Club Volleyball Open Seeding Tournament

I've been dying to put my new kit in action... Recently switched from 1D3 to 5D3 and using a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, rather than shooting with primes at f/2. This venue only allows shooting from one end of the courts, and really bad lighting, so tough shooting.

Most are at ISO 8000, 1/640s, f/2.8... processed in Lightroom 4. The autofocus on the 5D3 blows away anything I've shot with before. I used sports mode 2 and 9 point zone. I've shot in this venue many times and always came away with so-so stuff. I am very pleased with my first outing with the 5D3. The fewer fps didn't leave me lacking.

One huge difference is the greater depth of field at f/2.8. At f/2 either the of fence or defense player is out of focus every time. At f/2.8 there's are still some cases where one isn't as sharp as the other, but they are much better than at f/2.

Another thing was that people were walking through my field of view almost constantly. I have sequences where the focus was kept on the player through a frame of blurry spectator walking through.

1.

Great action, they really look intense

You might want to up the shutter speed some not to get so much blur on the ball. I find volleyball a challenge to shoot. Also it has been pointed out to be in the past that you might want to fixed the horizontal horizon as the net appears to be crooked. Those were things that were pointed out to me when I was doing vball.

Good volleyball shots are a delight and these are a joy to view. Well done!

Special cheers for #1.

Phil

I like these. Volleyball is very hard to photograph and you did a great job with these.

seaninsa wrote in post #15376935
You might want to up the shutter speed some not to get so much blur on the ball. I find volleyball a challenge to shoot. Also it has been pointed out to be in the past that you might want to fixed the horizontal horizon as the net appears to be crooked. Those were things that were pointed out to me when I was doing vball.

Given that I was shooting at ISO8000, not a whole lot more shutter speed I'm going to get. I'm not that concerned about a little blur on the ball, as I think it adds some show of action, much like panning cyclists and cars to get wheel blur. I'm really more concerned with getting the players stopped as much as I can, but again, if an extremity shows a little movement I'll take it if the rest of the shot is sharp.

As for the horizons, did you get a ruler out or something? They look pretty straight to me. I'm not sure if you've shot volleyball, but there is usually not a way to get everything perfectly straight... there are numerous horizontal and vertical lines going on and you are usually shooting at an angle, so there is some keystoning of the rectangles. I already leveled these, but am curious what you finding to be grossly out of alignment? I usually see those comments when people post shots that are wildly out of level.

convergent wrote in post #15377645
Given that I was shooting at ISO8000, not a whole lot more shutter speed I'm going to get. I'm not that concerned about a little blur on the ball, as I think it adds some show of action, much like panning cyclists and cars to get wheel blur. I'm really more concerned with getting the players stopped as much as I can, but again, if an extremity shows a little movement I'll take it if the rest of the shot is sharp.

As for the horizons, did you get a ruler out or something? They look pretty straight to me. I'm not sure if you've shot volleyball, but there is usually not a way to get everything perfectly straight... there are numerous horizontal and vertical lines going on and you are usually shooting at an angle, so there is some keystoning of the rectangles. I already leveled these, but am curious what you finding to be grossly out of alignment? I usually see those comments when people post shots that are wildly out of level.

Yes I have shot vball. Surprised you had to go up to ISO 8000. I use my 70-200mm at f2.8 and can get the shutter up to 800 or 1000 depending on the gym. Here are my women's vball galleries:

Women's Volleyball

seaninsa wrote in post #15377707
Yes I have shot vball. Surprised you had to go up to ISO 8000. I use my 70-200mm at f2.8 and can get the shutter up to 800 or 1000 depending on the gym. Here are my women's vball galleries:

Women's Volleyball

Nice. Looks like you are shooting college level, which likely has better lighting than old high schools and other such youth venues.

The place I was shooting was similar to a YMCA... not exactly setup for photographers. Eight courts jammed in together with large curtains separating them. The only viewing was from end of each court, and the walkway was between the spectator area and play... essentially walking through the edge of the matted playing area to get from one court to the other.... keeping in mind that during a tournament there is constant movement of teams, coaches, and parents from court to court.... all through my field of view. And, the lighting in there is pretty bad, but similar to most high schools - 1/500s, f/2, ISO3200-6400, depending on the gym. So being able to use f/2.8 glass and get these results was a vast improvement.

