Photos: Xtreme Fighting Association (MMA) 03-22-2008 Las Vegas

Photos from the March 22nd XFA "Stand and Deliver" are now posted on http://www.ultravista.com

The gallery is categorized into Fights 1 through 9 and miscellaneous photos (ring girls, etc). The gallery is further broken down into color and black and white directories.

XFA Gallery:
http://www.ultravista.com/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=12640

MMA Gallery:
http://www.ultravista.com/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=970

Favorites:

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2325-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2331-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2370-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2402-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2488-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2520-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2530-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2656-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2730-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2736-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2784-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2804-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2862-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2870-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2893-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2987-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_2996-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3016-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3144-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3167-1-hp.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3210-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3397-1.jpg

http://www.ultravista.com/pics/mma/xfa/xfa_03-20-2008/DSC_3467-1-hp.jpg

Looks good. Nice action captures in what I imagine was a real tough lighting/exposure environment. Pretty low noise for the high ISO's you where shooting.

Some quick comments for you. In the shots where the arena lights above/behind the ring are included in the framing, I find them a little distracting. I like the shots with the lights out of frame a little more. The eye tends to be naturally drawn to areas of brightness, which in these shots (ie the lights themselves) is a distraction from the main area of focus (the fighters). Also, these lights are bound to be blown out in an overall dark area like an arena. Probably tough to get in position to always keep them out of frame though.

Likewise, from a creative point of view, the shots all seem very similar. Mostly all 'stop action' shots with similar focal lengths. If you get to shoot one of these events again, maybe try taking a few shots dragging the shutter with rear curtain sync flash. Should provide for some nice dramatic moition to the shots. Also maybe a few more at a longer focal length/tighter framing of the fighters. The few tight ones you have above seem more dramatic to me.

One last comment, on your website, you misspelled the second "M" of "MMA" It stands for martial, not marshal as you have it spelled on your website.

Good luck!

Thanks Mucker, I'll correct the spelling mistake! How did I miss that one ...

I appreciate the comments. I do tightly frame a lot of my photos, the XFA shots however were mostly done with the 28-70mm f/2.8 and a few with the 70-200mm. It's tough with one body & lens changes.