p.1 #1 · 1st real attempt at some volleyball captures
I think volleyball is probably one of the hardest to shoot, at least for me and further compounded by the age. Being that it was 8th grade height-challenged girls, I took advantage of the top bleacher row with my 70-200 f2.8 Mk ii on my Canon 7D. I decided to push the iso to 6400 to get the extra shutter speed up to 1/640 (f2.8). Unfortunately this might be the only game I make this season and this “away” gym probably was 1-1.5 stops darker than our newly lighted home gym.
Here are some I caught, with no additional NR. What are your thoughts on whether to break the rule and cutting shoes/limbs in order to properly level?
1. 9009 pregame contemplation
2. 9031 - team pow-rhythmic psyching cheer
3. 9042 readying
4. 9048 striking
5. 9067 set
6. 9083 service
7. 9096 match point (maybe should have cropped this tighter at just above the waist?)
p.1 #2 · 1st real attempt at some volleyball captures
Guy: You're right, volleyball is very difficult to shoot, and I imagine the size and skill level of the players makes a difference. Your first two shots are quite safe, and it would be nice to try and find an angle that would give you at least a couple of faces in that second shot. (I assume that shot will have meaning to the team. To me, it's a mystery, since I figure it's not craps so must be something else gong on.) I'm afraid shots 3 and 4 are for the trash bin. There's nothing 'readying' about #3 to my view of it. (Now #7 fits that caption quite well, and I like that shot.) With #4, you've got some compression on the ball, but motion blur takes away from that a bit, her arm is blocking her face, which kills the shot for me, her feet are cut, etc. etc. I'd say there's no good excuse for cutting off part of the ball in #5. You don't need her legs but you do need the ball, so use a lower focus point and leave room for what's happening high in the frame. I think #6 is your best action shot. #7, as noted, has some nice anticipation to it (nothing that communicates match point, but it's a good stock shot). If #8 is intended to be a jube shot, these girls really let you down! I suggest you turn your camera back to landscape orientation for this kind of shot, since you're more likely to need a wider view than a taller one. These girls didn't deliver for you here, and I would file this one with 3 and 4.
Exposure looks good. The only thing you can do now is practice, look at a lot of volleyball shots to see what grabs you, and think about what you might do to capture those kinds of shots.
p.1 #3 · 1st real attempt at some volleyball captures
Russ,
thanks for the reply / cc. I agree, i liked #6 best too - the other action shots i had missed the ball. I wish i got the whole ball in #5 but wasn't quite pulled back far enough.
What is your opinion on the tradeoff for cropping when not level SOOC, slightly cut limb, or keep non verticle?
p.1 #4 · 1st real attempt at some volleyball captures
Guy... Russ covered the basics, here is my take.
1) I wouldn't go profile on this. Three quarter, maybe. Girls are so vain and with female athletes you have the added layer of having to please the subject in addition to the photographer.
2) Think about maybe going over the top with this with a fish if you have it or a WA.
3) Scrapper.
4) Scrapper for the reasons Russ mentioned. Look for the left handed servers from this side of the court and hit up the righties when they switch sides. As mentioned, it's a safety shot that can be had at anytime during the game.
5) Also a scrapper unfortunately. You cut the ball and the player at her knees.
6) A little better than #4, but still, they are easy shots to get and you'll get better ones.
7) It has potential. Crop out the girl on the right.
8) Not enough emotion here.
Even with middle school girls, you'll get block attempts, bumps, more sets, etc. I would have liked to seen more of those since a majority of what you have here are safety shots. It's a tough sport to shoot and even on my best days, I'm not happy enough with my shots on day's take, so I feel your pain.
p.1 #5 · 1st real attempt at some volleyball captures
Thanks Paul.
I would have liked more ball more action for sure. My greatest challenge beyond the lack of practice was that this was an away gym, I was there primarily to watch, and told myself that I should pick one spot for the match. Funny, some of the action I caught (motion/wild hair kind) from follow through, missed inclusion of the ball so I didn't post. Kind of funny, it is almost easier to time baseball either swinging or just be for the catch and include ball than to figure out the huge difference in timing that each of these girls had striking the ball (jump, no jump, windup, no windup etc). Or it is my years playing baseball that helps, who knows, but from a timing perspective, it seems easier to me.
