1st Volleyball Pictures

[nexusenv]

I am a new shutter-bug and have been experimenting with shooting some volleyball action shots. I have read many of the existing posts and am still having a lot of troubles due to significant light variations in the larger gyms. I am using both Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 and Canon 85mm 1.8 lens. Any suggestions on format and post processing would be greatly appreciated. Attached are a few of the pictures from the boys 2006 Junior Olympics held earlier this month. By the way, my son was on the Bronze medal team for 14 and under (Proud Dad).

[cgratti]

I dont see any images....

[vetkrazy]

Welcome to the forum. Your first one is a great jube shot but to me the other is just so-so. Looking at your exif data it shows you shooting in auto. You really need to be using AV or I suggest manual. Because you had such a slow shutter speed there is alot of movement blur. I know these gyms have terrible lighting, so there are a couple of things you might do. I don't know which camera you are using, but I suggest start using AV mode and keeping your lens wide open. The 85 f/1.8 is a good v-ball lens. It would also help to use a custom white balance. Your camera manual will give you instructions on how to set it up. For the test shot you can use a coffee filter or find someone with a lite gray shirt. If your camera is capable of shooting RAW, by all means use it. You can then use the manual seting and get your shutter speed at 1/500 or above. Using a custom white balance and RAW will give you almost 2 stops when you convert. If you are using a 20D don't be afraid of the high ISO setting. As for the second shot it is very loose, shoot tighter or crop tighter. That shot works better if you are near the net, like near the up ref. Good luck and lets see the next ones.

[superdiver]

I was going to suggest that these were taken in auto (mostly cuz they looked alot like my first ones....LOL) and THE I was going to suggest you shoot in Av or Tv or M. I learned on M and then one day had an epiphany that Av would be ALOT simpler as it would take one thing out of the equation for ME to figure out.

The other suggestion I would make is get closer...if you are going to shoot a game you need to worry less about watching it and more about shooting it (from what I have found) and that makes it hard when its your kids that is playing.

I used to have trouble cuz I didnt get to WATCH my kids play cuz I was shooting it. But I would get so wrapped up I watching games that I found that it is easier to shoot the game then it is to watch. I still cheered for my kids but usually dont know really how the game is going.

I dont shot important games like state championships when my kid is in the game just cuz I tend to miss so much of the game thinking about shooting it....

[nexusenv]

Thank you for the suggestions. The pictures were taken in the Tv mode using a 350D and the Sigma 70-200 wide open at 2.8 and 70mm. Due to lighting issues I had to turn the ISO setting to 1600 in order to get the shutter speed needed to try and stop the action. The white balance was set to the tunsten lighting setting. I think in the future I will try the RAW format in order to allow more post processing options.

[liza]

1. Get closer.
2. Show facial expressions.
3. Make sure the ball is in the frame.
4. Try to show peak action.
5. Keep your shutter speed on 1/500, if at all possible to freeze motion.
6. Shoot in raw to address white balance and exposure issues.