tom kf4wol

I attended my first Volley Ball game where I tried to capture some photos. I have a lot to learn about the sport of Volley Ball for sure.

Appreciate any, and all input, suggestions, do's, don't do.

I really had no idea where to position Myself @ age 79 I did not feel comfortable roaming around. I did muster up the courage to wobble up to the very top of the bleachers near center court where the net is position. Thus I was shooting down varying zoom from 85mm to 200mm range.

I used My Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 lens, Auto ISO with top setting of 8,000, shutter speed 1/840, and some @ 1/1000, f stop 2.8 most of the time, tried f3.2, and f4 when I dropped the shutter speed.

I left Camera in Auto Mode for Color Balance. Our local gym as I suppose all are very orange coloring. Using raw most color settings were between 2800k - 3000k. (Not happy with a lot of the photos due to orange skin tones. I have used grey cards, and white coffee filters in the past to set Pre-Color Balance, not with great success.)

Everything I read of course says shoot tight, and no face, no ball = no photo. If that is the case I failed miserably.

Excuse my rambling, but that is the basic of what I understand.

Thanks in advance for feedback.

Tom

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Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Nice work for the first time. Volleyball is a very hard sport to shoot. You did it.

jacklewis014

Agreed - VB is hard to shoot; if you get the ball and player you generally aren't close. I am impressed that your shots are not grainy with the high ISO and shooting wide open. As for positioning, you picked one of my favorites - high in the stands. That will give you a chance to capture play around the net and still see the faces. I also sit on the floor at about mid-court and shoot players digging balls before they hit the floor. My other favorite location is behind the end line. The team on the other side of the net is facing you and with you 200mm you can get some nice shots at the net. Auto-focus will be a challenge as the camera will zero in on the net, not the player. Use the Back Button to set focus on the legs of the person you want to shoot then reframe the shot. VB lighting is tough - poor lights in the gym, high gloss floor reflecting overhead lights, lighted scoring table, when shooting up from floor the lights themselves come into play. Almost makes each shot unique.

I think you did very well. Color balance is always a challenge for me. My best results have been getting to the gym early and shooting the grey card (which I place hanging on the net) from each location I plan to shoot my pictures. Then post process like crazy.

I hope you keep shooting and keep posting. I will enjoy seeing your progression to excellence!!!

tom kf4wol

Thank You very very much I will copy Your post to have with me as a check list.

I do shoot using Back Button Focus. I plan to go to a game next Tuesday it is the last home game for our Local High School Kids. And I shall try to follow the things You suggested.

I really appreciate You taking the time to provide Your input.

I continue to learn a lot from good folks like You on this Forum.

Thanks.

tom

tom kf4wol

Thanks Jules,

I found Volley Ball to be tough for me. As related by the person in the post below, I noticed focus kept trying to lock in on the net even with me using back button focus, continuous mode.

When I got to the Gym, I was really wondering where in the heck should I try to be to take photos.
In our Gym they only had the bleachers pulled out on the side where the Ref., the other side of Gym Bleachers were rolled back to wall. I thought about trying to wander back, and forth along the court. And would have if more mobile at least for a few shots. I decided to risk climbing up to top bleachers, and parking my butt in one spot or in an area I could slide a few feet to either side of the net.

You are always supportive, please don't be shy to give me feedback.

I have learned a lot from good Photographers/Good Folks like You on this Forum.

Later.

tom

jacklewis014

Tom - please post your next set of pictures - and most importantly, have fun!!
Jack

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

The second shot is so totally epic! All the charismatic grace of a ballerina latent within... and my goodness, with the volleyball perfectly positioned... masterful indeed!

Yes the Nikon D3s is likely the very finest tool for this task, hands down... it is still widely used by indoor sports shooters for precisely this reason... it's iconic high ISO performance is off the charts... I've tried to find a "mint" use one... no luck, they are not readily available and likely for compelling reasons...

As for color balance like jacklewis014 said, 18% gray card (or similar) shoot from multiple angles...
However I've had lots of "luck" with the White Balance Eyedropper in Camera RAW when processing indoor events... You've lots and lots of white surfaces to average out on... even the volleyball... White socks work... etc...

"...I did not feel comfortable roaming around..." possibly a result of dragging the 1344g D3s with a 1500g 70-200mm f/2.8 beast... A myriad of volleyball shooters go at it with a fast 85mm... Have you considered the AF-S 85mm f/1.8G? at 350 g it's feather light! Not only that it is less than one quarter the price of the 70-200 it gives you way over an extra stop of light.... Hands down the D3s is a superb choice for volleyball, especially with a fast AF-S 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor...

btw, orange color casts are easily removed with a blue & -red(cyan) curves tweek... simply adjust to taste... might be wise to get a color wheel, readily available at any art supply store... All art major have them... once you learn color theory color balance in post is a cake walk...

Keep in mind that indoor gym hardwood floors are primarily ORANGE! and the bounce light everywhere... Likely the causative agent involved in generating an orange color cast... the bear is masking out unaffected areas before applying a "fix" It's never easy, but in time it becomes more and more doable... maybe that's why experience shooters get stellar results?

Hope this helps Tom...
Looking forward to more of your wonderful volleyball renderings...

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Agree with Thomas. You have the right tool for the job - the D3S excels in low light situations.

Very good first effort!

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

What are your thoughts of using a D4 vs D500 for Volleyball?

jacklewis014

Jules - I have a D4 and it is excellent for indoor sports - VB, Basketball, Gymnastics, Swimming. I can't compare to the D500 as I have never worked with one. But I can and will highly recommend the D4. Coupled with a f2.8 lens, it is great in lower light and high ISO - manages the grainy look well. I use single point focus and auto focus is very fast. With a 70-200mm it is a beast, but that's may only drawback.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Great to have an opinion, thank you. I will try that combo next week.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

My thoughts are pretty much based on DxOmark's sensor scores...

Jules the D4 is rated at 2965 for sports while the D500 is rated at 1324 for sports (a.k.a. low light)
The iconic D3s is rated at 3253 for sports (which is virtually equal to the Z6)

My D3 and D810 are rated at 2290 and 2853 respectively...
While the D7200 is only at 1333 just slightly higher than the D500

For indoor sports (or any indoor events for that matter) low light performance trumps everything... For sports motion blur is the bane... thus if you can't shoot at 1/1000 (or thereabouts) you need faster glass or better low light performance (which ever works best for your particular needs).

btw, I'm still looking for a "mint" D3s... would take it over the Z6 for my work albeit the Z6 is an awesome tool for weddings!

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Thanks sir Thomas for your expert thoughts.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

You have taken on quite the challenge! Lighting in these gyms is the biggest
obstacle and white balance is tough. I set it in the camera to flourescent
and just adjust it in Lightroom later. I think post processing is a must
for high school gyms and volleyball. You had pink uniforms to shoot also
which is tough! Feel free to read these two posts, I think you will find them
helpful. Please reach out at any time, I love shooting volleyball!!

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-611847-1.html

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-555333-1.html

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Many thanks for your wisdom and sharing your epic captures...
Lots and lots of valuable expertise here...

Both of those threads have considerable merit...
btw, how do your set your D7200 AF tracking sensitivity?
Have you found a "sweet spot" for this yet?

Thanks again 67skylark27