Remote camera at basketball

[GooGaBu]

Few times fellow photographers come to me - either at Forums or at the games (i know - not many photographer attend basketball games ;-) ) after either seeing some of my remote camera images or just at the game seeing the 'black blob' behind the backboard. Often they want to ask questions about how I do my set-up and what different kind of images one can capture from that point of view.. and so and so and so on.

So - I decided that I'll start to document my adventures with the remote camera around the European Continent and hopefully from my random ramblings some people might get the bug to try this themselves (and if anyone picks up handy tips from these writings.. even better).

For the first post, I explained a bit about what gear I prefer to use and why, as well as posting a picture of one of the set-ups that I use.
The aim is for me to keep updating the stuff with the failures and success that I will have with the remote images.

First thing to say is, that it really is really 'shooting blind' - and knowing your game helps. You set your camera in the angle you assume the players will rise towards the basket.. and just press the trigger and hope for the best really. Of course knowing your settings, etc will get you bit of a better chance.. but you are very much relying on the players to do their thing.

So - if this has triggered your curiosity.. feel free to click on the link for my Blog and read a bit more.
If anyone out there wants to ask any questions or stuff... feel free to post them over here and I'll be more than happy to answer them..

Link : http://googabuphotos.zenfolio.com/blog/2013/11/remote-camera-in-basketball

 

[bigrob]

Comment left on the blog. Please leave a quick note hear each time you do a new blog.

 

[GooGaBu]

Comment left on the blog. Please leave a quick note hear each time you do a new blog.

Replied on the Blog to the comment - and yes, the idea was to keep updating here every time I write a new entry to this blog ...

 

[inkiboo]

You need to properly safety cable that as if the magic arms/straps fail it will just fall.

 

[GooGaBu]

You need to properly safety cable that as if the magic arms/straps fail it will just fall.

I know what you are saying here, and I know these things need to be securely attached.
But most times with three Magic Arms - they would ALL need to fail ... as well as the camera-strap to fail.. before the thing would fall down.
One thing I have used in major events is cable ties - just because these can be snapped quickly with scissors/knife.
And if one Magic Arm fails.. I would still need to go up there to remove everything.. the odds on all three failing at the same time, possible but also unlikely.

Scenario where one Arm fails.. the second and third Arm are still attached and keep everything up. (Need to remove things from the rig)
Scenario where two Arms fail.. the third Arm will still keep things up. (Need to remove things from the rig)
Scenario where two Arms + strap fail ... the third Arm still keeps things up. (Need to remove things from the rig)
Scenario where three Arms + strap fail.....

I have actually tried the scenarios mentioned above, while attaching the camera. So I know that if one/two fail.. the third would still be able to keep everything up there, but I would naturally need to get up there to repair/remove it.