Volleyball Shots (Critique Please)

[daoliv]

I just upgraded my camera and took these last week. Let me know what you think!!!

[OldClicker]

David,

In the Critique forum you are going to get more of an 'image' critique than a 'sports action' critique. Nothing wrong with that, but if my try the Sports forum for more sports specific help.

I like the way you have all the action going forward and towards the ball on the first one. The coach looking on in a slight blur is nice though the blue shirt guy detracts. Also, I would crop off the half-player at the front. I know it's hard to get a good background in a gym, but always be thinking about it.

Terry

[AgingEyes]

On my monitor, the photos look a bit dark and so kind of hard to judge focus and sharpness. Easy fix in post-processing though. Most of the time, you want to see the face of the player that is the primary target, presumably that would be the player that is going to hit the ball in your photos. Sure you got the action, but if you want better photos, show the faces and the ball. Not saying you have full control in that regard, but just saying what would make a better photo.

[daoliv]

Old Clicker,

Thanks, I see what you mean by the guy in blue detracting from the scene. I can take care of that and it should present a better pic.

Thank you for the input

[daoliv]

Aging eyes,

Yes sir it may be your monitor. Always hard to get them set just perfectly. I do have some better face shots but from my vantage point it is hard to get a face on shot. I have thought about shooting through the net and have had some succes but sometimes the refs keep you in a place that will not allow me to get full frontal shots.

Thanks,

[daoliv]

I cut out the blue shirt guy and here is the pic. You were right although the half player was my daughter.LOL

[AgingEyes]

Aging eyes,

Yes sir it may be your monitor. Always hard to get them set just perfectly.

Haha...all right, you sound very confident. I suppose you knew there's a way to find out if the image has enough contrast and brightness, a way that is monitor independent.

Sometimes no matter what you do, you just do not have a good shot. It's just not there.

[OldClicker]

I suppose you knew there's a way to find out if the image has enough contrast and brightness, a way that is monitor independent.

I'm listening... - Terry

[armando_m]

Look at the histograms

The method has been mentioned by Greg McCary more than once, it is about making sure the whites are white and the blacks are black, this is done by setting the white point on the area that becomes blown by pulling the right side of the curve inside, and setting the black point where the shadows start to loose detail by pulling the blacks to the right, I then usually set the white to about 245,245,245, and blacks leave them at 0,0,0 unless the contrast is to much

I downloaded the first image, the highlights are about 10 points from my 245 target, and blacks about 10 .. 15 points above 0.

After the adjustment the image looks a bit brighter and with more pleasant contrast, the original is not really far from this points.

[GB1]

It looks a tad dark on my monitor too, say about 1/3 - 1/2 stop.

The shots here are not really keepers; good tries, but there's too much clutter and the angles are not the best.

Sports are TOUGH. I go to indoor VB games too sometimes, U of San Diego and try my 'luck' (since I don't seem to have any skill yet). I can't offer anything other than keep practicing.

That No. 7 gal looks familiar, like I've seen her play USD. Maybe she transferred from the west coast.

G