Night sports photography

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
Does anyone in this group have experience in rodeo, specifically night rodeo photography? I began shooting rodeos this past year and have done pretty well but am always looking for improvements. I struggle with noise and the balance between having noise and using noise reduction and thereby losing sharp crisp images. I have only used LR for processing but maybe there is a better way out there to handle 8,000 ISO images. As info I use a Nikon D810 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. My typical camera set up is 1/640 shutter, f/2.8, 8,000 ISO. Samples are attached.
 

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Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Can you be more specific about what "noise reduction" you're struggling with? I would think that ISO 8,000 on a D810 and minor to moderate software adjustments would solve whatever issues you're seeing.

What noise reduction methods are you using?
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
I am using LR detail adjustments and pushing the LNR slider to about 25, masking to 50, sharpening to 50, and all others at their default. I can go higher than 30 with LNR but I lose so much detail.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I have a couple of questions for you.

  • Are you using the separate slider to also adjust color noise?
  • Are you using the separate slider to also adjust contrast noise?
  • Are you raising your exposure and/or shadows when post processing? If so, that will add noise. It's better to slightly over expose and lower your highlights.

I shoot at ISO 5000 or 8000 during Worship. Granted the photos won't be quite the same as when shooting at ISO 100. Nik Dfine is a great noise reduction plug-in. It was free for a while until it was taken over by DXO. Did you ever get the free version? That also allows adjustments to be made to the color and noise sliders.
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
Yes, I usually lower the color noise slider since it tends to blur the photo a bit and is not necessary at the default. I do not however, adjust the contrast noise since it usually has little effect. I definitely always raise the exposure and shadows as it is tough to get enough light in these low light arenas.

I have not tried Nik Dfine and will take a look at it.
thanks for your questions/comments.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
Meant to be constructive help, please know it's nothing more than that and I can't know everything of the challenges you had at the shoot.

Couple things I see. The images are being brightened too much and I see blow-out. This is in the evening, but the images have been cranked up to the brightness of heavy overcast.

Last one has some heavy color cast/WB issues. The others have WB issues as well.

This image was shot at night on a D600 at night. Don't remember all the settings, but the D600 isn't half the camera the D810 is. I'm suspecting the biggest challenge your facing is editing skills.

rodeo.jpg
 
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Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
I appreciate your comments but I just can't seem to get a clean photo, even with your suggestions. If I sent you a raw image and my finished jpeg, would you edit it and see how it turns out? One thing I did not mention is that these photos are all cropped pretty severely, which I am sure adds to the appearance of the noise. I don't want to waste your time but I would appreciate any assistance.

Meant to be constructive help, please know it's nothing more than that and I can't know everything of the challenges you had at the shoot.

Couple things I see. The images are being brightened too much and I see blow-out. This is in the evening, but the images have been cranked up to the brightness of heavy overcast.

Last one has some heavy color cast/WB issues. The others have WB issues as well.

This image was shot at night on a D600 at night. Don't remember all the settings, but the D600 isn't half the camera the D810 is. I'm suspecting the biggest challenge your facing is editing skills.

View attachment 304379
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
I am leaving out of town until Monday evening in just a couple hours. Sure, send me a raw image or two and I would be happy to play with it. The spirit of this forum is to learn and share.

Is your monitor a color calibrated monitor for photography? If not, that can certainly be responsible for not seeing the color cast.

[email protected]
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
A couple tricks I use because your eyes will start to cancel color cast from looking at it too long.

1. I walk away for 5 minutes, walk into the room without looking at the picture, and then quickly look up and I usually know immediately.

2. When you are done with an image, crank up the saturation 100% and see if it's not right.
 

Scott Ramsey

Senior Member
yes, when I process a rodeo I am looking at 1,000-1,200 pictures and usually end up with 300-400 useable ones so it can play trick on your eyes. Not to mention, I am color blind to some shades and that doesn't always cause a problem except with these night photos and the sometimes horrible lighting, it can cause issues. I usually get my wife to look them over before passing them along but don't always have the time.

A couple tricks I use because your eyes will start to cancel color cast from looking at it too long.

1. I walk away for 5 minutes, walk into the room without looking at the picture, and then quickly look up and I usually know immediately.

2. When you are done with an image, crank up the saturation 100% and see if it's not right.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member

spb_stan

Senior Member
What crop factor are you using? Noise becomes much more visible when cropping then displaying as a magnified image. 200mm on a FF camera is not a long reach, a D500 would do this better or renting a larger fast lens for at least one shoot to see the difference it would make. I am assuming it will make a big difference. A 200-500 might be in your future. There are a number of decent telephoto lenses that are no more expensive than the 70-200. You are not getting enough pixels defining the features and the answer is always getting closer and or longer glass. A D850 and D500 both would have more pixels defining each feature than a D810. What proportion of the view finder is the desired subject? For best detail and noise control you really need the subject to fill the screen.
 
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