Vollyball positioning

[aram535]

So last year, I was asked to cover a couple of Division III Girls Volleyball games. I had never shot one before, it was an experience. Thinking that I needed to get face shots, I found a high perch about 20' in the corner of the court where the videographer was.

I shot all four games from there using either a 70-200 f/2.8 or 300 f/2.8. In my opinion none of the images were up to my normal expectations, I delivered what I could, and I could tell that the school wasn't trilled with them either. However surprise, surprise they signed up me for 10 games this season.

Any thoughts on what the proper positioning/lens is? (keep in mind that the lighting is horrible, f/2.8 at 1600 ISO gets me around 1/640th.

I have added a 135L to my lens line up, but it's not long enough for the perch and not short enough for the floor. I guess I can go sit in the stands, but that's not a good option as they're pull out stands and anyone walking is going to shake the whole thing.

If anyone is interested I can post some samples, but as I said, nothing special.

[Sibil]

keep in mind that the lighting is horrible, f/2.8 at 1600 ISO gets me around 1/640th.


I can't help with your question, but that I call a bright gym. I wish I could get half that much light when shooting basketball.

[lauderdalems]

Yes that is a bright gym. Most of the time I'm at ISO3200 just to get a 320 ss. Back to VB, I like shooting from (a) the floor at center court behind and to the side of the officials and (b) end of the court. The only place I can shoot off the floor is side court bleaches.

Lens - Most of the time 70-200 2.8, 85 1.8, and sometimes even the 50 1.4

[lauderdalems]

Also if shooting from the floor watch out for some hard hit balls. Had one miss my head by 4 inches last weekend.

[vetkrazy]

I also shoot small college volleyball. I shot mostly from the floor, moving around gives me many different angles. I shoot either sitting on the floor by the net posts or standing at either end line. I normally use the 85mm when sitting on the floor looking for digs. For blocks and slams I stand near the posts or a couple of steps into the stands to get level with the net. I will use the 135mm at the end lines looking for the single block or group block and to zero in on the corner hitters.

I wish I had your light. To get 1/640 at ISO1600 I am at f/2.0 or 2.2. I had good success earlier in the year at the state basketball finals with my then new 5DMK2. I plan on giving it a good trial at volleyball this fall, season starts Wednesday.

[MJPhotos24]

Move around and test it out - see if they have a scrimmage to go work before one of your hired games so they don't get those images but you get to test new things. The light in gyms is always bad, yours isn't too bad. I'll be using strobes this year if I shoot v-ball at the college level so will be all over. Think low as you can go to high as you can get.

[aram535]

Thanks for all of the posts, here are I hope all of the reponses:

-- Not allowed to used strobes or flashes -- in any NCAA games ( according to the University). Only pre-wired, pre-tested strobes are allowed, and only when NCAA has approved them and the "school's" photographer is not allowed to use it, only ESPN, AP, and somebody else I can't remember. [I actually found the PDF from ncaa website and it does say that.

-- I've been told that I'm not allowed in the "red" area which is a 2' section on either side of the court where the refs are (net and floor refs). Right behind that is are the benches and desks so I would have to sit on the bench or behind the desk.

-- 85 1.8 might be an option, I guess the 135 is probably too long if I'm going to sit at mid-court .. unless I concentrate on the far post rather than the near.

[clarence]

-- Not allowed to used strobes or flashes -- in any NCAA games ( according to the University). Only pre-wired, pre-tested strobes are allowed, and only when NCAA has approved them and the "school's" photographer is not allowed to use it, only ESPN, AP, and somebody else I can't remember. [I actually found the PDF from ncaa website and it does say that.

