Introduction to floodlights

"Is this the League game?", I asked as I got to the gate with my wallet ready to retrieve season ticket or cash. Prescot Cables have already played Warrington Town in the FA Cup, and depending on results could play them in the next round of the Doodson Sport Cup.

We will have quite a few games under floodlights over the next few weeks, so I shall start with an introduction, then look in future posts at some techniques and tricks to get a picture in the reduced light, and some limitations on camera kit that will work at a night game.

Firstly, I do not use flash. There used to be a prohibition on flash photography in the Laws of Association Football (or in the International Board Guidance). That seems to have disappeared, but I take the view that a flash that is bright enough to be effective will also be bright enough to distract the players and match officials.

Not all floodlights are the same. Last season, I was chatting to a photography student who had done a placement at Anfield, who was a little surprised how little light there was at a night game at our level. Illuminance is measured in lux: the article I have linked gives some examples of the lux values of various lighting situations. The minimum requirement for step 4 (EvoStik League Division 1 and equivalent) and 5 is an average value of 120 lux for an existing installation, and 180 lux for a new or upgraded installation. The requirements rise as you go through the leagues, for example, the FA require 250 lux for Blue Square Conference North and South, the Premier League require 900 lux, and UEFA require 1400 lux for international games and the later stages of the Champions League.

The value is an average of 88 readings, on a grid with 11 rows along the pitch and 8 across. The lowest reading cannot be less than one quarter of the highest reading. Because most pylons in grounds at this level are close to the pitch and only have two or three heads, the highest reading is usually in the centre of the pitch with the lowest in the corners. I did a back of an envelope calculation for the 120 lux standard: it is theoretically possible to comply with these requirements with readings of about 40 lux in the corners - somewhat darker than the average living room. In grounds lit to the older standard, it can be an art finding the best vantage point.

Prescot's floodlights failed their 2 yearly inspection (to check they are still giving the required level of light) in the Spring, so they needed to be replaced, to the new standard, which makes a big difference in what it is possible to capture. This is an example of what can be achieved in the middle of the pitch, with my 70-300mm lens set to 95 mm, with a speed of 1/200s at f/4.5, ISO 6400 equivalent. I have just cropped, but not made any adjustments to the lighting.

I made a few small adjustments to the lighting for the version in the slide show.

In the corners the result is somewhat darker - again, this is just cropped with the lens at 200mm, 1/200s at f/5.3, ISO 6400 equivalent.

The lighting can be improved in Photoshop Elements, and we will look at some of the options available in future posts. Here is the enhanced version still a bit on the dark side, and with reduced colour, but Prescot's Steven Tames is much clearer against the background.

With the old floodlights, this was the sort of lighting in the centre of the pitch, with photography next to impossible in the corners, so the newer standard is a welcome improvement, although, as it is only required in a new or upgraded installation, the old standard will be around for some time to come, and remains the standard at County League level.

The slide show from the game can be seen here.