67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

I've been shooting volleyball for just over a year now.
I'm making some good progress and get better
every outing. Seems it all comes down to gyms with
good light and access all the way around the court!

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Great lighting in that gym. Could you tell me about the lens and EXIF data, please?

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Nice work!

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

Pics are from three different high school gyms and it varies a lot depending on where you stand.
My favorite way to shoot is against a dark background oddly enough, I wasn't expecting that. Some
schools turn off all the perimeter lights and just have the court lit up, makes a nice effect.

Here's what I use for most of my settings:
D5300 with a 85mm f1.8 or 50mm f1.4 set at f2
ISO 1250, EV bumped up to +.3 or +.7 sometimes,
and as fast of a shutter speed as I can get 1/500th minumum
and 1/1000 if it's bright enough.
I use single center point, AF-C continuous rather than having multiple
points jumping around to the wrong player. I focus on one player at a time
usually and anticipate the action. Volleyball is fairly predictable, it's just a matter
of timing and not having players move and block your intended shot.
I keep the settings same then run all shots through Lightroom for cropping and enhancement.
I do try to get the exposure as best I can so there's minimal enhancement
but I typically have to bump up the exposure. I shoot large jpegs and not
RAW - the shots are shared via email and on Facebook so small file
sizes are fine and if a parent wants to print an 8x10 they look great.

I use the high shutter burst, but my first shot of the burst is usually
the keeper, if I could get more shots per burst that would help.

I will shoot RAW at the next game I think.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks for the plethora of information, Skylark. It appears that you shoot in Manual mode without a flash. I am going to try what you posted about using the 85mm on my D7100 as you did. I am also going to try to use my 70-2000mm, f2.8, 1/350, with my flash. Thanks again! Frank

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

These are really nice. Great colour and density.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Good work. I have shot volleyball too. I think it is hard to get a clean shot with other players. You have done a great job. My favorite is number two.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

You bet! Yes, manual for sure, no flash - it's never allowed in the gyms for sports.
I have borrowed my buddies tamron 70-200 f2.8 for this weekend, I'm just afraid
I will have to bump up the iso too high and not be able to get sharp photos,
or fix in Lightroom. I really want a d500 and might skip my planned upgrade
to a d7200 to get it!

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Looks good. I have switched to a Nikon 105/1.4 this season and find it a suitable for Volleyball. I also prefer 1/1000th but I shoot wide open (F1.4) to help control my ISO, which is set to AUTO. Manual mode here as well with either AUTO White Balance, of custom using ExpoDisk. Yes, it is harder to get nice crisp shots @ 1.4 as the focus has to be accurate. I figure if I spend the money on that fast lens, I should use it to my advantage. Keep practicing and you'll continue to improve. Best of luck.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

The second to last is the money shot. Well done.

david vt Loc: Vermont

#1 and 2nd to last are my favorite, but all are well done. Thanks for the details on the settings.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

Here's a couple more from yesterday. I used my buddies 70-200 f2.8 and while it was nice, there
just wasn't enough light in the high school gym to make the iso workable. I had to shoot at 1600
to get the speed up enough to avoid blur. My 85mm f1.8 shined again. I did use my new to
me d7200 I just picked up and I really love it! Just small jpegs this time. I did shoot a lot
of RAW as well. Again this weekend I could only shoot from one end, access to the side
is critical for getting more faces in the action for sure. The last one is heavily cropped,
all are run through Lightroom.

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AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Really like the concentration in the last one.

SENSORLOUPE

SENSORLOUPE

Super!!