Testing New Photographic Equipment with the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team

I bought some new camera equipment and I wanted to test it out in a “game situation” before I committed to using it in a “must deliver” event.  So I emailed Lynae de Leon, the Director of the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team, and asked her if I could come down and test out my new gear.  She graciously obliged and I was excited at the chance to shoot one of my favorite squads.  Photographing the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team would be a challenge because the convention center where they perform is very dark and the lighting comes from  a very odd angle.  This would be a dry run for when I formally visit in February.

My results were mixed and that was not to be unexpected, when trying out new gear.  I needed to get consistent results…consistently good or consistently bad…to be able to set a baseline from which I could make some adjustments and fine tune my technique.  And I will do so, but for now I wanted to share a couple shots that went well.

My thanks to Lynae and the Anaheim Bolts organization for allowing me the opportunity to test my gear in a game setting.  If you’ve never been to a PASL game, you should check it out because it is literally fast break indoor soccer and the action is fast and furious.  And the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team is absolutely worth the price of admission.

Now, I have to go back and analyze those “consistently bad” photos and see what I did wrong.  In the mean time, let these “good” photos entice you to stay tuned for my official visit to the Anaheim Bolts in February.