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Volleyball season: It's finally here. Thank God!
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 11:02 PM on 08.19.07 |
->> As I have the last few years, I have started my annual volleyball thread for those of us who enjoy shooting this sport, for those who have to shoot it and for those learning to shoot it.
I have posted my first images at my website and I will post some here on SS as well. All I can say is I'm glad I have Noise Ninja. I arrived at the gym and our lights were not working. So I shot available and came away with some decent stuff for my first time out in many, many months.
Everyone feel free to chime in, give us your thoughts, post your work and away we go.
http://www.pbase.com/imager1/arizona_red_blue_scrimmage |
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Roger Ogden, Photographer
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 11:23 PM on 08.19.07 |
| ->> You're not dreaming. But AVP has been going since last spring. This is the first fall volleyball thread. High school, college, etc. It doesn't get much better than this. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 11:46 PM on 08.19.07 |
| ->> To quote a good friend of mine when he reviews portfolios: "Backgrounds, backgrounds, backgrounds." |
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Mark Sutton, Photographer
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Herndon | VA | USA | Posted: 11:54 PM on 08.19.07 |
->> Jeff,
I shoot volleyball for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and you must be in heaven, because as dark as the University of Arizona’s arena may be for your recent shoot. It’s probably 4 stops brighter than most of the gyms in the MEAC. But I do have fun with my little 85 mm f/1.8 and 135 mm f/2.0 with a whole lot of Noise Ninja myself. I’m just finishing up both Hampton University and Norfolk State University volleyball headshots. Boy I would just love to shoot one volleyball match in a stadium that has some decent lights. Those are some awesome shots that you took too. Take care and keep up the GREAT work….
Mark |
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Jason Jump, Photographer
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Humble | TX | USA | Posted: 12:35 AM on 08.20.07 |
->> Shot my first volleyball action of the season this week. Used a couple of AB1600s for one match and then went with available light for a tournament that I shot Friday and Saturday.
When the sun was shining it wasn't too bad as the gym has several windows and then several sky lights. But as the evening wore on YIKES :).
Then on Saturday it was cloudy and rainy most of the day.
By the time the finals rolled around I was shooting at 1600 2.8 with a 200 shutter speed and that wasn't even really enough :(. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 7:58 AM on 08.20.07 |
->> My member page has a few from Saturday.
Backgorunds Robert says? All I can say is it was Red/White scrimmage day and a normally fiesty Redbird Arena was a bit sparse. It was also the only time I could get the up angle lying on the side of the court. For all the other matches, the press tables will be installed and the east bleachers will be pulled out. It will be up to the upper bowl with the 600mm for those and backgrounds will be nice and clean :)
More images on my PhotoShelter site... http://www.photoshelter.com/user/alanlook
Sorry, they are mixed in with some football.. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 10:31 AM on 08.20.07 |
| ->> Yeah, backgrounds. As far as I know, the university where I shoot doesn't care about my backgrounds. |
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Michael McNamara, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 10:42 AM on 08.20.07 |
| ->> Your standards should not be set by your client. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 10:46 AM on 08.20.07 |
->> I eeked out 1000 ISO, 2.8 and 1/640th. Needless to say, no strobes.
I normally push back to 800 ISO and 1/400th when shooting from the floor, but this seemed to work out ok. No noise reduction in the post processing, but it would have smoothed them out just a tad.
Side note - Redbird has a cloth roof. It's translucent. It was scattered showers on Saturday. SO the roof didn't help out too much, but it was better than the dead of winter or at night. |
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Beth Van Zandt, Photographer
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Muscatine | IA | USA | Posted: 12:23 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> Thank you. Volleyball is one of my weakest sports. I never know where to shoot from. Whether to sit next to the net, stand in the back of the gym or up in the stands. Every year I pump myself up for volleyball, then I'm disappointed in the result. So I'd appreciate an threads or advice. Our high school gym has great lighting so no worrys there. I have a 70-200/2.8 and a 300/2.8 at my disposal.
Thanks,
Beth |
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Dirk Dewachter, Photographer
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Playa Del Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 1:13 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> I can't believe Jeff got an off topic for posting this and I think Jeff has a recurring entry in his Microsoft Outlook program because i think it's his third year in a row he started a "thank god volleyball is here" thread. Mind you, he's always joined by Roger Ogden who does a great job. I cover only one D1 school and backgrounds are a problem because not all venues offer an overhead position for clean backgrounds.
I switched to 800ISO on a Mark IIn with a 200/1.8 and 50/1.4 and i can't wait to get back and pick up a Mark III for it.
