Table Tennis

[Tim Chong]

First time shooting this.

From Saturday

http://www.pbase.com/oeyvind/image/66270140.jpg

and Sunday

http://www.pbase.com/oeyvind/image/66604401.jpg

[scott kirkpatrick]

Your timing is incredible. Please tell me that you are using flash, and perhaps you could describe the setup.

What's your keeper to total shots ratio with a fast sport like this?

scott

[Jan Luursema]

Do you have any photos of the actual play, including the table?

[Asher Kelman]

Tim, we're impressed!

O.K., now tell us how you do this: lens, camera, settings, flash if any.

Then a much smaller point, why all the pictures, as one would be powerful too?

Asher

[Don Lashier]

Asher wrote:
> O.K., now tell us how you do this: lens, camera, settings, flash if any.

I don't see any signs of flash - which makes this even more impressive. High ISO?

> why all the pictures, as one would be powerful too?

I rather like the effect, particularly the second set, although it would look much more impressive in a large print than on the web. I'm considering doing a set like this of cat (kitten) photos, although all the same kitten.

- DL

[scott kirkpatrick]

Asher wrote:

> why all the pictures, as one would be powerful too?

I rather like the effect, particularly the second set

- DL

This display seems like another good example where a point is made through repetition and comparison that you might not catch with a single picture. There is a bright white ball high, focussed on by two crossed eyes (which indicates extremely close distance) in almost every shot. This takes "keeping your eye on the ball" to a level that I have never seen before. It does make me wonder if anyone smashes the ball in the current style of play. I would guess this concentration is intended to decipher the spin on the ball, and put some even more evil spin on it when returning the shot.

Would love to know more.

scott

[Asher Kelman]

Fantastic observation, Scott.

Now you have made a great point and the whole piece becomes not just a repeating complex, but to me, at least, the nascence of a work of art.

Asher

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

This is a great series, no doubt on my side.

However it seems like most of you guys didn't play the ping-pong for too long and forgot its basic moves. :-)

All the pictures with the ball incredibly close to the player's face could have been technically taken during the serve, and during the serve only.
It is this very moment when the ball practically stops in the mid air. And since the player is very close to it, it's a good opportunity for a photog to capture both the ball and the face - without flash, and with a reasonable slow shutter speed, since the players also tend to be very still at that moment, a split second before the racket hits the ball and the real fun begins...
Just wanted to remove some - nonexistent, really - mystery..:-)

And, one more time, the pictures are awesome!

[scott kirkpatrick]

However it seems like most of you guys didn't play the ping-pong for too long and forgot its basic moves. :-)

All the pictures with the ball incredibly close to the player's face could have been technically taken during the serve, and during the serve only.



I used to play a lot of ping-pong, but before the Eastern style caught on. I would serve forehand or backhand, but with the paddle held low. I still haven't learned the penholder grip. I hope the OP can clear up whether all these shots are on serves, or during play.

scott

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

I used to play a lot of ping-pong, but before the Eastern style caught on. I would serve forehand or backhand, but with the paddle held low. I still haven't learned the penholder grip. I hope the OP can clear up whether all these shots are on serves, or during play.

scott

Some of the shots *are* during play, and you can easily see the ball (and often, the player, too) is blurred.
I was only referring to "the face and the ball" shots.

And yes, I do use "penholder grip" :-)

Cheers!

[Tim Chong]

Thanks... the setting is 1/400s f/2.8 at ISO 1600 on a 400/2.8, subject is abt 15m away. Keep rate? Not so high during the 1st day, as this is my first time covering this. Much higher keep rate on the final day, one outta 3~5 frames.

Bigger pix from Yahoo News.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20060910/i/r1512076846.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20060910/i/r63666243.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20060910/i/r3815641143.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

Well, Tim,

1. What camera and

2. Were these shots each part of a burst of shots at high speed?

3. Any custom settings

4. Servo or single shots

5.Focus with what points: 1, 2, 7 or what?

Asher

[Tim Chong]

What camera
MK II and MK II N

Were these shots each part of a burst of shots at high speed?
A burst of 3~5 frames

Any custom settings
My usual C.Fn: 02-1, 04-3, 08-1, 09-2, 10-3, 11-2, 13-3, 15-1, 17-1, 18-1, 19-4

Servo or single shots
AI Servo

Focus with what points: 1, 2, 7 or what
1

[Asher Kelman]

Thanks Tim!

Good work. Now which ones were action ie return or a serve?

Also do you have shots from the side to see both players v. from an angle?

Asher

[Gary Ayala]

Nicely done both with the individual photos and collective presentation. Very enjoyable.

Gary

[Nill Toulme]

Great stuff, and fascinating that the equipment, settings and basic approach are essentially identical to shooting soccer! Who knew?

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net