Really Small Town Photojournalism: Basketball

This was my first basketball game and it was really fun. I'm happy with my photos too.

I used both my D90 and my D7100.

The venue is so dark that I did pop my flash just a little bit to get the best exposure. I'm not sure though if my flash made a difference other than psychological, since I set the cameras up to get good exposure without the flash. Also my flash was somehow set to manual and it's lowest setting of 128, the pictures looked good and the game was moving fast, so I did not attempt to change it.

I used a custom white balance on both cameras. I established my white balance by taking a picture of a white dry erase board near the door. I shot in RAW.

In spite of presetting my focus on a players head, I still botched the focus on the tip off. The referees are taller than the players so I took the tip off shot from up in the bleacher.

I used back button focus and spot metering on both cameras for the entire game.

Both teams are local teams, so I stayed on the same side after half time to photograph the other team. I was on the same side as the cheerleaders. During the second half on referee always stood right in front of where I wanted to be so I had to change my position a bit.

My next basketball game did not go as well for me. I think the spot metering caused trouble when my camera was pointed at the lights as I was sitting down.

Next time in the mini dome I will use manual mode and set both cameras to f /2.8 1/250 2500

North Mason player Hailey Simonson looks to make a pass as Shelton’s Aurora Gouley 15, defends in
the first half of the game at the Shelton minidome on December 21st. No flash for this picture

Nikon D7100

70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8

ƒ/2.8

70.0 mm

1/250

2500

Flash (off, did not fire)

Shot with my old trusty D90. Bulldog Cheyenne Filer makes a fast break past Vanessa Kennedy
and jumps to make a one handed shot during the first half.

Nikon D90

17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8

ƒ/3.5

50.0 mm

1/200

1600

Flash (on, fired)

Shelton's Timber Ware makes a fast break and completes a layup shot during the

second half. The Defender is Jenna Rock

Nikon D7100

17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8

ƒ/3.2

50.0 mm

1/250

2500

Flash (on, fired)

Timber Ware has plenty of room to make a one handed shot during the second half

Nikon D7100

17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8

ƒ/4.0

36.0 mm

1/250

Flash (on, fired) 2500

1. Bulldog Hannah Womack reacts as she hits the floor hard while the two teams fight for the ball on the floor with 6 minutes remaining in the game. (Womack hurt her ankle earlier in the game and left the Bulldogs with no one on the bench. She returned during the second half.)

Nikon D7100

17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8

ƒ/4.0

32.0 mm

1/250

2500

Flash (on, fired)