Volleyball is probably one of the more difficult sport to shoot if you always want a ball in the frame BUT the game is packed with a lot of emotion even if the ball is not around and I had a blast shooting about six games of their season last year and am looking forward to continue to build on my experience from last year. |
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Chad Ryan, Photographer, Assistant
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Fort Wayne | IN | USA | Posted: 2:08 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> I have some v-ball pics thrown in with some football on my member page here:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4136
I'll be covering a lot of volleyball this season. About three months ago, I was shipped off to the Sports desk to be a Photographer/Writer. My beat this fall will be prep, college and pro Football (Photo) and volleyball (writing and photos). I look forward to pushing myself to look for different pictures while shooting volleyball. The good thing about also writing the story is that I decide what pics I want to use (and that's about it). |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 6:42 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> Beth ... Are you related to the Van Zandt's of Skynard fame? Just curious.
Indeed, volleyball can be a very difficult sport to shoot. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, not to even mention the players that can get in the way. I think that's one of the things I liked about beach volleyball. There is only one other player per side that can be in your way and they're usually not.
Be that as it may, shooting from various spots around the floor and above the floor is the way to find where your favorite spots are at.
Bert mentioned backgrounds. As most of you that shoot any sporting event know, we have very little control over that unless shooting from above. That's not possible in many arenas/gyms.
Teams has been going through preseason training. And like the team, a photographer must also go through preseason training. Much of this is to regain the timing lost over the long months of not shooting this sport. The other is to learn about the players and teams you're covering on a regular basis.
I make it a habit of studying the players and this can be done over a period of matches. You get very used to what certain players will do, how the team is coached and it almost becomes second nature to anticipate what is going to happen on the floor. The more times I see the same players, the easier it is to get great images.
And then there is timing. With timing, my secret has always been the eyes. I watch the eyes whenever I can see them. A players' eyes will suddenly light up when the ball is about ready to enter your frame. If you fire when you see the eyes widen (light up), you will most likely have more successes with the ball in the frame than trying to guess when the ball will be in your frame.
As Beth mentioned, she indicates she never gets a lot of good frames. One way you can learn is to focus on one player during a portion of a match and watch them, how they move, their eyes and keep shooting them. Follow their movements. You will be surprised how quickly you can pick up their habits on the court.
This can be done easily from the sidelines. And speaking of spots on the floor, if you are trying to shoot players facing you from the rear of the court, you will end up getting the backs of the other team in your frames. Not always, but a lot.
If possible, shooting above removes most of the obstacles encountered when at floor level. You're also above the net and the players are looking upward at the ball.
If you're not able to get high enough above the net, there is plenty of shooting that can be done from the floor. If you're able to be seated right on the floor, the view looking upward with a 70-200 or a short zoom with wide capability offers some very interesting angles. Give it a try.
Oh, by the way, who the hell marked this "off topic?" How can a thread discussing shooting volleyball be off topic? |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 7:54 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> Yes Michael, you have a very good point. It seems his clients are not too picky if they don't care about cluttered, distracting backgrounds...
Jeff ... Do you work for the University's SID office?
As an extension of using the quote from a good friend when I listen in on portfolio critiques of student and beginning photographers ... I often look at the backgrounds to see how the photographer thinks and works an event or shooting situation.
Yes, clutter is everywhere. But where a photographer positions himself. What lenses do they use and at what distance. Are they shooting wide open or at f/8. Cropping. These are all things I (and most other "veteran" photojournalists) look for in evaluating photos.
Yes the background can add to a particular photograph, especially if there is a specific story to be told ... for instance if attendance at games is low, then showing a lot of empty seats is an important element.
But isolating athletes, key plays, emotion, peak action, storytelling ... all add up to IMPACT. And THAT is what I look for in a good photograph.
And Michael's right ... we should never "dumb down" our work just because an editor, publication or client "doesn't care" about a particular aspect of good photography.
Don't take that the wrong way. What I am saying is that we should ALWAYS do the best work we can. It's the least we can ask of ourselves isn't it? |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 8:02 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> Just had a thought and checked it out ...
If you want to see how a really good photographer shoots college volleyball and does a great job of cleaning up his backgrounds, check out the work that Matt Brown does for his clients ... Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, U.C. Irvine and Pacific.
http://mattbrownphoto.com/buy3.html
There are links to various sports and volleyball is one of them.
This is textbook work in lens selection, position and just thinking about making the best photograph possible in the cluttered world we work in.
Mahalo! |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 9:25 PM on 08.20.07 |
->> I guess I didn't take Jeff's statement the same way.
I took him to mean that he didn't think the university would "remodel" the areana to help out his backgrounds. Not that they were his client and just didn't care.
Saturday for me was kind of a tune-up day and a day to experiment a little. With the bleachers rolled back and the press tables not installed, crawling around on the floor was a chance to get some angle I normally don't shoot. I hate empty chairs as a background. During volleyball, you get a lot of that. Redbird Arena, last I checked was in the top 10 nationwide for collegiate volleyball attendance. I don't know if that statistic if just for D1-aa schools or for every division. Even with a stat like that, the upper bowl (half the arena) is always closed, and the baseline seats are seldom used. So out of a 12,000+ seat arean a crowd of 3 or 4 thousand is a good crowd.
