CIS National Womens Volleyball Championships...(56K warning)

[3oh6]

well i finally got some time to get a few pics from last week up here. Saskatoon, SK and the U of S put on a perfect event from the press conference to the party saturday night. all my questions (and i had a lot) were answered by the media relations people and from talking to the rest of the photogs and reporters everyone was treated equally regardless of the size of lens.

i am posting more photos than i normally would to avoid starting multiple threads, but if someone has an issue with the amount of shots, let me know and i will narrow it down. after all it was a total of 12 games and extra curriculars from a whole week narrowed down to 13 pics...i think i did fairly well ;) as usual any feedback is always appreciated, why else would i show them if i didn't expect to hear what you think...

my ladies did quite well finishing 5th which was the best they could have after a horrible first round game...none the less 5th in the nation sits fine with them
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/040305_01222.jpg

love and appreciation from a parent after a game makes it all worth it...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/040305_01296.jpg

i didn't shoot much net action due to angles but the shots i did get turned out decent...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050303_01151.jpg

there seemed to be almost this much excitement after every point all week...it was quite an experience shooting this much emotion...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050304_01331.jpg

i wasn't lying...i could have taken shots like these all week long...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050303_01214.jpg

http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/040305_01243.jpg

so cute and such a monster at the net...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050303_01175.jpg

http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050305_01458.jpg

http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050304_01377.jpg

http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/040305_01245.jpg

sherbrooke winning their match to advance to the final...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050305_01477.jpg

and their opponent in the final was ubc shown here winning their semi...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050304_01337.jpg

but the most important photo of all...its not always about the sports you know...
http://3oh6.com/forum_posted/050304_01345.jpg

all images were shot with my 20D and either the 135mm f/2 or trustworthy 85 f/1.8. ISO1600 in this dungeon and i had to underexpose slightly to even get 1/500. needless to say i shot in manual and ran images through noiseware to clean up after brightening in PS. any other questions regarding equipment or settings feel free to ask away

[PhotosGuy]

Good work!

[aam1234]

Excellent photos (and good looking girls)

[rbush83]

Great shots 3oh6, very nice.
I assume each lense was shot wide open? Can you briefly describe the difference focal length makes in indoor sports? I'm thinking your 135 vs. 85, and perhaps the nifty 50 even. Is the 50 just too wide for this type of thing?

[3oh6]

thanx guys. yes rbush83 anytime you have to under expose for a specific shutter speed, as was the case here, you better be wide open :) i could have bumped up to ISO3200 but, i just dont like to go that route and with a slight under exposure i could get less noise after bringing it up in processing than with ISO3200.

generally with indoor sports your shooting at the largest aperature your lens will allow as light is at a premium. once in a while however i do have to close up the 85mm to f/2.2 as with harsh overhead light i will get purple fringing on the peaks of white jerseys. this 135mm f/2 however is sharp wide open with no issues what so ever...it is a really nice lens, now if i just didn't have to send it to canon servie with my camera to correct the back focusing issues it is experiencing (but that is a beef i have with canon that should not be brought up here).