Near the end of the HS volleyball season

[QUASIPHOTO]

It's getting close to the end of the high school volleyball season, just 2 regular season games left. Here are a few images from our last game. The team that we played are ranked 10th in the nation from prepvolleyball.com. They are big, fast and don't make to many mistakes. Every point that you get against this team you have to totally earn. Our girls had some amazing volleys and some great plays, but came up short in the match, losing 3 games to none. Even though I'm pretty happy the way that these images came out, I still feel that there is something missing to get to the next level. Any suggestions and comments would be great and helpful.

#1. The student body supported the team, even hanging the visting teams mascot by a rope.
http://static.flickr.com/122/276938165_4cecaf4c24_o.jpg

#2. Let's just start the match off with a jump serve.
http://static.flickr.com/84/276938164_c799232af8_o.jpg

#3. A little trickery with the over the head backset to the outside as the middle hitter fakes.
http://static.flickr.com/118/276938168_e805ace832_o.jpg

#4. Passing the ball forward softly off the serve from the backrow.
http://static.flickr.com/122/276938177_2f0c4059eb_o.jpg

#5. Sometimes even your setter has to bump the ball.
http://static.flickr.com/115/276941879_148580f663_o.jpg

#6. And sometimes you have to hold your mouth just right to bump set the ball to the middle hitter.
http://static.flickr.com/96/276941881_7aee71e8e2_o.jpg

#7. And sometimes you have to give the evil eye to try and distract them.
http://static.flickr.com/33/276938171_976aa7ecfb_o.jpg

#8. But in the end, any point against a team this good is worth celebrating.

http://static.flickr.com/107/276938174_5fa52ba2c3_o.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to look at these. And thanks for all the help from everyone here.

[bgphotoo]

Nice shots what camera settings. The gyms I shoot in are so dark.

[QUASIPHOTO]

Nice shots what camera settings. The gyms I shoot in are so dark.
The first 2 were shot with my 70-200 at f2.8, 320 and ISO 1600. The rest were shot with the 85mm f1.8 wide open at ISO 1250 around 400-500.

[jevidon]

the photos are great. however the more shots I see with the 85 1.8, the more I want to get one. :)

[Croasdail]

amigo..... looking back at what you were doing last year compared to what you are able to do this year, you have got to be pretty happy with the results you are able to achieve. Everything is nice and consistant... well done. Cheers

[CatchingUp]

wow. I'm impressed with the little amount of noise here. I shoot with an 85 at 1600/3200. How do you guys get so little noise in shots like this?

[nickybegood1998]

That first picture is hilarious. The girls definetely knew they were being photographed.

[QUASIPHOTO]

the photos are great. however the more shots I see with the 85 1.8, the more I want to get one. :)
One of the best purchases that I have ever made. Thanks to Mark's suggestion, I got it and love it.

[QUASIPHOTO]

amigo..... looking back at what you were doing last year compared to what you are able to do this year, you have got to be pretty happy with the results you are able to achieve. Everything is nice and consistant... well done. Cheers
Thanks Mark I really appreciate it. But I still feel that something is missing here. Your shots and Gavins, are, well.........fantastic. I just can't quite put my finger on what I need to do to get the results that you guys get. There is just something missing.

[QUASIPHOTO]

wow. I'm impressed with the little amount of noise here. I shoot with an 85 at 1600/3200. How do you guys get so little noise in shots like this?
LOL........it's called Noise Ninja.....a denoise-a-faction progam. Neat Image is another one. I normally don't like to use it very much. Sometimes it can give a very plastic looking effect to the skin. These seemed to come out OK though.

[QUASIPHOTO]

That first picture is hilarious. The girls definetely knew they were being photographed.
YEP, they did. And that little sign that they are making isn't some gang sign. It's a "TW" for their school, which stands for Taylorsville Warriors.
The crowd was really into the match. It was an amazing match to say the least. Even though we lost, our girls really played well. But when the other team has 2 of the top ranked girls in the nation, it's an up hill battle.

[sonnyc]

These look so good. Very clean and sharp. The more pics I see from the 85mm the more I want it.

How do you feel the 70-200 at 2.8 do with HS Gym lights?

[QUASIPHOTO]

These look so good. Very clean and sharp. The more pics I see from the 85mm the more I want it.

How do you feel the 70-200 at 2.8 do with HS Gym lights?
The 70-200 f2.8 does and excellent job. It's just that most of the gyms that I shoot in I have to bump the ISO up to 1600 to get at least Tv 320, then I have to deal with more noise. But yeah, it is an excellent lens for indoors.

[jevidon]

better post something fast quasiphoto, you're stuck on post 666....

[liza]

Excellent job, Quasi! The facial expressions and peak action are perfect.

[QUASIPHOTO]

Excellent job, Quasi! The facial expressions and peak action are perfect.
Thanks Liza, it will be sad to have volleyball over with.

[volleybrad]

Great shots, Quasi! I love some of the facial expressions you got! I've been trying to get some more of that myself lately. It always tells a better story. :)

[superdiver]

These are inspiring! I felt the excitement just reading them...great job!