When the bleachers are pulled out and the press tables installed, the shooting spots shift. It will be a 70-200 or maybe a 300 pregame courtside, and for me - a 300 or 600 from the upperbowl or net-high and above in the lower bowl. Occasionally, I'll shoot floor level if I see a shot that I must get and a lane to get it from.
Volleyball is a tough assigment. I don't think anyone was "dumbing it down" this past weekend.
My $.02... |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 9:41 PM on 08.20.07 |
| ->> Don't get me wrong, I think backgrounds are important. I just think Jeff's comment was misunderstood. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 1:57 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Alan, Precisely! |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 2:07 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> I did check out Matt's images and indeed, he has some clean backgrounds, no doubt about it. I believe if we had more control of the arena lighting, say if we were in a position to tone down the background lights in and around the seating areas, the backgrounds would be cleaner. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. Thus, I shoot under the conditions provided, move around the arena for different angles and do what any veteran would do: bring back work the paper can publish. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 2:08 AM on 08.21.07 |
->> Forget I mentioned it...obviously you missed the point(s) by a mile.
Have fun with your Wildcats! |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 2:19 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Your points were well taken, actually. |
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Matt Brown, Photographer
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Fullerton | CA | USA | Posted: 2:31 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Just my 2 cents, I shoot very tight, helps backgrounds. I shoot 80-90% of the time with players looking straight in the camera. I do love Volleyball. My first year at Long Beach State was Misty May's freshman year. Four years of that was great! Also, I shoot on lights 100% of the time. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 2:38 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Hey Matt ... Good to hear from you. And thanks for your input. It's very helpful. |
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Beth Van Zandt, Photographer
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Muscatine | IA | USA | Posted: 10:09 AM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Jeff- Thanks for the great advice on watching their eyes, I've never thought of that. And no I'm not related to the Skynard boys, although I do play drums in a classic rock band. Thanks again. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 5:29 PM on 08.21.07 |
| ->> Thank you, Beth |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Jason Johns, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Biddeford | ME | USA | Posted: 10:15 PM on 09.14.07 |
| ->> Nice job there! I won't be shooting volleyball for my school this year, since the season's been cancelled. Too bad, because it was always one of my favorite events to work. What can you do when three of your starters from last season transferred to another school... and you only had 7 people on the team in the first place? |
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Andrew Villa, Student/Intern, Photographer
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San Jose | CA | United States | Posted: 1:08 AM on 09.15.07 |
| ->> I just updated my member page with some volleyball that I shot this past week. I'll have many more opportunities to shoot. Let me know what you think. I'm trying to shoot from above to give myself the cleanest backgrounds possible, but even with heavy crops it seems pretty hard. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 9:59 AM on 09.15.07 |
| ->> Ah yes. The season has now really started. Fresh updates on my member page as well. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 7:31 PM on 09.23.07 |
->> Well, the volleyball season here in Portugal starts in 2 weeks time, and my team entered in a warm up tournament this weekend. You can check the photos on my members page:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/pitbull92
I would like to have, if possible, a feedback from you guys about the WB, cause in the laptop the colours seem good, but then on my desktop they look a litle bit warm (the sportshall had a mix of natural and tungsteen light).
For thoose who have time (2920 photos, but you can go directly to Day 9 - The finals), check the coverage that I did for EUSA (European University Sports Association) on the European Universities Championship Volleyball 2007 that took place in Rijeka, Croatia:
http://www.dicas.sas.uminho.pt/default.aspx?tabid=8&pageid=7&lang=pt-pt&pat...
Abraço
Nuno |
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 1:19 PM on 01.14.08 |
->> Checkout the photos from the last game of my team in my SS page.
Abraço |
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Jon Buder, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Aztec | NM | USA | Posted: 7:35 PM on 01.14.08 |
->> My favorite spot for volleyball is almost the same as a lot of people's favorite spot for basketball.
Center of the baseline, that is. The first couple times I shot it, I went up in the stands and strobed from ground level, and got some decent stuff, but when I tried the baseline the angle looked better to me. Maybe with a really long lens the stands would be good, but I only have a 70-200. The background was too focused with the shorter lens, and I had to crop too much.
