Need help with setup for picture day at a gym: I would like to shoot in an open gym basketball court, I have been using backdrops but now I would like to use the basketball court as my...

canon Lee

I would like to shoot in an open gym basketball court, I have been using backdrops but now I would like to use the basketball court as my background. I am concerned with the background being too dark. I would also like to have a shallow depth of field to blur out the background a bit. I am using ,Canon 7D & have 4) 1600w alien bees mono lights. Advise light placement and settings. I will be shooting 3/4 individual as well as the whole teams, app. 12 per team. I am planning on shooting from the far court in order to get the basket in view.

fgw545

Get an ambient light reading if you meter for background and light your subject as you normally do and control your background intensity with shutter speed,iso,or light it with your alien B and a tripod would be helpful

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

canon Lee wrote:

I would like to shoot in an open gym basketball co... (show quote)

Lighting a gym is no different than lighting anything else.

How much do you understand about lighting?

What do you mean by "too dark"? Shutter speed issues? Where to place lights? How many lights to add?

Knowing that, will help knowing what to say to you.

Barring that...this link might help you to understand what's going on with lighting in general.

http://kelbyone.com/blog/on-location-flash-portrait-of-a-boxer/

canon Lee

rpavich wrote:

Lighting a gym is no different than lighting anything else.

How much do you understand about lighting?

What do you mean by "too dark"? Shutter speed issues? Where to place lights? How many lights to add?

Knowing that, will help knowing what to say to you.

Barring that...this link might help you to understand what's going on with lighting in general.

http://kelbyone.com/blog/on-location-flash-portrait-of-a-boxer/

HI. I have been shooting "picture day" for 8 yrs now, but always the same way, using a background. The lighting involves 2 AlienBees, at 45Degree angle to the camera, umbrellas, 1 stop difference between them. Individuals are 3/4 body shot. Lights are high and facing down. Generally the ambient level to the backdrop is well lit. Subjects are paced 8' out from the backdrop. I shoot in manual, 200% ISO, F/5.6, 1/60th. The results have been consistently great. But now I would like to change up the lighting to include the basket ball court. (less work setting up a 20' backdrop). My concerns are getting good exposure for the far court. The Ambient levels are good enough to light up the far court somewhat, since there will be overhead court lights. I had an idea that I would use 2 pairs of mono lights. One pair as usual facing down at the subject and a second pair of mono lights facing forward. I think placing the second pair of mono's would be next to the subjects lights but facing straight ahead. Not sure about the placement of the lights though. It not that I don't have lots of experience with lighting, but more that it will be a new set up for me. I just don't know what I will run into. I won't have much time for a set up due to scheduling of the first teams and how early I can get into the gym. Just thought some insight from you all would help. I appreciate any and all suggestions.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

canon Lee wrote:

HI. I have been shooting "picture day" f... (show quote)

Got it.

I'd suggest just lighting just like you are and then setting up two lights facing the background and just a stop lower or something.

Sounds like you have it well under control.

canon Lee

rpavich wrote:

Got it.

I'd suggest just lighting just like you are and then setting up two lights facing the background and just a stop lower or something.

Sounds like you have it well under control.

Thank you for your comments. I feel confident about the background . Do you have any suggestions about where on the court I should place the subject? Mid court, far end? I am choosing to use my Canon 24~105mm set at F4 and zoom in. What do you think? I have a 2.8 that I could use also that might diffuse the background a bit. ?

fgw545

It depends on what you would like to be seen in background

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

canon Lee wrote:

Thank you for your comments. I feel confident about the background . Do you have any suggestions about where on the court I should place the subject? Mid court, far end? I am choosing to use my Canon 24~105mm set at F4 and zoom in. What do you think? I have a 2.8 that I could use also that might diffuse the background a bit. ?

I would say that the framing/field of view is going to be the deciding factor. You might have to get a "stand in" to be where you are going to shoot and then just move things until you think that they are right.

It will also depend on how much blur you want based on your f/stop as to what distance you need the background to be at. You need SOME context but not anything that's going to be visually distracting.

canon Lee

rpavich wrote:

I would say that the framing/field of view is going to be the deciding factor. You might have to get a "stand in" to be where you are going to shoot and then just move things until you think that they are right.

It will also depend on how much blur you want based on your f/stop as to what distance you need the background to be at. You need SOME context but not anything that's going to be visually distracting.

The perspective has to show the basket and back board in the frame. You are right I will have to quickly position the subject after I set the camera location. I think I will have to move to the far end and use a long focal length. If only I had adequate time to set up. GRRRRR> it is always something isn't it?

fgw545

I think somewhere near center court and a low angle will suffice