ROLLER REDUX

Just one more post on Roller Derby. I spent the last day working up the gallery from Saturday night's match between our Cincinnati Battering Rams (CBR) and the Jerk City All-Stars. I don't really have a great deal of sports in my portfolio, but must say that i really do enjoy the Derby as both a fan and photographer. Certainly it isn't necessary to be a big fan of the sports you shoot. My friend and colleague Jeff Swinger has mentioned to me on a number of occasions that he is not really a big fan, yet sports shooting is still obviously his passion. And he is one of the very best sports shooters i know. I likewise am not a big sports fan per se, but i seek out shooting Derby because i do indeed like it and find it an interesting subject on many levels.

©David Sorcher 2013

I left the bulk of my gallery in color, but certain images just lent themselves to a B&W interpretation. That is what i want to highlight here at the moment. B&W simplifies the compositions where colors can sometimes distract, and the fluorescent light source of the venue did not always yield the most favorable hues even though i do shoot RAW for optimum adjustment capability. 

©David Sorcher 2013

Action is fast and lights are (relatively) low in these venues, requiring fairly high ISOs (i was shooting @ 4000). It is nice that the track is light in tone and a bit reflective since all the light comes from directly overhead. But the light that is reflected back upwards also carries some of it's blue tones into the faces multiplying the color balance issues for skin tones with the already less than favorable quality of the light source. 

©David Sorcher 2013

I like to show all aspects of a game and certainly all the drama and interest doesn't happen on the track alone. Working close and tight with wide angles can provide an intimacy to your sports subjects that can be balanced with the longer focal length game play shots for more complete story telling.

©David Sorcher 2013

Referees gather center track to discuss a controversial call. All part of the game and often overlooked. 

©David Sorcher 2013

Roller Derby is a hard-hitting sport that is liable to leave a skater busied and and sore in the aftermath. So as with any contact sport i am looking for images that capture that contact as well as the grace and speed of the sport.

©David Sorcher 2013

I'll leave you with this one, a B&W version of the first image i posted on my last blog entry. You can decide for yourself, but i find this more appealing without the bright red and yellow lines and blue track to distract from the action of the skaters. For a full picture of Saturday's match please check out the gallery of the entire night's action.