How to Shoot Basketball - with Legendary Sports Illustrator Photographer Peter Read Miller

Peter talks about shooting basketball and offers his tips and tricks -
Peter Read Miller has been photographing athletes, events and the sporting life for more than 40 years. He is has worked as a staff and contract photographer for Sports Illustrated for more than 35 years. His images have appeared on over 100 Sports Illustrated covers.
His editorial clients have included: Time, Life, People, Money, The Associated Press, Playboy, Runner’s World, Newsweek, USA Weekend and The New York Times. In addition to covering 9 Olympic Games and 40 Super Bowls, Peter has shot 14 NBA Finals. He has covered the Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series, the Kentucky Derby, the NCAA Basketball Final Four, and the Men’s and Women’s World Cup Soccer Finals.
Peter's workshops involve major sports such as the Tennessee Volunteers, and much more, all with top of the line cameras and lenses by Canon USA. The workshop is sponsored by Canon, Western Digital, ThinkTank, Dynalite and Hoodman. www.peterreadmiller.com/
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[@paulsison6336]

9:14 "i guess that's Russell, whatever his name is." LOL🤣🤣

[@robertcruz2080]

that was an insane way to speak about russ lmfaooo

[@MLeeMedia]

11:08 Larry Bird block Kareem? Damn, what a picture Peter! That is proper old school, thank you for sharing.

[@_SYDNA_]

Thank you so much for boiling down some of what you have learned over many years of working and perfecting your craft. You're never going to make back what you're worth for the resources you put into a KZbin video, especially for a specialty like professional-level sports shooting. I realize this is a gift given to us and appreciate you sharing some of what you know and love. ... and thanks for the great pix! Something to aspire to.

[@zavoina]

Thanks for the video. It's also time to talk baseball and softball.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for offering your insight! Always helpful to see another sports photographer's thought process!

[@woolybugger1962]

Great practical advice. Especially being on the right side of the court.

[@brentdrafts2290]

Always good to hear from you!

[@heartlandlight6862]

Great presentation by a master. Thanks.

[@LegnanoBasketKnights]

The vintage pics are very amazing

[@dchodeva]

Been waiting for the basketball video! thanks so much

[@MrObie107]

Thanks for all the tips. Amazing pictures

[@balbonits]

I honestly thought it was about shooting a basketball, like it's based on photos from a sports photographer. A unique perspective, in a sense. But, this is also good as well. My first time shooting a sports event was a rec league basketball. I did a lot of things wrong, but it was so fun that I wanted to do it again, but using these tips.

[@jamescorral1673]

Great info on BBall Peter, and great past photos! You talked about passing the ball, would have been great to see a Magic no-look pass!! Thanks for the vid!

[@WilliamJohnsonmusic]

Thank you for this amazing information!

[@_SYDNA_]

... and yes, surely it's not only about capturing the layup. Thanks for saying that. Basketball has a lot of drama in a lot of places.

[@mikew9788]

Those film shots are fantastic! I still use my eos 3

[@jamisonryland7112]

instablaster...

[@rjnakamura1385]

great video

[@AceHardy]

🔥🏀

[@joonas.manninen]

Thank you for these "How to shoot X-sport" videos! Would you make a video about "How to shoot Ice hockey?" I think its a tricky sport to photograph.

[@JGZphotography]

As a sports photographer, I get lots of quires about what camera/lenses to use covering a basketball game. Of course, the same questions surface for other sports too. As we both know there are many factors that direct to the best or better solution and much depends on a person's budget for gear. Then comes the know-how.....positions (many must remain in the stands), camera settings, understanding the dimmer gym lighting, especially in high schools and some the older colleges not updated to LEDs. Much is appreciated for your presentation into this subject, however, I couldn't help to notice that the camera data on images used were from the older Canon 1D IV and snapped nearly 9 years ago. Of course, many other KZbin videos cover many of the details missed, but your fame in sports photography is actually more than photo illustrations of past basketball players interacting. The majority of sports photographers do not cover pro or college games, instead, they cover middle or high school sporting events. These are the photographers that need expanded knowledge of how to shoot sports and discovering the proper equipment. The comments from your viewers reveal that appetite to learn, and sharing your vast professional experience moves each of them forward into the journey.

[@jeffselfphotography3066]

I just love that my favorite spot to shoot is exactly where the baseline ref wants to stand too!

[@larryepling2604]

every freaking time. and everytime I move myself the ref then moves themselves to that side

[@johnsudbrink229]

Peter, as always its great to hear and see your videos on Sports Photography. In this video you mentioned remote work can you touch on not just the remote setups but the remote setup with transferring images? With the 1DX versions I-II can you touch on how to setup using the ethernet port to a computer or FTP? I know with the new 1DX-III the wifi is now added which is probably a good thing. Thank you Peter.. John S

[@jimmyqballs]

Number 2: Safety 1st :)

[@RobSambles]

Great video thanks Peter. Similar points as my basketball videos which is reassuring that I'm on the right track!

[@BruceLeroyUK]

Rob Sambles two masters of basketball photography.

