Volleyball

[Stina]

Here are a few from a volleyball playoff game. Feel free to give suggestions and edit any of the photos to help me improve.

Canon Rebel XT
70-200 f4 L
iso 1600
f4 1/160

[Stina]

a few more

[gtownsportsmom]

I love your volleyball shots. I take basketball and cheerleading competitions and am doomed by poor lighting. Do you Neat Image - or noise reduce another way?

[Stina]

I just started using Noise Ninja and really like it. It really works well I like that there are pre set profiles for download that I can use while I learn the program.

I get to take more photos of this team tonight they play in the Regional Quarter final game to see if they advance to the Regional tournament.

[SmartWombat]

Nicely exposed, sometimes it can be really difficult indoors.
Looks like you're reduced to using a slow shutter speed, so the motion blur is really noticeable, gives a great sensation of the movement.

#1 is hard to spot when you take the shot, but maybe aiming a little higher and not cutting the referee's head off would be better. I'm not sure because the centre of the action is the players. I wonder if a tighter crop would improve it?
#2 is a great shot, perhaps it would be better with all of the blocker, but the timing is great.
#3 is good, but I get the feeling she's about to get a ball in the face and I know that's not what is happening.
#4 is really nice though, tight crop and the line of their heads leading to the ball.
Do you have another shot like #5 but taken as she hits the ball?

[Stina]

I didn't even notice the referee head until you pointed it out I'll have to watch for that in the future. I really was lucky the gym for the playoff games had better lighting than most but I still had to shoot at 1/160 iso 1600 to get these. I have one similar to #5 as she hits the ball but the focus is not quite on so I didn't post it. I think four is my favorite of the bunch.

[JSPhoto]

Stina,
I wouldn't let the officials head being cut off bother you too much in that angle as he is standing on a ladder and is higher than the players. If you zoom out enough to get him you'll get more of the crowd too, and loose some of the action. It's a radeoff that papers will be more than happy with, and so would parents..

Shooting VB is a pain. Gym lighting is not too good, but being up higher you get some extra light reflecting off the floor. Also try shooting from the ends though and low from the side. Low from the side is better done on the side the official is up on the ladder, otherwise your shooting through the official.
you did pretty well on these though Stina, keep it up.

JS

[Old Timer]

Some great action here Stina. I think these look great for 1600. Much better than I have been able to achieve at 1600 indoors. I may have to start thinking seriously about getting Noise Ninja as well.