Shooting in a high school gym is much better because you can easily move along the side of the court to get different angles on the action. I was pretty much stuck in one spot, seated, and couldn't move at all during the matches. If I tried to stand up and move, I'd have been directly in front of other people until I sat again, and there were no seats available once a match started. Short of them turning out the lights entirely, or having a large person stand directly in front of me for the whole match, it couldn't have been much worse conditions to shoot.

The one exception to this was #5, which I was able to snag from another team playing on a court that was open on one side. The team I was with never played on that court unfortunately. I think I took about 20 shots from there on the way from one court to another.

Zivnuska wrote in post #15377606
Good volleyball shots are a delight and these are a joy to view. Well done!

Special cheers for #1.

Phil

Thanks, a perfect example of hitting it off the block... ball destined for out of bounds and a point on the board for the red team.

convergent wrote in post #15377945
Nice. Looks like you are shooting college level, which likely has better lighting than old high schools and other such youth venues.

The place I was shooting was similar to a YMCA... not exactly setup for photographers. Eight courts jammed in together with large curtains separating them. The only viewing was from end of each court, and the walkway was between the spectator area and play... essentially walking through the edge of the matted playing area to get from one court to the other.... keeping in mind that during a tournament there is constant movement of teams, coaches, and parents from court to court.... all through my field of view. And, the lighting in there is pretty bad, but similar to most high schools - 1/500s, f/2, ISO3200-6400, depending on the gym. So being able to use f/2.8 glass and get these results was a vast improvement.

Shooting in a high school gym is much better because you can easily move along the side of the court to get different angles on the action. I was pretty much stuck in one spot, seated, and couldn't move at all during the matches. If I tried to stand up and move, I'd have been directly in front of other people until I sat again, and there were no seats available once a match started. Short of them turning out the lights entirely, or having a large person stand directly in front of me for the whole match, it couldn't have been much worse conditions to shoot.

The one exception to this was #5, which I was able to snag from another team playing on a court that was open on one side. The team I was with never played on that court unfortunately. I think I took about 20 shots from there on the way from one court to another.

Granted I was shooting college it is just junior college and the gyms suck trust me. I was shooting for the school but other people were down the sidelines and as long as you were out of the way they allowed us to move around.

Well since you described the conditions I can understand why the high iso.

Hey, nice shots. I too like a little motion on the volleyball, but I also tend to shoot more around 1/320 to 1/400 with my 1d3. and also, I think that's where the 1d3 can help with the crowds because of the size, and since I like to shoot burst, it's usually heard by people walking by

disneydork06 wrote in post #15385513
Hey, nice shots. I too like a little motion on the volleyball, but I also tend to shoot more around 1/320 to 1/400 with my 1d3. and also, I think that's where the 1d3 can help with the crowds because of the size, and since I like to shoot burst, it's usually heard by people walking by

Haha... actually the 5D3 with grip is a little larger than the 1D3, and a little heavier too. With the heavier 70-200 II, its a handful. I suppose you could use it to club your way into a spot you want to get in.

I like #4. The geometric design formed by the right elbow of the hitter coupled with the parallel lines of the blockers arms, "dotted" by the ball is unique. No kidding, I like it!

LOL! Now throw in another body, 1Dx or 1Div with a f/2.8, 300mm and fatigue will set in about the 3rd or 4th game, w/or w/o monopod. (And the "clubbing" becomes even more prevalent.) Keep up the wonderful work.

convergent wrote in post #15386223
Haha... actually the 5D3 with grip is a little larger than the 1D3, and a little heavier too. With the heavier 70-200 II, its a handful. I suppose you could use it to club your way into a spot you want to get in.

clubbing is also good. do you use your lens hood? It helps me push people out of the way without hurting my filter

seaninsa wrote in post #15378252
Granted I was shooting college it is just junior college and the gyms suck trust me. I was shooting for the school but other people were down the sidelines and as long as you were out of the way they allowed us to move around.

Well since you described the conditions I can understand why the high iso.

Having been around the club volleyball scene for a number of years, I have to agree with Mike and say that it is much easier shooting in real gyms even if the lighting is not very good. A lot of club ball is played in warehouse type facilities on plastic tile floors and with only about three feet of space on each court side. Throw into that the large curtains that separate the courts, the highly reflective color floors, cycling lighting, and you have shooting conditions that are a PITA even when the light is good. I'd rather shoot in the worst gym any day over the club facilities.