Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

After shooting some big races a local college has ask me to shoot a few Basketball games to see how they like my work. We are also discussing Track & Field photography which I am comfortable with. Any advice for shooting Basketball? I will be shooting with two Canon R6’s and a 70-200 and probably a 24-70. I will admit that I have never been to a Basketball game so any advice will be helpful. Who knows, I may be in over my head but I’m willing to try anything once. Thanks guys!

User ID

First item of advice is to go see some college ball games ASAP !!!

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Most of the action happens around the key, the foul line and in. If you can get at ground level in the corner, focus on the foul line distance and use a 35mm lens, at f4 or 5.6 you should have adequate depth of field and shutter speed to capture the action. Trade ends to shoot from your schools goal.

This worked for me when I shot for the school newspaper in the 70s. Use manual setting but auto ISO may help.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The light quality and brightness inside a gym can be wonderful for playing basketball but horrific for photographing it. The color temperature can be a problem. With fast motion to capture, the lights may not be bright enough for anything we can consider normal apertures on any telephoto lens.

ISOs can be driven up high, so be prepared to post process for noise!

Basketball photography is hard! At least it is not as hard as college water polo!

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I was for sure worried about lighting. I’m not afraid to shoot high ISO, I just finished a race that was pretty much completely dark at the finish line. My two lenses are f/2.8 but I hate to shoot that wide unless I have to. Thank y’all for the advice. Great bunch here.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

First thing, get their early! Watch the warmups, test your settings and take practice shots. Watch for players who stand out and appear to be leaders on the team. Look for them to be involved in plays during the game.

I try to shoot at a minimum of 1/1000th, wide open at f2.8. ISO will probably be high at least around 6400 unless you are blessed with good lighting, which is unusual! Consider your post processing skills and programs. I often use Topaz DeNoise. It has let me go high (12,000!) and get decent images.

My Approach
• 70-200 f2.8, occasionally 24-70 f2.8
• Show action
• Catch Expressions ex: bringing the ball in for a close in shot or after a hard fought score
• Ball in hand
• One or both feet off the ground
• “Fighting” for the ball
• Dunks

Challenges
• Poor light
• Horizontal or vertical - try mixing some of both
• Isolating Players - your autofocus and subject lock (if you have it) will be challenged with a lot of players in small areas
• Following the ball - it can change directions quickly between shots and passes
• Refs! - I swear all refs take a mandatory class on how to position themselves directly in front of photographers. I've gotten to know several and have kidded them about that. They have joked that it is one of the first classes they get when becoming a ref!
• Shooting location at the gym

Set Up
• Where - I try for the baseline or corners. Sometimes you get lucky and there is a track above the gym you can use for shots looking down on the action.
• Offense or defense - what are you trying to capture? Perhaps a mix, alternating quarters
• RH or LH? - you want to minimize the player's arms blocking their face.
• Special locations - be sure you understand where you can or cannot go. Check with game staff and refs if possible.

I'll use the 24-70 for bench shots and close in action. The 70-200 for shots of players bringing the ball down the court. I primarily use the 70-200. I might miss some really close, under the basket shots, but I seem to miss more shots around the foul line with the 24-70.

Just some thoughts from my experiences shooting some Jr College basketball, NC State women's basketball and a minor league men's basketball team. One last thought - save any chimping for halftime! Those players can move fast and the ball can come out of nowhere! Give yourself a pathway to safely get out of the way in case player and/or ball come at you. Plan for it!

Good luck!

-Rick

See some examples here: https://rickcornell.zenfolio.com/f610639718

gwilliams6

10 Tips For Shooting Better College Basketball Photos
https://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2012/03/10-tips-shooting-better-college-basketball-photos/

How to Aim for Better Basketball Photography: 10 Hot Tips:
https://expertphotography.com/basketball-photography/

Cheers

gwilliams6

From a longtime pro that has shot basketball at all levels, high school, college and pros for four decades, you give very good advice. Well done Rick, Cheers

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Thank You Sir! I’m printing this and taking it with me.

r1ch Loc: Colorado

High school basketball has much worse lighting. I tried to use my Canon 135 2.0 for outdoor motocross it was too slow AF wise. I sold it and got a Sigma 135 1.8 and though not as fast as the 70-200 2.8 it was faster than the Ef 135 and fast enough for moto. Bet it would work for basket ball. Canon announce it will be coming out with an RF 135 1.8, maybe it will be faster for AF. But I think a zoom 70-200 would be better for the court.

In pro basketball they hook up a number of wireless flash to the ceiling at several points to give better light. I wonder if they allow that in College basket ball. Looking at Ricks rcorne001 images it looks like they have pretty good light, but I was not able to see the exif data of his picutres for ISO, shutter speed and aperture. That might have been helpfull. When I was shooting supercross at pro baseball/football stadiums, some of them had bad lighting some were good. I was surprised at the huge differences.

Hip Coyote

The most recent edition of the PSA Magazine has a good article on shooting sports.

I suggest starting there.

pnorman4345 Loc: Massachustts

Go to practice. Oftern

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

The venues from 2022 did have pretty good light. For a change! As a rule of thumb, I shoot 1/1000th, f2.8 with ISO ranging from 3200-10,000. Depending upon game time light and venue. But normally 6400.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

You can find a lot of examples and discussion on the Sports Photography section of the forum.
You gotten some good tips already, but I’ll throw in a couple of off the wall notes.
You don’t mention what level college. My local mid-major plays in an arena for professionals with TV lighting. So that isn’t much of a worry, but still see ISO 3200+
Also, be prepared to sit on a hardwood floor for 2 hours, shooting up and hand held. You won’t have much room for equipment on the baseline but can keep your gear (backup camera, etc.) on media row.
I often pre-focus a spot where the action comes to me, like the rim.
The biggest mistake I see with someone inexperienced in hoops is not watching your horizons. Find a reference point or your players will look like they are running uphill or downhill sideways.
Lastly, don’t break the rule of 180 as you move around the floor!
Have fun! It’s hard but a great sport to shoot!

SteveInConverse Loc: South Texas

Go to YouTube and check out Jared Polin. He shoots a lot of basketball and has videos that will help you.