[@RobSambles]

@@BruceLeroyUK Haha thanks man

[@dantonmcdiffett7127]

Definitely helpful, though I do notice that some of your shots from the stands were taken with a 400 mm lens, which certainly helps you get close!

[@tedk2814]

I always enjoy your videos, especially the ones on remotes, thanks so much. High School baseball is starting this week and I have a question for you if you don't mind. What are your recommendations on lens to shoot these? In Florida, at this time of year our games start at 6pm, still some daylight but low in the sky, then finish under the lights. My longest 2.8 is 300mm. Is that too short for outfield, on the warning track plays? Cropping vs fill the frame?

[@caleb2159]

300 is just fine. Daylight you should be able to crop in without loosing too much detail.

[@thothheartmaat2833]

I've been starting in the center of the court to get the jump shot and then getting shots from there the first period. Sometimes there are pretty good shots there. From there I go behind the basket or across the baseline or any combination of those positions. I mostly like directly behind the basket. I find I can get the whole court from that position. At high school games I like to get the crowd in the background. It makes the shots look like a pro game. Layups and all that.

[@douglasbrown9580]

You got anything posted online to see? Website, IG or FB?

[@thothheartmaat2833]

@@douglasbrown9580 no. I take school pictures. We're not allowed to post them anywhere.

[@douglasbrown9580]

@@thothheartmaat2833 If the event is open to the public I'm surprised there's rules against it. If that was the case I'd only do it if my kid was on the team.

[@thothheartmaat2833]

@@douglasbrown9580 well, I mean I get paid to do it.. lol.

[@kodpvd]

You can find my high school basketball photos on Flicker and search for “kodpvd”.

[@paulmalone8170]

Hi Peter: Any chance You could do a video on Bull riding? Thanks.

[@Olympiakos_Editor8]

I never expected an f4 to work that well…i thought an f2 / f2.2 would be the best

[@lorax2000]

Nice video about how to shoot professional and some college level basketball. Any chance of a similar video for the amateur level sports shooters in small school gyms and rec centers? The majority of your recommendations do not really apply to youth basketball. Especially when you mention arena backgrounds and post remotes. I would disagree about the ball "always" on the hand when getting dribbling shots. They are great, but a flat ball on the ground has a cool look also at times.

[@FirstLast-il6ok]

lorax2000 [alann] ball on the ground is funny but it’s not a good sports image. That doesn’t mean parents won’t love it, but that isn’t the standard for professionals either. My other suggestion is that most of these tips can still be applied to high school, youth, etc. For example. In high school football, I try to shoot so that I’m in front of the action but still shooting with the grand stands in my image since shooting directly towards the opposite end zone is usually a parking lot or fencing/other sports fields/ag fields, etc.

[@lorax2000]

@@FirstLast-il6ok I would love to have high school grand stands as a background. I'll have to settle for a row of folding chairs around the court for the youth sporting events.

[@FirstLast-il6ok]

lorax2000 [alann] just have them all push together and move with the play ;)

[@nicholas248]

Starting b-ball photography. I just hope that my 80D is good enough. Light is my main concern. Saving for the 70-200 2.8

[@dchodeva]

@John Vistine so agree with the 135f2. excellent glass for basketball!

[@nicholas248]

John Vistine isn’t 135mm a bit short if if I want to reach the other end of the floor? 🤔 I heard that a lot of b-ball photographers use the 24-70 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8

[@dchodeva]

@@nicholas248 135mm not the go to lens but it works great. 24-70/70-200 is the best combo

[@MLeeMedia]

I use an 80D and also have a 70-200 2.8. Remember with an 80D the range will actually be 112-320, which can be too tight. If you're starting out, the Canon 50mm 1.8 can be a really good lens to begin with for Basketball, it lets in more light, and isn't as tight, also, very cheap. But as for the 70-200, you won't regret buying it for sure!

[@nicholas248]

M. Lee Media Do you have problems with iso performances with the 70-200? I don’t wanna pass 3200 to keep the noise low.

[@oliverpili6431]

How do I fix noise

[@thothheartmaat2833]

What were the settings you used back in the film days? I'm really interested in that. You said you had strobes in the ceiling? Were the lenses 1.4 or something? I know the film was max 3200 but I'm guessing people probably used 1600.. was the shutter speed really slow? But the jump shots are really crisp.. I notice it looks like some of those pics are even over exposed. I would expect them to be underexposed (pulled) and then brought up in post production.. I started shooting on a 40d which is pretty much like a film simulator (it only goes up to 3200) but I couldn't make it work so I bought higher iso cameras. Now I'm trying to figure out how it was done on film so I can lower iso and get high quality images. I'll do minimum acceptable shutter speed of 640 with aperture at 2.8 and auto iso and the camera puts it in close to 12800 a lot. I don't know what else can be done?

[@FirstLast-il6ok]

ThothHeart Maat from what I understand in film, it’s the opposite of digital. Digital you’re better off preserving highlights and raising a bit in post. Film was the opposite where you expose for your shadows and bring down if needed.

[@1946bike]

Are you at all watching your white balance?? Lot of real yellow players!

[@mathewshoyt1763]

Hepatitis..