Photographing the NBA Finals

Take a look at what it is like photographing the NBA Finals! I go through shooting from three different positions, what it's like during pregame and postgame, how I send images to editors, and how I got my favorite images. Along with other helpful tips!
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - Getting ready
0:40 - Game 3 - Shooting up high
1:30 - Transmitting Images
2:20 - Game 4 - Shooting from the stands
4:07 - Card Running
5:20 - Shooting on the floor
5:50 - Game 6 - Pregame
6:48 - Game 6 - Postgame
Follow along on Instagram @paulrutherford_
Check out my images at www.paulrutherfordphotography.com
As always, leave any questions in the comments!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Forgot to add in the video that I did have a piece of pizza fall over my shoulder while photographing in the stadium. Another hazard of shooting in the stands to watch out for!

[@ump0351]

What remote/hotspot do you use to transfer pictures to laptop? I have a 1dx.mark ii and use campfi Hotspot but cannot find the app for the laptop

[@Paul_Rutherford]

@@ump0351 If I don't have a direct plug in via ethernet, I use an extender from TP-Link. Also sometimes the editor has a hotspot setup to use. I haven't sued campfi before.

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Hey Paul, glad to see you back to uploading on KZbin. I really enjoyed your BTS description of these games.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching and sticking around for this latest upload!

[@Arttechtrends]

Goo shod bro - the one with curry holding up the trophy is legendary - I know you enjoyed that one !

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Loved that it turned out with the bonus flash!

[@obsidian00]

Thanks for the behind the scenes look! 👍🏾

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching!

[@rblast1]

Awesome. Thanks for for taking us along! Sometime getting the best photo is luck, and other times it’s about setting your self up in the right spot for money shot.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching! Had a little bit of luck and setting myself up!

[@Twobarpsi]

That 70-200 really is such a useful lens!!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Its great!

[@ohgoshmace]

thank god for the flash at the tunnel. thats nuts! great outcome!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I know! Would've been a good photo, but made it even better!

[@slideworks]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching!

[@jakeweinberg527]

He’s back!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Let's go!!!

[@whowho8470]

I enjoy your channel. Pls keep posting videos.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@patricklweir]

love your content!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching!

[@xMiiDNiTe]

keep the vids coming!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I wish I could have done that. That was the ultimate what Curry did but so was what you did. Only a handful of guys get that opportunity. One guy I shoot with here was there at all the games home and away. Lucky sob lol

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Yea a few people got to go back and forth to shoot every game! And they get to set up remotes everywhere as well. Another level to get too!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

@@Paul_Rutherford yes. he uses remotes.

[@austinjackson1649]

What camera are you shooting this video on. Looks so clean.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I use an R5 for most of the shots.

[@tedk2814]

nice BTS video. I'm wondering how different it will be shooting my newly acquired 400 2.8. Never even held one before as I usually use a 120-300 2.8 night games and add a 1.4 TC for day games. then a 24-120 f4 on my side. Just using the 400 leaves some lapse of coverage and I'm not keen on carrying three cameras. Maybe I should use a 70-200 2.8 in place of the 24-120 or could use the wide lens and toggle between Fx and Dx ( Nikon for full frame and crop sensor ) My plan is always 1. action 2. reaction and 3. festivities and although it depends whether if it football or baseball/softball under the lights games, I could be not wide enough for occasional close ups. Can't wait to try it out. Wonder what's going on with Celtics and the head coach, first year and maybe that's it.?? Ted in Sebastian, Fl.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Sometimes what I do is I start the game with the wide and 70-200mm so I can get good huddle shots, then I will switch the wide lens with the 400mm for the actual game action. I don't use the wide as much during the game unless I'm getting a nice wide of nice clouds or crowds. You'll get a feel after a few games of what you think you are missing and if you need to switch up lenses.

[@photodeacon]

Awesome BTS and images! When you're shooting with that many photographers, do you feel like a team or is there a feeling of competitiveness when you miss a shot and someone else gets it? Curious how easy/difficult it is to put ego aside when you miss a shot but someone else is capturing it from a better vantage point. Thanks Paul!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching and great question! For me there is a little bit of internal competitiveness. I'd love to get the best shots, but always happy to see someone get a great shot. Knowing that if I keep working hard the best shot will show up in front of me at some point. Luck favors the prepared! I definitely feel more like a team with the photogs within the agency I'm working with because you gotta understand were there to do a job together and you can't jeopardize the job just to try and get your own best photos. If you do you won't get hired again.

