Flash for sports?

[hackistry]

I wanted to know if anyone here has ever shot with flash for darker sports (basketball & volleyball, anything without sun). Does it irritate the athletes?

I shoot on the sidelines/court side for my high school newspaper. My gear is not the best since I bought it on my own super tight budget.

Nikon D70s
Kit lens
Sigma 70-300mm DG APO F/4
Nikon SB-28dx

[JohnG]

For the most part it goes unnoticed as long as you aren't blasting them when they're coming right at you 5 feet away.

Having said that, in many states flash use is prohibited for volleyball so you best check with the officials before a match.

Realize though you'll give up the ability to do long bursts when using a flash - you may have to shoot single shot. You also have to be careful you don't burn out the flash by trying to take 700 pictures during a basketball game.

[hackistry]

Thank You for the reply. The recycle time with the flash is... Decent. But I only plan to take maybe 2-3 shots in burst w/ a flash and that's seldom.

Again, Thanks!

[spy]

If I may add to John's comments, if flash is allowed, some athletes don't mind whereas some others may complain. If you can, defuse the flash so it's not so intense.

The other way to perhaps avoid flash is to use a faster lens. If your on a tight budget and can't just go out and buy the 2.8 lenses, you may want to look into renting the lenses from your variety of pro camera stores. As in Calgary, Alberta we have 2 camera stores (Vistek and The Camera Store) that rent lenses from $25(70-200 2.8 ), (15mm fisheye 2.8 ) - $75(sigma 120-300 2.8 ) per day or you may get a weekend deal where you only pay for one day! This is just an example of the pricing on these 3 I've rented in the past. They also have so many others to fit the speed and wide angle of shot you need.

As you shoot for your school, you should approach the board to fund the rental costs after all your using your equipment for their paper!

Cheers!

[rinniethehun]

If I had a son playing high school basketball...and he went to the foul line, shooting a one-and-one at the end of a game, with a chance to tie or win that game...and some moron fired a million candlepower flash right in his eyes, just as he was about to release the first shot...and he missed...I pity the photographer...

Think about it.

the Hun

[JohnG]

rinniethehun wrote:

If I had a son playing high school basketball...and he went to the foul line, shooting a one-and-one at the end of a game, with a chance to tie or win that game...and some moron fired a million candlepower flash right in his eyes, just as he was about to release the first shot...and he missed...I pity the photographer...

Think about it.

the Hun

Good point - if you're right in front of the shooter. In general you should avoid taking shots of foul shots. First for the reason stated. But also since you're shooting for newsprint, foul shots are like shooting serves for volleyball - they're generally not looked on favorably by editors.

[DRGSin]

rinniethehun wrote:

If I had a son playing high school basketball...and he went to the foul line, shooting a one-and-one at the end of a game, with a chance to tie or win that game...and some moron fired a million candlepower flash right in his eyes, just as he was about to release the first shot...and he missed...I pity the photographer...

Think about it.

the Hun

would you beat him up? Personally, Ive NEVER seen that situation happen. Common sense seems to prevail.

[rinniethehun]

"would you beat him up?"

Of course not - how would that make me look? I'd just rip the flash off his camera and shove it someplace where it wouldn't affect anyone...except the photographer.

"Common sense seems to prevail."

Surely you jest...

the Hun

[DRGSin]

rinniethehun wrote:

"would you beat him up?"

Of course not - how would that make me look? I'd just rip the flash off his camera and shove it someplace where it wouldn't affect anyone...except the photographer.

"Common sense seems to prevail."

Surely you jest...

the Hun

LOL glad to see violence isnt in your nature! LOL. Seriously however, Ive never seen anyone be that obtrusive during a free throw...have you?

[rinniethehun]

Not around here, but then again, I've never seen photographers on the baseline during HS basketball games...don't think it's permitted here. I've also heard announcements in various schools prior to games stating that flash photography is not permitted during the game. Don't know if that's a state, section, league or individual school rule. I'm sure, if flashes were permitted, and people were allowed to hang out on the baseline during the games, someone would do it.

the Hun