How to Photograph Volleyball

Photographing a volleyball match can be difficult but rewarding. There are a number of variables to consider including where to take photos from, the type of camera to use and what settings to have the camera on. The biggest rule to remember when photographing volleyball is to not use a flash. It distracts the players and is unnecessary when the camera is used properly. When a photographer has mastered all of the variables, capturing that big hit or that incredible diving dig is very rewarding.

Things You'll Need

  • SLR digital Camera
  • 70-300mm zoom lens
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Instructions

  1. Getting Started

    • 1
      Photos of serves is one of the best ways to practice timing your photos.

      Buy a single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera if you don't already own one. Having the right camera is crucial for capturing a clear, in-focus and bright volleyball photo. A simple point and shoot camera will not be effective in getting a quality shot. An SLR allows a photographer to take photos more precisely and to take multiple photos in a short amount of time, making it easier to capture that moment when a player comes in contact with the ball.

    • 2
      Zooming in close to the subject brings the viewer into the action.

      Pick a place near the volleyball court to start taking photos from. A photographer has a number of options of where to take his photos from. The most common place is on the opposite side of the court to where the team you are taking photos of is. This is possibly the best place to get a shot of that game-winning kill. You can also capture a player diving to make that game-saving dig. However, for photos of a set or serve it's best to take photos from the same side of the court.

    • 3
      Setting your SLR digital camera to TV mode is the best for sports photography.

      Set your camera on TV mode. Once you have gotten into position, it is best to take some test photos of players warming up or of the referee. When photographing in a gymnasium, your camera should be set on the TV setting and the ISO speed should be set to 1600 to 3200. This allows more light into your camera's lens when taking a photograph. Your camera's shutter speed should be around 320 to 400, depending on the lighting in the gym. Take some test photos before the match starts to see what works best. Every gymnasium is lit differently. The lower the ISO speed, the less noise a photo will have, while a higher ISO speed, will create more noise in a photo. The shutter speed depends on how fast objects are moving with the faster moving objects requiring a higher shutter speed to prevent blurry images.

    Snapping Away

    • 4
      Volleyball can be one of the most challenging sports to take photos at.

      Keep the camera close to your eye so you can get that once-in-a-match moment. When the first serve has been hit and you're ready to start clicking, it is important to keep your camera's viewfinder close to your eye. After a couple points you will get a feel for the pace of the game and be able to anticipate where the ball is going.

    • 5
      Photos with players from both teams are always good.

      Move the camera around. With a sport like volleyball it is crucial that a photographer is moving his camera from vertical to horizontal and back again. If a player is going up for that big hit, you'll want a vertical shot to get as much of that player's body in the photo. For a shot with multiple players blocking a hit at the net, a horizontal photo is probably the way to go.

    • 6
      Getting images in focus can be a challenge for first time sports photographers.

      Continually press the auto-focus button. Auto-focus is a photographer's best friend while photographing volleyball matches. Continually press the shutter release button halfway to keep the camera in focus. Failing to do so will result in late photos and out-of-focus images.

    • 7

      Review your photos. When you have a free moment, look back at the photos you have recently taken and make sure the lighting is good and you are timing the photos. If you are having trouble timing a hit or a dig, try anticipating more and clicking sooner. Try, try, try.

    • 8

      Get faces in the photos. Faces are the most important part of a photo. If you have a great image of a player hitting the ball but it's from behind, it is unusable. People want to see a player's face when she is making that kill in a pressure-packed situation.