[@photodeacon]

@@Paul_Rutherford Love this perspective! Thanks again and looking forward to the next video!

[@ChadWithCameras]

Thanks for sharing. Would you mind saying what cable and hotspot you used to connect and transmit files? I’ve been working on connecting my 1DX3 to my phone and using FTP to transmit tagged images from my shooting location. The camera will connect but as soon as I try to transmit, the connection is lost. I’m thinking your tethered method might be a better way to go.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I was using my editor's set up so I can't speak directly to that. But in the past I have used a TP link range extender. I power it with an external battery, and then have an ethernet cable going into my 1Dx mark ii. Before going out to shoot I connect the TP link to my phone's hotspot for the wifi. It has a lot of moving parts to it, but has worked for me in a pinch.

[@RandomVideos-hm3kg]

it must have been an amazing experience. How do you get access to the nba games? what criteria must someone meet? also feedback , some shot with the 400 mm are not tack sharp

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Shooting for USA Today. You've got to be good enough to get hired by the photo editors, hope there is a spot in your city, and have some connections to get your portfolio looked at. Not sure which images you are talking about, but they don't need to be perfect, only sharp enough.

[@RandomVideos-hm3kg]

@@Paul_Rutherford thank you for the reply. All of them were amazing. However , in Greece for example you need to be part of a photographer's independent group and show photography is your first source of income. Otherwise you won't get a pass to access such games specially professional basketball and football

[@Paul_Rutherford]

@@RandomVideos-hm3kg Wow. That's tough. Here you just need to have an established media outlet request the credential for you for professional games. Sometimes you can get your own for college games.

[@nicholas248]

At what iso do you usually shoot a nba game?

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Depends a little bit on the arena and where I'm positioned. But typically between 2000-6400 ISO. Around 3200 most of the time.

[@jj.visualverse]

Im asuming you beed credentials ro bring your camera in the stadium? Howndoes one become aj nba photographer?! Please give me advice 😭

[@Paul_Rutherford]

You get there by making great work at every level below it and networking with local photographers. Simple process but not easy to achieve.

[@jj.visualverse]

@@Paul_Rutherford thank you!!! I've heard. I'll try my best

[@jordanbbank]

Whats on your lens end @5:24 ?

[@Paul_Rutherford]

You have to have a rubber lens hood on your lenses for player safety in the NBA. So it is a screw on rubber lens hood.

[@jordanbbank]

@@Paul_Rutherford cool, thank you for explaining!

[@MatanColl]

8:47 what shutter speed where u shooting for this shot?

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I was shooting at 1/400th of a second, f/4, and 3200 ISO. Lucky my shutter wasn't too high or I would've only had half the flash.

[@MatanColl]

@@Paul_Rutherford haha that’s what I was thinking!

[@matthewrutherford7512]

Did you solve that Rubik’s cube yourself?

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Of course!

[@adnanmoha3896]

Pro I need Camera plz help me

[@popcornparam]

70-200 is a little wide. 400 is a little tight. Best thing to do is buy an R7 and use 70-200 with it and the 400 with the full frame body . That's. It.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I used the 70-200 on the R5 so I could crop in a lot or just shoot with the 1.6 crop on. Very helpful!

[@MatanColl]

@@Paul_Rutherford the r5 and all it’s megapixels are plenty tot crop the crap out of any photo

[@sohmiJesuswithme]

Jesus love you all❤️✝️

[@RandomVideos-hm3kg]

you guys used way to much luminance dam

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Too much noise reduction? Not sure we used any at all except maybe in camera conversion to jpg.

[@RandomVideos-hm3kg]

@@Paul_Rutherford actually Paul you may be right- youtube compresses images so comment should be deleted

[@adnanmoha3896]

I want my style to believe in me and become a modern photographer I beg you wllkey give me 1 camera

[@adnanmoha3896]

Brother🥺😥 am poor plz