So I had the unique experience to go to a football workout yesterday for high school kids being recruited for colleges. My friend runs the State of Rutgers website as part of scout.com dealing with the Rutgers football recruiting and high school scouting.

I knew I'd be in trouble, indoor, fast targets, and boy, I wasn't even close. The experience was HUMBLING (in capital letters).

My friend is just starting to shoot, and was happy - he shot about 150 pics while talking to people and the like. I shot about 300, mostly with the 70-200 2.8 VR. After taking less than 10 shots, I had the ISO all the way up to 1600. My shutter speeds fluctuated between 1/50 and 1/125 for most stuff, and they still appear to not be quick enough.

We talked this morning, and he counted FOUR (4) of his shots that are usable. I've got a few more, but not many - maybe a total of 20-25 that I'd even consider adequate. Many of the usable shots are more like portraits than action shots.

For the NFL fans out there - the site has many ex-players on staff (particularly Giants). Last night, Odessa Turner, Eric Dorsey and Keith Elias were all working with the kids.

Here's some of the better shots, and I use the word better loosely.





The kid turned away from us in the blue shirt is Will Hill. He's ranked as the top Safety in HS this year by ESPN (I believe I'm accurate here).

 

In that kind of environment, the best shots to get aren't the action shots. Did you try to get any portrait shots while the important folks were standing around?

 

My friend who runs the site has most, and fills in for kids/players he doesn't have. Since he doesn't know who will be there, and I don't know what he's got already, its tough for me to do the investigative work and take his portraits.

It was also our first time together, and at that facility.

 

I smell a 200 f/1.8 in your future

Oh wait, youre a nikonian - do they have something similar?

Quick question, were you not allowed to use a flash(es)?

Check out this simple set up away from the subjects.. Two 285hv's fired by pw's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhoffmann/410163817/

 

gary, how'd you end up with Nikon when last year in Brazil you used a Canon? I thought you liked it?

 

Allen - I've never had a Canon (other than a P/S) - you must be confused

Brian - A little advanced for me at my stage I think. Wasn't quite sure what to expect walking into the facility (my friend was in the same boat.) I also get the impression that he visits multiple facilities to interact with the players. I didn't bring up the topic with the staff. I tried to stay as non-intrusive as possible to the workouts and sessions they were doing. The last thing I want is for something to happen because of me or my equipment in the way.

I've got the SB600 - I don't think it would offer a lot shooting across the distances from the shoot, and am not quite prepared to by a whole lighting kit for what might be a very sporadic need.

 

200 f/2

Sweet, sweet lens.

 

bkw, your avatar! Is that from the MoMA? I have a picture of me standing next to that painting about 2 months ago.

 

Yep!