Comments on: Photographing a Wrestling Tournament – Case Study

By: Tiki-Man

Tiki-Man — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:44:33 +0000

http://alongthebrokenroad.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/reprimanding-senator-joe-wilson/

By: Bradley Thomson

Bradley Thomson — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:18:34 +0000

Sumo wrestling is my all time favorite. i always watch it a lot in Japanese channels.,;~

By: Griffin1

Griffin1 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:33:47 +0000

No I didn’t. I’ve been using my Canon 50D w/70-200 2.8 lense/ w ISO at 2000-3000 and my action shots are really good. I started using an additional flash and shoot in Tv and they look even better.
Why does my flash not work for every shot? I’ll have a great shot then the next 1-2 will be dark…etc

Also,
any advice for when they turn the lights off (for wrestling finals) and put spotlights on the mat? I have alot of trouble figuring out how to set everything..
Thank you in advance!

By: David

David — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:06:12 +0000

Did you get your answer for the wrestling settings?

By: griffin1

griffin1 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:13:22 +0000

help….I’m shooting my sons wrestling match with a canon 50D and 70-2002.8 lense. What settings should I shoot in? AV, TV and should I set certain shutter speed? I alwo have the 18-135 lense butknow its better to get closer pictures.
I just bought this camera to take pics of all my kids and am learning everything. I woiuld really appreciate any quidance!!
Thank you.

By: Joe Geronimo

Joe Geronimo — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:29:02 +0000

Ok I know money is always an issue, however if you are going to shoot indoor sports well then F2.8 is a must. Sorry boys and girls it just is. Now when I used to shoot for the paper we used a flash for wrestling/basketball unless it was college/Volleyball and so on. Professional hockey was available light because the paper was to cheap to strobe the arena. Now there were times I used no flash and available light during indoor high school sports. If you get one of these high schools with the sodium lights (orange lighting) good luck! I always use a flash then. I recently photographed NY Governor David Paterson at a gathering at a local college with sodium lighting. I used a flash and that really helped with the outcome of the images.

With today’s digital SLR’s and flash guns you can come away with a nice image. A lot of the top end models let you adjust the flash output. This is nice especially with recycle time! As for bothering the athlete/s well hey if they want their picture taken, oh well. Comes with the territory! Now this evening I will be shooting a professional wrestling event and I will be using a flash if they will let me, not sure yet. Also if you do this on a regular basis invest in a Quantum pack!

Now as I said earlier money is always a factor and I understand completely. If you guys do not know this already KEH in Atlanta http://www.keh.com sells all types of glass new and used. I have purchased a lot of my gear from them. I have bought a few Mark llN’s 70-200L and 300L from them and their prices, quality and service are great. and no I do not work for them.

So get out their and experiment and see what works for you. But most of all have fun!

By: MeiTeng

MeiTeng — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:47:30 +0000

Thanks for sharing Ron’s experience…I gleaned something from this article. I agree that a lens with f/2.8 does make a world of difference but there’s also a price to pay. I was initially eyeing the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L but finally settled for the tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 which fits my budget at the moment…..turned out the tamron didn’t disappoint. I got some pretty good photos out of it and am happy with this new lens.

By: Jackie Kline

Jackie Kline — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:44:40 +0000

Loved this article as I shoot a lot of wrestling. It generally takes me to the end of the season before I get the shots that work for me. I too cannot afford the canon 70-20mm f/2.8, so I’m using my 28-135 mm f/3/5 5/6 all purpose lens. What are the best settings when the lights are turned down with one large light in the center of the mat?

By: Big Easy

Big Easy — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:43:42 +0000

I agree with Scott, the only professionals at my daughters soccer league show up on a lame organized cattle drive of a photo day to pose ( in front of one of those ‘cool’ backdrops ) with one foot on a soccer ball and then charge me $40 for a couple of 5×7′s.

I’d put my action shots and my fun team photos up against any of what the so-called professionals come up with when their not doing head shots at the passport office.

Rich, you sound angry at the evolution of photography and digital imaging…..maybe if you took more than 10 shots, you might evolve too.

BTW I recently bought one of those ‘cool’ backdrops ( truffle its called ) and did a ‘photoshoot’ of my girls for mothers day………my $2000 worth of gear kicked A$$!

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:34:58 +0000

Rich,

Don’t hate us parents who are learning by trial and error what you went to school for. You’re still the man…but for most of us parents, I can’t recall seeing any of you “professional photographers” taking pictures of our kids anywhere other than a gym for one of those AWESOME team photos…you know the ones…with the stagnant child in his uniform holding the ball in front of the backdrop. You remember those days right? When you could set up your $20,000 worth of gear to squeeze us parents out of 1/4 of that in a Saturdays worth of shooting all the teams. Perhaps you’re a little upset that we can do a fair representation of your work with $3-5,000 now. If you weren’t so angry, I may still come to you for our family portrait because I still haven’t laid down the money yet for one of those cool gray backdrops.

Forge on parents and look out for Rich!!!!!