Overview

A few days after I shot the 2018 Atlantic Sectionals Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, my wife Patty mentioned that she had seen a Facebook post that described a youth wheelchair basketball team called the Fairfax Falcons that was heading to the national finals.  I figured that I was already over-subscribed for the spring season, but it sounded like a very successful program, so I wanted to find out more about it.

I found the Falcons on Instagram (They’re also on Facebook), and I noticed that most of the photos in their feed were either team photos, or action photos that were taken from some distance.  When I take sports photos, I’m trying to create something much more personal.  I want to focus on the individual, catch them doing something great, and render the image in jaw-dropping beauty.  I’m not always successful, but I’ll keep working on it.

I decided to follow the Falcons on Instagram, and soon afterwards I received a message from the couple that runs the program asking if I would be interested in photographing the team.  From their description, it sounded like some nice photographs could help the kids to stay engaged, and possibly help spread the word about this unique adaptive sports opportunity.  So I came out to one of their practices, … and now I think I’m hooked.

Practice at James Lee Community Center (March 31, 2018)

Practice at James Lee Community Center (April 7, 2018)

My Favorites

Here are some of my favorite photos from these shoots, together with the equipment and settings that I used to capture them (TBS).

The settings for these photos were:

• File Format:  Nikon D850 RAW
• Lens Focal Length:  105 mm
• Lens Aperture:  f/1.8 (left), f/1.6 (right)
• Shutter Speed:  1/800 seconds
• Sensor Gain:  ISO 1250 (left), ISO 1600 (right)

The settings for these photos were:

• File Format:  Nikon D850 RAW
• Lens Focal Length:  105 mm
• Lens Aperture:  f/1.8 (left), f/1.6 (center), f/1.8 (right)
• Shutter Speed:  1/800 seconds
• Sensor Gain:  ISO 1600 (left), ISO 1400 (center), ISO 1600 (right)

Lessons Learned

1.  The Sony 256GB XQD-G-E-J memory card works great with the Nikon D850 DSLR

TBS

2.  Be cautious about using the Vivid camera control setting when photographing people

TBS

3.  The James Lee Community Center Gyms are Dark!

Natural light, reflecting off the floor, illuminating the rim and net. (TBS)

Color cast off one wall. (TBS)

4.  Window Light is Magic!

Catchlights. (TBS)

5.  The Fairfax Falcons are a source of inspiration for the community

TBS