Strobed basketball/remote camera

[MT Stringer]

I covered the Rosehill Holiday Classic earlier this week. It gave me the opportunity to set up a remote camera on the stage behind the basket on one end of the gym. I also used a pair of Alien Bees, one at half power and the other at 3/4 power. The strobes were aimed at the ceiling but one was mounted on a light stand that was against a white wall so I got more light than I bargained for. The other stand was mounted in the bleachers with no nearby wall.

Note: Over 2500 pops on the strobes and no one complained (21 games total).

I triggered the remote camera with a Phottix Cleon wireless trigger. I tested it from the far end of the gym and it worked with no problem as long as the antenna was extended. It triggered the camera and the Skyport transmitter mounted in the hot shoe would fire the strobes. The camera/ball head was mounted on a cutting board. I hope my wife doesn't miss it or she'll be mad. The last time she got mad I didn't see her for three days. Then my left eye opened just a little bit!

Note: Wide angle shots under the basket taken with the remote have not been cropped.

1) Remote camera set up - 40D, 17-40 at f/4, ISO 400, 1/250 ss


2) Pic #1


3) Pic #2


4) Pic #3

[MT Stringer]

A few pics from the tournament.

1) You're not getting my ball!


2)


3)


4)


5) Warning! Slow traffic ahead. Expect delays :-)


6)Tip off


7)

[MT Stringer]

A few more

1)


2)


3) Ruh-Roh!


4)


5) Ruh-Roh #2


6)

[dixonduke]

Awesome!

These are all captured with just bounce light (ceiling & wall)? I am impressed, the lighting looks good....

[mjdmike]

Nice job Mike, these look great.

[John Godwin]

Hey Mike, sure looks like you had lotsa fun. I noticed you shoot from the left side. Is there a reason or just blind running luck? Or is that the right side?

[MT Stringer]

John, the stage was in the way. When I set up on the right side, I got uneven light from the bounce off the white wall when a player was on the left side of the court near the baseline. I tried to adjust the light several times but couldn't overcome the glare so I gave up.

Note: The first pic posted of Rosehill Guard Junior Emily Sebo (#2) is my favorite of all the pics.

[ldelacruz]

Very nice!

[MRCPix]

these are very good. I have yet to use lights during a game, but maybe I should. I am curious how much trouble you had with motion blur or ghosting due to slower shutter speed?

[MT Stringer]

I am curious how much trouble you had with motion blur or ghosting due to slower shutter speed?

I didn't have any problems like you mentioned. The strobes froze the action.

[MRCPix]

that is good to know. I am thinking i need to go tag-a-long with someone who uses strobes and see how they set them up and just learn. Some gyms are worse than shooting night football games.

[John Godwin]

From my very limited experience the flash length controls whether or not there is motion blur. The Alien Bees B1600's (again in my limited experience) have more than enough power for two of them to light up most gyms. Because of the design the flash length of the B1600's is relatively long compared to speedlite's or any of the smaller Alien Bees. Which means the meaningful flash duration is from about 1/300 to 1/600 if I remember correctly.

If you would care to see some motion blur in Mike's photos look at the ball in #1 of the second post, I believe that is motion blur. You can also see blur or ghosting at the finger tips of the shooters off hand in #3.

All in all I am coming to the belief that the results offset what you get without strobes. If you can shorten the flash length then motion blur is no longer an issue of any kind.

[GUER03]

Hey Mike nice stuff. Lighting looks great nice job with the strobes. I like the 3rd set the most from an action point of view, there are more faces in the action. The first one of that set is my fav as you have the player in full stride, both feet just off the court and nice determined look on his face.

Thanx for sharing and looking forward to seeing more in the future.

[mdurisseau]

Where did you get the triggers?

[robert t]

I thought that gym looked familiar.