripod?

1/1000 may be a bit over kill. I don't have any experience shooting sports but I think 1/250 would be a good starting point.
A monopod may be a better choice over a tripod. Tripod legs will be a tripping hazard with lots of people around.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

Here are some suggestions from Adorama and others.

https://www.google.com/search?q=photographing+football+at+night&oq=photographing+football+at+night&aqs=chrome.0.69i57.10772j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I use hand held, I find a tripod or mono pod is too slow if you need to swing around in a hurry...up, down, left, right....
If your lens has VR or OS it should be OK...
the 70-300 should be OK as well, aren't your football fields only 50 yard wide...?
I shot some Aussie Rules football for a club some years ago and our ovals are huge and my 55-300 was OK.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

gemlenz wrote:

I plan to shoot RAW. How's 1/1000 for SS? I also plan to use AI-Servo for focus. Do I need a tripod?

That is long enough if you stay close to line of scrimmage. Not long enough to get tight downfield shots, i.e. long pass play when you are upfield of play. AI servo yes, try 1/500 (these aren't NFL players are they?) Take a couple and chimp and zoom in on hands or feet to check for sharpness. It's about finding the balance of SS and ISO. I would try 1200 ISO. a little noise not as noticeable (and can be cleaned up in post) as blur. Use a Monopod, not tripod, and be prepared to move. I would also do a custom WB. Get there early and check SS & Focus during warm ups.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

jerryc41 wrote:

Here are some suggestions from Adorama and others.

https://www.google.com/search?q=photographing+football+at+night&oq=photographing+football+at+night&aqs=chrome.0.69i57.10772j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

(take the "s" out of https to make it work, jerry)

http://www.google.com/search?q=photographing+football+at+night&oq=photographing+football+at+night&aqs=chrome.0.69i57.10772j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Looks like lots of good info there.
Though I used to shoot a lot of HS football games for the paper, we could use flash back then, so I'm no help here.

Nightski

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x .... It's a business expense, right? :-D

boydimages Loc: California

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

You should be OK. Many years ago shooting football for the HS I taught at I used 400 ISO film and used a good flash, F stop maybe F8. Set zoom at 150mm and shot the side lines. Needed to use flash because our stadium was poorly lit. If fact 2 stops difference from one end zone to the other. The shots were for the school yearbook and looked fine for the intended use. Sell-able shots not.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

gemlenz wrote:

I have a client who wants me to take some night action shots at his sons football game.

I only have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 for my Canon 7D and I don't think that is long enough and may not do well in the low light. I can increase the ISO and hope for the best.

What do you think, can it be done?

It will depend on the stadium lights. As a rule - they are lacking in consistent coverage from one end to the other. I try to shoot at 2X's the focal length min, if not faster. - I use a mono pod - and often shoot at 6400 ISO and always shoot at least 3200 when total darkness has set in. I prefer shooting at 1/1000 of a second but that is not always possible. I use the F/4 200x400, F/2.8 70x200, and F/2.8 24x70. I will swap a F/2.8 16.5 fisheye with the 24x70 in pregame stuff. I don't use flash but given your lens limits you may need to.....but this will limit your shots to the closest hash.

Good luck - shooting sports is a lot of fun and remember, pixels are free, cropping is routine, and LR's noise reduction sliders work better than in the past.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

jerryc41 wrote:

If you can get in a good spot with a tripod, that will help. When you see those guys with the big, white lenses, they generally have them on tripods. Willy has good suggestions.

I have never seen a tripod on a football field - high school - college - and or pro. I would not recommend that. You have to be ready to move, quickly. I assume you are going to be on the sidelines. However, a mono pod is a must.