Night Time Baseball Suggestions

Hi all,


I'm looking for advise shooting with my Nikon 5700 at night games at Petco
Park (in San Diego) without a tripod or any telephoto lens. Does anyone have
any luck shooting under these tough conditions (i.e. low light and action
shots)? If so, what were your spec's?

I look forward to your feedback!

Chris

 

I've shot some rolls at Bank One ballpark at night . I don't bother with a
tripod.

Nikon 6006 & Sigma F5.6-6.3 170-500AF. When they open the roof, if there is
any natural light I load 24-exp 200 & underexpose a tad. Anything else it's
400 & eventually underexpose that. I shoot from the first or second row,
just beyong the end of the first base dugout. I have a view of first base,
pitchers mound & third base all in a row. I also get a view of the plate -
150-200 feet away. I get a load of garbage, some decent shots of plays at
first base, isolated pitcher, nothing in the outfield.

BUT, occassionally I get something exciting at the plate. I Look for 2
left-handers in the line-up. When the first is at the plate, the seond is in
the on-deck circle on the first base side just clear in the shot, of the ump
& catcher. I can get both batters swigning at the pitch, catcher & umpire
crouching, and as the VIP stand is just behing & to the right of home plate,
I can also get Jerry Colangelo (managing general -partner) and some of the
board.

I also have a shot of Curt Schilling mostly clear, except for his
forearm,wrist & hand blurred, as they were moving forwards - looks kinda
cool.


My only hassle - certain a-holes on the gates try to stop me taking my long
lense in, claiming it's professional equipment. But I've had it out with the
club & the ground & I have a senior manager to call if it happens again.

Let me know how you get on - it's a real hard environment. But the dug-out
always provides some candid shots of people messing about - if you have a
view. So - get the best seat you can afford. I have 6 front-row seats a
year, rather than 30-40 in the bleachers.


Later..................................Dave C.

 

I used to own the 5700 and used it to take pics at a Brooklyn Cyclones
(Met's AAA team) in Coney Island. Set the camera to use a higher ISO speed
and generally used shutter priority mode so that the camera would not drop
the speed without me noticing. Pics came out fine.

 

Thanks for the replys....I'm going to the game tonight to give it a attempt
(I hope this time with your suggestions, I get better results)! Clements
pitching tonight so hopfully I can get some good shots to share!