Volleyball Technique

Quick question for those of you shooting volleyball. How do you follow the action?

I shot a few photos today and tried holding my camera up at the ready pointing in the direction of the receiving team while watching the serve. Once I had an idea where the ball was going I picked the player that I thought might field the shot and focused on them. This work OK but I was just wondering if you have a better technique?

Thanks in advance.

Wide angle then crop. Unless you get lucky and choose the right player your gonna be panning which makes a nice clear shot of the ball and nothing else.

My best advice is to get to know the game, eventually you'll get a feel and can often anticipate the action, its even better if you can follow a single team for awhile.

I often follow a player and wait for the action to come to them, or watch the net for action coming that way.

Personally I dont crop my images much and the odds are that with volleyball you'll be indoors and shooting at the lowest possible aperture so if you try to shoot wide and then "crop" you'll have very little in focus. You need to nail the focus on the action.

Thanks. I did select two players on opposite sides of the court (same team) and would try to see which side the ball was favoring and then shoot them.

I will just have to shoot more.

When I shoot Volleyball, I shoot with both eyes open, one on the frame of the picture, the other on the game. Also you can get ques from the players, the way they move, or anticipate the ball coming to them, and then again I think the ball is moving that way, only to find it went somewhere else.

Bryn

I also try and shoot with both eyes open since the setter's goal is to be unpredictable.

The main thing, as pointed out earlier, is that you need to learn the game so you can anticipate the best you can. For example, when their is a bad pass, the setter has to really run to get the set up, the majority of the time it is going to the left side. I camp out then and wait for the ball.

Practice, practice, and more practice. Also look at other photographer's pictures and get some ideas on different angles.

Well, a "few photos" isn't going to do it unless you know the game, & even you're going to have throw some away because you'll miss that "dead on" focus for a lot of shots.

It's good to have had a plan! I like shooting through the net.

Links: St. Louis vs. Breckenridge Volleyball District Tournament 11/7/2008

What lenses do you guys shoot with when photographing volleyball?

Not only knowing the game, but knowing the tendencies of the team and its players is important to me. I'm lucky enough to shoot for a school so I get to know the players over their four year careers, but it helps tremendously.

Today I shot solely with my 70-200 2.8 but we have some unique angles that I can use that work great with that lens. Also the 50 1.8, 85 1.5, and 135 f2.

psuphoto09 wrote in post #8753262
What lenses do you guys shoot with when photographing volleyball?

In most gyms I use the 85mm f1.8 because the lighting is poor. In a better lighted gym 85mm & 70-200 f2.8