Lying down from the baseline makes for a cool angle too, but hard wooden floors aren't as comfy as nice grassy endzones so it starts to hurt. This obviously only works if the gym has enough room so you're not lying with your head out on the court itself. |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 12:42 PM on 01.15.08 |
| ->> I think a lot of people shoot from the stands not by choice, but becasue the entire floor of the gym is usually "in play". If somebody does a bad job setting the ball and it goes off the court their teammate can go anywhere on the floor to save the play. |
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Anantachai Brown, Photographer
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Jacksonville | FL | | Posted: 1:17 PM on 01.15.08 |
->> at first I disagreed with Robert Hanashiro's statement/comparison from the two portfolios....then as I studied the images more....i'd have to say I agree with his insight. there is a difference.
i tried volleyball this year....gotta say, its a very difficult sport to photograph. |
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 9:03 AM on 02.06.08 |
->> Just updated my page with volleyball action!
BTW
Anantachai, volleyball is probably the indoor sport with more different moments and prespectives to shoot (I shoot volleyball on a regular basis - every weekend - for 3 years). Just my 2cents.
Abraço |
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 6:52 AM on 04.07.08 |
->> New Update.
Abraço |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 11:53 AM on 04.07.08 |
| ->> Nuno, shoot tight. Crop tighter. |
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 12:48 PM on 04.07.08 |
->> More? :)
What pics should you think that the crop could be tigher?
Thanks for checking out the photos :)
Abraço |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 1:39 PM on 04.07.08 |
->> #'s 3,4,5,8 would be good candidates in my opin.
3, I'd crop out the player on the right either by cropping vertically or zooming in closer with the cam.
4, unless you are stuck with full body shots for some reason, I'd crop vertically catching the sriker, defender ball and net.
5, is just a little loose, fill the frame.
8, fill the frame, don't worry about cutting off the billboard in the background.
My pennies worth.
AL
Save a Tree, Buy a Picture book |
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Alex Cena, Photographer
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Scotch Plains | NJ | USA | Posted: 2:36 PM on 04.07.08 |
->> Any chance of strobing these events? I mostly shoot high school volleyball and usually strobe all of them. I do not know if it is against the rules to strobe college and pro volleyball events. There are a couple of volleyball shots on my portfolio gallery or here are some more.
http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000XniNytMcpqM |
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Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
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Braga | Portugal | | Posted: 10:22 AM on 04.14.08 |
->> Volleyball season is over in Portugal!
We had the last game this sunday and it was (again) a defeat.
In the first year of SCBraga on the A1 (first league), the team ended in the last place of the classification.
With 12 players in the beginning of the season, due to problems of conciliating the studies with the volleyball, 3 players left the team. It was a very hard season for us, with only two victories and with to many injuries and tears.
In Portugal, the clubs are responsible for the formation of the athletes and not the school, so many times is very hard to do the two things at the same time, especially when you are not professional. So, volleyball for me is over - at least at a professional level(or almost) - with the exception of the university final fase and the european.
So, for me its a goodbye, and see you again on this thread next year! :) |
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Curtis Clegg, Photographer
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Sycamore | IL | USA | Posted: 7:53 AM on 09.01.09 |
| ->> Hey Jeff I didn't see a new 2009 thread from you so I thought I'd resurrect last year's. My first volleyball game of the year is tonight! I'm looking forward to trying some new angles. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 8:51 AM on 09.01.09 |
| ->> Posted my first images on my page on Saturday or Sunday. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 10:17 AM on 09.01.09 |
->> Hey guys, I shot last night here in one of our dungeon-like gyms. It's quite different than it was in Arizona. There, I had an arena setup of four White Lightning 1600s that rendered some really awesome looking color and was able to shoot at ISO 400.
In addition, the talent at a Pac 10 school made it easy. You could follow a game plan and after shooting the same team, same coach for eight years, it was pretty easy and a lot of fun.
Nine years later, I have no arena setup, no strobes of any kind are permitted in any of the high schools or the one Div. 2 school we cover and you really need D3 caliber cameras to bump up the ISO to at least 6400. Plus, there seems to be no strategy involved with the schools I cover. Just get the ball back over the net the best way possible, if they can even do that.
Last night, the best dig of the game came when the ball was hit into the bleachers and some parent actually digged the ball back on to the court rather well and correctly. He got a round of applause from the other people sitting around him.
The good news is I am shooting sports here that I didn't shoot in Tucson and have really enjoyed learning the game of soccer and track and field. These events I never shot much before and I have learned some of the finer points of these events and found new challenges that have made my job a lot more interesting. Good luck on shooting VB, guys. |
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Patrick Meredith, Photographer, Assistant
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Derick Hingle, Photographer
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Hammond | LA | USA | Posted: 11:40 AM on 09.01.09 |
| ->> Yep, that's some volleyball shots there, incredible shots. I need some pocket wizards to go with my lights before tackling volleyball. |
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Jack Gruber, Photographer
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Fall Church | VA | USA | Posted: 6:57 AM on 09.02.09 |
->> Wow, nice work Jacob. Great control of the backgrounds with the lens work and awesome use of existing light. Don't always have to light to make it nice. Sometimes, less is more.
jg |
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