Here's the PDF for DIII VB Championships...
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/volleyball/2008/3_wvolleyball_handbook.pdf


Strobe Lights
No strobe lights shall be installed in an arena without the expressed consent of the
host institution. Requests for installation of strobe lights must be approved by the
committee, the event’s media coordinator and the NCAA championship manager.
A maximum of three sets of strobe lights may be installed at an arena, upon approval
of the volleyball committee representatives, for media agencies requiring immediate
news coverage under the following priorities:
1. The Associated Press, Reuters and the NCAA. If all agencies request strobe lighting,
they shall pool one set.
2. Sports Illustrated.
3. A single pool unit for all other media agencies, installed and administered by USA
Today. If USA Today does not use a strobe, the media coordinator shall coordinate the
activity.
4. Should Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, Reuters or USA Today not install
strobes, the strobes shall be administered and pooled at the discretion of the media
coordinator.
No single agency may install more than one set of strobes at a site, regardless of the
number of units that will be used.
The pool strobe unit is not available to photographers who have been assigned
feature profiles for current or future publications (e.g., a photograph of a player, coach[/LEFT]
or fan; any book on the sport, the championship or a player, coach or fan; or a magazine
desiring photographs for the next season’s preview).
Any installed strobe unit may not exceed four clusters of strobe lights producing a
maximum of 3,200 watt-seconds at any championship site. All strobes must flash at a
duration of less than 1/2,000th of a second.
All hanging or installed strobes must be placed as close to the playing surface as
possible, depending upon the physical structure of the arena, near the corners of the
playing surface. All strobes must be installed and tested, if necessary, at the site 24
hours before the start of the event during which the strobes will be used. The committee
representative(s) will grant final approval relative to the installation of strobes.
If the physical structure of an arena prevents a media agency from meeting these
specifications, the agency may petition the committee for an exception. This written
request and explanation shall be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before
the event.
No other strobes, including hand-carried units, are permitted in the arena, and no
strobe or any other photography equipment may be placed on, or be attached to, the net, pole or referee’s stand.

I'm not sure if the regular season is as strict... usually a lot less media attention at regular season D3 VB, especially for non-ranked schools.

Here are the non-Championship Rules:
http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/2008OshkoshVolleyballRegional/CollegeVolleyballRules.pdf


1.4.5.2 Strobe lights are allowed. Courtside flash photography is prohibited
within 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) of the court. Flash photography outside the
2-meter area is allowed unless it presents a safety hazard.

[aram535]

Yeah that's it. :-) I meant SI, not ESPN... AP and SI I can understand, but why does USA today gets special treatment?

[vetkrazy]

And how many times have you seen AP or SI at DIV III or lower? In 40 years I have never seen them in our gym! Our league officials will throw you out of the gym for using flash. You get one warning then the game is halted until you leave. The photogs for our local paper won't shot without a flash, so they come in and get a couple of shots before the officials kick them out.

[DDCSD]

Yeah that's it. :-) I meant SI, not ESPN... AP and SI I can understand, but why does USA today gets special treatment?

Largest national newspaper (by circulation), operated by Gannet (largest newspaper publisher in the US).


You did notice that those are only the rules for the Championships, right? Did you see the second link posted?

You may want to educate your SID.

[aram535]

I'll check with them, in my media guide it says all games though.

[clarence]

You did notice that those are only the rules for the Championships, right? Did you see the second link posted?

You may want to educate your SID.

I tried to emphasize Championship vs non-Championship rules above.

Even better, here is this year's rulebook directly from the NCAA site:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/VOLLEYBALL_RULES_FINAL2d715c10-5258-4718-b394-0847b6cb962e.pdf

The rule allowing flash photography is the same (page 16)...


1.4.5.2 Strobe lights are allowed. Courtside flash photography is prohibited
within 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) of the court. Flash photography outside
the 2-meter area is allowed unless it presents a safety hazard.

[aram535]

Oh I see your point. Sorry about that. I'll check with the Athletic Director, he is the one who gave me my packet, and I'll forward the notes above to him.

[clarence]

For some reason, the stricter NCAA rules (for Championship games) come up several more times in searches than the standard season rules (where flash photography is allowed).

It's quite likely that the AD's office googled it and used the first hit. So just make sure they refer to correct publication:
http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/VOLLEYBALL_RULES_FINAL2d715c10-5258-4718-b394-0847b6cb962e.pdf

[PhotosGuy]

I shot mostly from the floor, moving around gives me many different angles. St. Louis vs. Breckenridge Volleyball District Tournament 11/7/2008 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=599506)

Our league officials will throw you out of the gym for using flash. You get one warning then the game is halted until you leave. I've seen that happen with direct flash. Some refs will let you use bounce, though.
No more excuses about high ceilings and bounced flash (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=451770)