Any ideas about this girls volleyball picture

[SJH Foto]

Hello again everyone. Here is an action volleyball shot which I really like. Now be brutal in critiquing it, because if there is something "wrong" with this image, I won't know what about my technique needs to be revised unless you tell me. Sorry about not being too specific-I just don't know if anything can be improved-except perhaps sharpening a bit-but it's hard for you to tell with a low-res, small image.

Here are the details: It was shot with a Canon 40d at 1/800sec 500 mm f/2 at ISO 3200. I used photoshop elements 2.0 on it, and had the camera set on Aperture Priority with + 2/3 stop exposure compensation. (In those gyms sometimes you get better shots by shooting a bit brighter) Oh, I also use the Pattern metering mode.

Here's a question, does the appearance of #3 behind the girl doing the action add to the image, or detract from the action?

Please help, again, your brutal yet tactful comments are always appreciated, since as Yoda told Dooku "Much to learn, you (meaning me) still have"

[SJH Foto]

OOPS! I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT YOU CAN SEE MORE OF MY PICTURES ON MY WEBSITE www.sjhfoto.com

[thatedeguy]

I love how you can see the impact on the girls forearm as the ball hits. Great Capture! Biggest thing that I noticed is that your image focus is off. I gathered by the comment you made that the #3 in the back isn't the subject of the shot. However, she's centered in the shot. When I look at the shot, the girl in the foreground is a secondary subject. A crop to move the foreground girl to more of a centered position might fix that and make the #3 girl move a little bit more out of the frame and less of a distraction.

[smc1377]

First, do you know how to use the IMG tags? Since you have your own website, just surround the web address of your jpg with the image tags and they'll show up in your post. That way, you don't have to do attachments.

Second, you don't need your shutterspeed to be that fast. You could bring it down some more and still be able to freeze the action. This will then give you liberties to come down with your ISO to decrease noise or come down with your aperture to increase depth of field (if you wish to do this).

The gal in the background doesn't detract attention for me. It actually adds to the picture. It gives me more of a sense of what's going on.

[Apophis]

First, do you know how to use the IMG tags? Since you have your own website, just surround the web address of your jpg with the image tags and they'll show up in your post. That way, you don't have to do attachments.

Second, you don't need your shutterspeed to be that fast. You could bring it down some more and still be able to freeze the action. This will then give you liberties to come down with your ISO to decrease noise or come down with your aperture to increase depth of field (if you wish to do this).

The gal in the background doesn't detract attention for me. It actually adds to the picture. It gives me more of a sense of what's going on.

agreed,on your picture noise is very visible,and it's DISTRACTING me,and at hard...my 2 cents worth
yeah,the girl in the Bg gives more activity... :d
....i just want to confirm it.. D:D:D

[Wen-d]

Any sports under any lights are difficult to shoot. You look like you've got positioning figured out, since knowing HOW to shoot something doesn't matter if you don't know from WHERE to shoot. I wonder if shooting at +2/3 exposure comp is necessary since the bottom portion seems to be a bit blown out. I have found that if I'm shooting in A-priority that my shots benefit from a curves adjustment (specifically midtones) in photoshop rather than messing w/ exposure comp.
I agree that the action is well-captured, and I'm not distracted by #3 in the back. It gives purpose and direction.

[Joe the Photog]

It's cropped awfully tight and the action leads to the left, but the girl in the foreground is all the way up to the left side of the frame. In the TV business, we call this nose room or lead room. It's disconcertingly tight for me. It's cropped tight on the bottom, too. Even if you wanted to leave the one leg cropped out, the bottom of her shoe on the other foot is very close to the bottom of the frame.

Basically, I'd loosen up on all sides, esp. the left and the bottom.


Joe H.

[SJH Foto]

I'm sorry-I don't know what you mean by IMG tags. Also, alas, my website is in flash, so I don't think I can link to a specific picture-at least that's what my tech guy says-I don't know much about this stuff

[cziz]

It's cropped awfully tight and the action leads to the left, but the girl in the foreground is all the way up to the left side of the frame. In the TV business, we call this nose room or lead room. It's disconcertingly tight for me. It's cropped tight on the bottom, too. Even if you wanted to leave the one leg cropped out, the bottom of her shoe on the other foot is very close to the bottom of the frame.

Basically, I'd loosen up on all sides, esp. the left and the bottom.


Joe H.


I agree, too tight of a shot. By loosening up on the left you will give an answer to where the ball is going to go, or for some, where it came from. It would have been neat to have a bit of the net in there. I do like #3 in the Bg and the concentration on both of their faces showing dedication and discipline. Maybe a landscape shot would have been better to give more movement to the scene. Great timing! Love the "skin ripple" as contact was made.

The shot you have titled "Praticesmall" is a good example of giving people an idea of where the ball is heading or the obstacles the athlete is going to encounter.

[SJH Foto]

I'll try doing that too. Actually, I began cropping tighter after people suggested that on this forum! LOL! I guess there's no right or wrong with that-just a matter of taste.

Are the other pictures on my site cropped too tight as well?

I agree, too tight of a shot. By loosening up on the left you will give an answer to where the ball is going to go, or for some, where it came from. It would have been neat to have a bit of the net in there. I do like #3 in the Bg and the concentration on both of their faces showing dedication and discipline. Maybe a landscape shot would have been better to give more movement to the scene. Great timing! Love the "skin ripple" as contact was made.

[ditch_azeroth]

it might be tricky, but for shots like this, try the spot metering mode on your 40d. exploit it ^_^ - it will help a bit.

[SJH Foto]

I'll have to try spot metering sometime.

Any more comments anyone? Like I said, critiquing one of my "best" shots helps me grow

[HockeyFan]

It was shot with a Canon 40d at 1/800sec 500 mm f/2 at ISO 3200. I used photoshop elements 2.0 on it, and had the camera set on Aperture Priority with + 2/3 stop exposure compensation. (In those gyms sometimes you get better shots by shooting a bit brighter) Oh, I also use the Pattern metering mode.


I photograph hockey games in similar lighting. I never go above ISO 1600.
I usually shoot at 1600 with a shutter speed of around 1/160th or maybe a little slower, and the lense wide open. This gives minimal noise, good capture of action, and good lighting. Obviously, considitions at your games may vary, but I would strongly suggest trying ISO 1600 to reduce noise.
Other thant that, you have a great eye for sports photography.

[SJH Foto]

Oops-did I say I used a 500mm lens? Sorry, it was a 50mm.

[Canadian Mum]

I would like to see the girl bumping the ball more as the centre of attention... I do like the player in the background... keeps the game "active".
I think what is off for me is the expression on the girls face. Her expression is empty. I know that is out of your control... but to me she doesn't look like she is "into the game".

[SJH Foto]

Thank you again for your suggestions! I'm applying many of them, and I think they do make a positive difference! I'll post some more soon-I just kind of wanted to wait for another sport. All I've been shooting lately in sports is volleyball.