HS Volleyball - Season Ends

[KABeach]

The last volleyball team I cover ended their season at the IHSA Secionals. They played a great game, but came up short at the end.

All images shot with D2h, ISO1250, f/2 and either a 85/1.8 or 135/2

C&C Welcome.

#1 - Dig


#2 - Set


#3 - Bump Pass


#4 - Block


#5 - Soft hit


#6 - Block


#7 - Block


#8 - The Thrill of Victory


#9 - The Agony of Defeat


Cheers,
Ken

[Shortie]

good job

and some great detail and emotion

Well done

[mavb]

SUPER Series!!! Your timing on a couple of those digs was perfect. You can see the ball deform as it hits the players arms.
I see some "lens aberition(?)" in some of the shots. I thought that that was limited to cheaper glass (like mine) but you aren't using cheap glass. Is all glass prone to this at some point?

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by mavb

SUPER Series!!! Your timing on a couple of those digs was perfect. You can see the ball deform as it hits the players arms.

Thanks - looks like I finally got the hang of if - just in time for the season to end

I see some "lens aberition(?)" in some of the shots. I thought that that was limited to cheaper glass (like mine) but you aren't using cheap glass. Is all glass prone to this at some point?

Well, any lens, given the right situation can display flaws. The two lenses I used at this game are pretty good and generally don't display too many problems. What aberration are you seeing.

I see a tiny bit of CA - but nothing troubling - On the other hand, I might not be seeing what your seeing.

Cheers,
Ken

[mavb]

I take it back. What I thought was CA was actually prewrap on the girls wrist in #3. I didn't notice that the prewrap was blue until I saw it in another picture. Sorry. I do see slight CA but as you said nothing troubling. #3 just fooled me

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by mavb

I take it back. What I thought was CA was actually prewrap on the girls wrist in #3. I didn't notice that the prewrap was blue until I saw it in another picture. Sorry. I do see slight CA but as you said nothing troubling. #3 just fooled me

No Problem! I actually thought that's what you were seeing - either that or the thin grey stripe running next the the thicker navy strips (which also looks like CA in a couple of the images)... I didn't want to prompt your answer, just in case you were seeing something else...

I think most of the other color shifts are a combination of the gym lights (always a challenge) and the fact that the Custom WB on images 1-3 are a bit cooler than the WB on the rest of them (I've run into that before, the camera I used on 1-3 often does produce slightly cooler images).

Cheers!
Ken

[mavb]

Ken,
I am planning on shooting a friends daughter at a VB game tomorrow. This is for my experience and if I get an image or two worth keeping great. My equipment is limited Nikon DX 18-55mm and a 70-300mm. I do not have a flash other than the built in(hoping Santa is nice to me). What are your suggetions as to which lens to use and is flash going to make a difference. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
Thanks

[Waleed]

Nice series, thanks for sharing.. Like mavb said "You can see the ball deform as it hits the players arms", and I liked that a lot..

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by mavb

Ken,
I am planning on shooting a friends daughter at a VB game tomorrow. This is for my experience and if I get an image or two worth keeping great. My equipment is limited Nikon DX 18-55mm and a 70-300mm. I do not have a flash other than the built in(hoping Santa is nice to me). What are your suggetions as to which lens to use and is flash going to make a difference. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
Thanks

Although I've not used either lens, as a guess, I'd say the 70-300 would be the one to use. Both have about the same aperture, so I doubt there will be a huge advantage of one over the other (although, at 70mm, I'd say the 70-300 probably has a 1/2-2/3 stop advantage).

The big problem you are going to have is that these lenses run about 3 stops slower than what I use, plus you are probably going to shoot in a much darker gym (unless you are fortunate enough to have a gym with big windows and natural light). No matter how you slice it, it is going to be a big challenge - however, if you are careful, you still might be able to get a few good shots.

As far as the flash - alas, most "pop-up" flashes are only good to about 10-15 feet. Not powerful enough to be helpful for volleyball... in fact, they are likely to be only powerful enough to mess up white balance and maybe cause some ghosting without being able to really help out. I don't use flash for volleyball - although IHSA allows it for media, none of the coaches I cover allow it, so I don't even try.

For shooting positions: for the digs/bumps I like to shoot from between the refs table and the bench - usually gets me 6-8ft from the court - for the net shots I stand with my back against the wall behind the endline.

Good luck and have fun - the VR on the 70-300 will help you with camera shake, but you will still get a lot of motion blur, but if you're careful, you could get some interesting shots with that.

Cheers,
Ken

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by Waleed

Nice series, thanks for sharing.. Like mavb said "You can see the ball deform as it hits the players arms", and I liked that a lot..

