When the light isn't in your favor

Freshman Britany Calley performs balance beam during the Falcons home tri-meet against Southeast Missouri State and Seattle-Pacific in the Cadet Gym February 20. Air Force placed second in the team competition with a score of 188.00. Southeast Missouri came in first with 194.05 and Seattle Pacific finished with 187.075.

What do you do when the light is against you? There are many situations which I find irritating as a photographer but crappy lighting is probably my least favorite situation to find myself in. Now some people would say that they don't mind bad lighting because they can creating their own lighting with strobes, and I don't really have a problem with that argument. Except in a few cases. This is one of them. I have a love hate relationship with Gymnastics at the Academy because of where they compete; the cadet gym, which is one of the worst lit locations I have every photographed in. To make this situation more difficult I can't light gymnastics in any way out of concern for the athletes safety (which is a totally legitimate concern, and I would not want to put any of our athletes in a position where they could become injured because of me). I wish though that the lighting were better for a sport that lends itself so well to great pictures. I'm not sure how to keep the quality of the image while overcoming the lighting issues. How do you handle tough lighting situations where strobes are not an option? (All photos copyright US Air Force Academy, J. Rachel Spencer 2010)

Women's Gymnastics

Recently I got the chance to photograph women's gymnastics at USAFA which was both really irritating and very rewarding. I did get some shots that I liked, but the lighting in the gym they compete in is a photographers worst nightmare! Thank goodness for the D700 which made it possible to still capture a few shots. Here are some of my favorites. (All photos copyright US Air Force Academy, J. Rachel Spencer 2010)

U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Head Coach Doug Day helps correct junior Brittany Dutton’s body position as she practices vaulting before the meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Junior Holland Davis vaults for the Falcons during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Senior Michelle Denise (left) is embraced by teammate Holland Davis, a junior, after competing on the uneven bars during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Sophomore Jenna Dudley holds a pose while competing on the uneven bars during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. Dudley finished in the top five of every event and placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.425. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Sophomore Jenna Dudley does a backflip while competing on the balance beam during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. Dudley finished in the top five of every event and placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.425. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)


U.S. Air Force Academy, CO- Freshman Tara Harris holds a pose during her floor routine during Air Force’s meet against UC Davis 30 Jan 2010 in the Cadet Gymnasium. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. Sophomore Jenna Dudley took the title in the floor exercise with a tally of 9.775, and junior Brittany Dutton took the vault title with a 9.625. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)