Indoor sports and lessons learned

[Tom W]

I took a few indoor volleyball shots yesterday.

I learned a few things, and did a few things right. I set the ISO to 800, and used the center focus only prior to the match. I took a few practice shots and decided that the only way to get enough shutter speed was to underexpose slightly (I'll try 1600 next time and expose properly).

I learned that I need to pre-focus and wait for the action to come to me. Knowing that the tall person at the net has a better chance of seeing action is helpful, but certain players are more apt to get involved regardless of height.

I learned that I really could use a faster lens - most of my shots were at f/4.0 or 4.5. I have a 50 mm 1.8 but it doesn't focus fast. As it turns out, that focal length would have worked OK here. Most of these shots ended up at 1/90 second, which doesn't quite stop action (though it does give a cool blur effect on the ball sometimes).

I learned that the 10D is pretty clean at 800.

I learned (unfortunately) how to focus on the wall behind the players with some consistency :D

I learned that I lean 2 degrees to the left when I take pictures quickly.

Anyway, here's a couple of the better ones. I'm always open for more suggestions.

http://home.comcast.net/~trwilk3/Images/Jimmy_In_Action.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~trwilk3/Images/Net_Action.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~trwilk3/Images/Net_Action2.jpg

[GenEOS]

here are some expamples of truely underexposed images of volleyball,
looks like you might have had to wear shades at the gym you were at...:-)

I don't have the option of 1600, these were shot at 1000asa, f2.8 on the D60.

http://www.tunstall.cc/galleries/103103_dickinson_vb1/index.htm

[sds4kst8]

Tom, all things considered, I think the shots are pretty decent. I can't believe you shot those at f4 or 4.5!! That's amazing. GenEOS must be right...did you have to wear sunglasses in that gym?

I've shot in several area high schools and haven't been able to shoot anything less than f2/8, ISO 1600. I think the 10d is still pretty clean even at 1600, but I've not been please at 3200 (only tried it once...didn't like the results).

Keep up the good work.

[figment]

I suspect my photosensor may be canted to the left some... I've seen this when shooting architecture from a tripod...idunno...

[DaveG]

The first thing that I'd reccomend is that you sit on the floor. A lower angle will produce more dramatic shots. When you are sitting on the floor, shoot THROUGH the net at the players on the other side. This is the only way that you will consistently get faces - rather than the backs of heads - in the shots.

Manual focusing your 50 would be a very good idea too; since the camera won't know if you want the player or the net in focus, so YOU'LL have to make the choice for the camera. Shoot at shutterspeeds no slower than 1/500 of a second. If you can't get there, go do something else.

If you are trying to shoot defensive players digging the ball be prepared for a long afternoon. One of the tactics of the offensive team is to hit the ball where the defence least expects it. So if the defensive team has no idea where the ball is going to go, how is the poor stupid photographer going to figure it out? So you concnetrate on one player and hope that eventually the ball will get hit to them. Assuming that you are happy with your AF this would be a good place to use it.

[GenEOS]

You can get there with more than 1/500th. Al be it difficult, it can be done. Due to the iso limit of the D60, I can't "get there", but have captured a few good shots per assignment.

I am in line for a 1DmkII and I am really looking forward to putting these situations behind me.

Chasing the ball will be a bit more easy with a reliable AF system.

[Tom W]

Tom, all things considered, I think the shots are pretty decent. I can't believe you shot those at f4 or 4.5!! That's amazing. GenEOS must be right...did you have to wear sunglasses in that gym?

I've shot in several area high schools and haven't been able to shoot anything less than f2/8, ISO 1600. I think the 10d is still pretty clean even at 1600, but I've not been please at 3200 (only tried it once...didn't like the results).

Keep up the good work.

The gym was pretty well lit, I shot at ISO 800, and I shot RAW, deliberately underexposing by 1/2 stop to get the shutter speed up a little. I then corrected the exposure and used regular tungsten balance to bring exposures back in line.

The biggest problem was that I was only getting 1/90th second for most shots, and 1/60 for a couple. That's a little too slow to really stop action so I have quite a few fuzzy shots. My focal length ranged from around 50 mm to about 80 mm, but I was right at courtside for this.

[Tom W]

The first thing that I'd reccomend is that you sit on the floor. A lower angle will produce more dramatic shots. When you are sitting on the floor, shoot THROUGH the net at the players on the other side. This is the only way that you will consistently get faces - rather than the backs of heads - in the shots.

Manual focusing your 50 would be a very good idea too; since the camera won't know if you want the player or the net in focus, so YOU'LL have to make the choice for the camera. Shoot at shutterspeeds no slower than 1/500 of a second. If you can't get there, go do something else.

If you are trying to shoot defensive players digging the ball be prepared for a long afternoon. One of the tactics of the offensive team is to hit the ball where the defence least expects it. So if the defensive team has no idea where the ball is going to go, how is the poor stupid photographer going to figure it out? So you concnetrate on one player and hope that eventually the ball will get hit to them. Assuming that you are happy with your AF this would be a good place to use it.

Thanks, Dave. This is the kind of stuff I was looking for. I had decided that it is best to try to pick a spot and be pre-focused and ready before the ball is even served - then I can wait for the action to get there. But you're right, its hard to predict where the digs and such are going to happen (though in this league, "dig" takes on a little different meaning).

1/500th isn't likely with the lens I was using, but with my 1.8 and 1600, I can definately get there. And I'd have to manually focus the 1.8, since it is very slow at autofocus and a little inconsistent as well (a true USM 1.8 50 would be very nice). Manual would probably have been a good idea with my zoom as well, given that I have several really sharp shots of the opposite wall.

[sds4kst8]

Tom, it's tough to image trying to stop any kind of indoor action with 1/90 or 1/60 shutter speed. I'd agree with DaveG that 1/500 would be great, but I've just not been able to get much past 1/250 or maybe 1/350 in the conditions I've shot in. Even 1/250 would be much better than 1/90 or 1/60.