Thanks! I always like shots that show compression - but not everyone does - I also have plenty of shots where the ball is 1-2 feet off the arms, but I decided to show these instead.

Cheers,
Ken

[keblerelf11]

That is a great series Squirrel. I would say your best yet. It is a shame the season is over because I loved seeing your shots. Well, I guess that will just leave me in anticipation of the next sports shots you post. Great work.

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by keblerelf11

That is a great series Squirrel. I would say your best yet. It is a shame the season is over because I loved seeing your shots. Well, I guess that will just leave me in anticipation of the next sports shots you post. Great work.

Thanks!

Ya, the hard part is, buy the time you get everything down pat, the season ends... Next up basketball - hmmm... haven't shot that in 8 months, time to remember how to shoot that again - plus Gymnastics (I'm not sure how much of that you'll see, light is REALLY bad, so I usually don't have much to show) - maybe a wrestling match or two - possible some swiming, but I doubt it - oh, yeah, and some basketball.

Did I mention Basketball?

Cheers!
Ken

[cyclohexane]

Finally have a second to comment on these...

Great way to finish off the season; good job Ken! These are all very strong images; I really like the last two. Love the expressions on the set and the blocks.

Next up basketball - hmmm... haven't shot that in 8 months,

We actually have to pass "tests" to be allowed to shoot basketball, so I'm trying to get on that as soon as possible. I could have tried starting yesterday, but I had midterms and decided to be responsible (and "study" instead) so I'll have to wait at least a week... =(

the VR on the 70-300

No VR on the 70-300; I think that lens comes out next year. Mavb's sporting the old G version.

----

Mavb, are there no local stores where you drop $100 for a 50mm f/1.8? This was my primary lens for the longest time (indoors and outdoors), and I'm still packing it (albeit it looks very well-used) for Friday's game. For indoor sports, this'll suffice. Get there early so you can get as close as possible. Don't use flash, it probably won't be allowed, and the pop-up's near useless.

Also, definitely read up on Ken's advice; I'm going through it myself, and will be making mental notes of it to file along with what our photo editor's told me for Friday.

I see some "lens aberition(?)" in some of the shots. I thought that that was limited to cheaper glass

It's not. The $1100 85mm f/1.4D AF shows green/purple fringing unless stopped-down a good deal. At 17mm, the $1600 17-35mm f/2.8D AF-S also shows quite a bit of CA (and it's not razor sharp wide open). In contrast, the ~$285 28-105mm f/3.5-.4.5D AF (discontinued) shows no CA at all, and it doesn't even have any ED elements.

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Great way to finish off the season; good job Ken! These are all very strong images; I really like the last two. Love the expressions on the set and the blocks.

Thanks! Too bad the season isn't a bit longer, but I'm glad I was able to get to this point this season.

We actually have to pass "tests" to be allowed to shoot basketball, so I'm trying to get on that as soon as possible. I could have tried starting yesterday, but I had midterms and decided to be responsible (and "study" instead) so I'll have to wait at least a week... =(

That's interesting - but understandable. UCLA is a top basketball school. I was lucky, when I was a Photo major at Bradley (back in the Dick Versace era) it was a challenge to get to floor of basketball games, but I was fortunate to be a staffer and eventually photo editor of the school paper, and had good access.

Good luck with that!

No VR on the 70-300; I think that lens comes out next year. Mavb's sporting the old G version.

Thanks for the correction! I guess it just to shows I'm not much of a gear junky

Mavb, are there no local stores where you drop $100 for a 50mm f/1.8? This was my primary lens for the longest time (indoors and outdoors), and I'm still packing it (albeit it looks very well-used) for Friday's game. For indoor sports, this'll suffice. Get there early so you can get as close as possible. Don't use flash, it probably won't be allowed, and the pop-up's near useless.

This is an EXCELLENT piece of advice. If you can possible swing it, the 50/1.8 is an excellent value, and although it may not be the best lens, it is very usable - and for $100 its hard to beat.

Cheers!
Ken

[fantasiesimage]

I like beach volleyball, the shorts are smaller and they have to clean out the sand!!

[cyclohexane]

Good luck with that!

Luckily, I applied to the paper using a basketball portfolio, and the editor said he thought they were cool, so I don't think he'd have a problem with me shadowing women's basketball the next time it rolls around... provided I sign up first.

I guess it just to shows I'm not much of a gear junky

That's probably a good thing... save your money, LOL

[mavb]

Ken and Michael, much tanks as usual. You guys are great. I will look into that lens and try to practice your teachings.
Your grasshopper,
Mark