Volleyball pages from 40 1 f06 cjet

20 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

FALL 2006

LET’S PLAY A LITTLE GAME OF

Volleyball

BY BRADLEY WILSON

Professional photographers on the “prep” beat agree: “Indoor high-school volleyball might be one of the toughest things to shoot.” Then again, shooting fast action with little light of poor quality is always hard, whether the scene is a car wreck on a rural road or competition in a gym that has not been renovated since 1960.

The key is remembering the fundamentals of photography, including composition and techniques to achieve a fast shutter speed as well as the search for meaning beyond the surface of simply another volleyball shot.

Photo by Galina Barskaya, istockphoto.com

FALL 2006

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 21

FAST ACTION, LOW LIGHT SERVE PROBLEMS FOR VOLLEYBALL

W

History • Volleyball was originally known as Mintonette, first played on Feb. 9, 1895.

• The game was created

by William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education director.

• Originally, the game, consisting of nine innings with three serves for each team in each inning, could be played with any number of players.

• Women were originally allowed to catch the ball and then throw it back into play to protect their fingers.

• At the first exhibition match in 1896, the game became known as volleyball.

SOURCE: wikipedia.org

hen instructing his students about said. “During these interludes, timeouts, how to shoot pictures of volleyball, changing of players, etc., think about shots of Jeff Grimm, the photography instruc- coaches and of players on the bench.” tor at Trinity High School outside Fort Worth, Shooting volleyball is not simply about Texas, begins by saying, “Be professional at all shooting action. Reaction and inaction also times. This rule supersedes all others.” Then he make for interesting photos when full of emocontinues, “Follow the lead of any pro photog- tion. raphers as well as the demands of coaches and Grimm also offers insights concerning security personnel.” the technique of shooting the game, includHe does not mean that the coaches and the ing what ISO (International Organization for referees will always be right. Often they do Standardization) setting to use, what lens and not know the rules regarding photographers what shutter speed/aperture. or media person“In the time nel. That is why, prior to the game, he suggests, it is calculate the lowimportant to “comest ISO you can municate with shoot and still coaches and reffreeze the action erees before play with sufficient begins.” depth-of-field.

Photographers Rely on your meter should make and your mind,” contact with the Grimm said. coaches and with He explained the referees if for that photographers no other reason generally end up than to let the offishooting at 800 or cials know they 1600 ISO “because are there and hope the light is fairly to document the low.” action and the emoThough the tion of the sport. higher ISOs genPhotographers will erate lower-quality also find it helpful images, they allow to obtain a copy of photographers to the roster and to use faster shutvisit with the refter speeds. Also, erees about where using a fast shutter State junior outside hitter Sandy Werner they will allow Kansas speed, say 1/500 spikes the ball past a Colorado blocker Nov. 16 at photographers to Ahearn Field House. Werner had 12 kills to help the or faster, is critical Wildcats gain an upset win over the No. 24 Colorado to stop the action. sit or to stand.

“This varies a team. Photo by Chris Hanewinckel “Always shoot bit from person to person,” Grimm said. to freeze the action first and to get depth of “Never disagree or argue. You make life more field second,” Grimm said. miserable for later photographers.”

“Indoor high-school volleyball might be Instead, Grimm recommends that photog- one of the toughest things to shoot,” said raphers visit with coaches and with the ath- Paul Gillespie, a photographer at The Capital letic director later about conflicts or problems. (Annapolis, Md). “Here in Maryland you canThen he gives his photography students advice not use a flash, and the gyms are as dark that is sound advice for any sport. as caves. What I do is use the fastest lens I “Keep ready at all times, and observe all have.” areas of the action. Watch the action on the Gillespie explained, “I have a maximum court, and only allow yourself to be distracted aperture of) f/2.8 and adjust the shutter speed when the play is momentarily over,” Grimm and ISO to try and get something usable

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FALL 2006

Playing against archrival Cypress Creek (Houston, Texas), varsity player Lindsey Harvey spikes the ball across the net while playing middle blocker.

Photo by Brent Bunger

Terms

Vandebilt Catholic High School (Houma, La.) #17 goes for the dig against Terrebonne High School (Houma, La). Terrebonne swept the Terriers in three games. Photo by Matt Stamey

— usually a shot full of noise and a slightly motion-blurred image with bad color. I find myself shooting at 1600 to 3200 to try and stop the motion.”

Randy Janoski, a photographer with Janoski Photography in Chapel Hill, Tenn., said that one way to solve the lighting problem is to bring in mounted strobes and set them up around the gym, after working with the coaches well before game-time. Two inexpensive strobes, such as those made by White Lightning or Alien Bees, mounted on stands, are often enough to light half of the gym.

FALL 2006

“At collegiate matches we strobe the court from overhead and just as in basketball there is no objection,” Janoski said. “Also, as in basketball most floor/court surfaces are light colored so therefore you get some reflectance from your lights.”

Even with strobes, however, getting enough light is still a priority. Grimm suggests shooting with a lens that has a maximum aperture of at least f/2.8 to allow enough light to reach the sensors to permit the faster shutter speeds. He prefers using a medium telephoto.

“An 85mm lens is excellent for volleyball

Blocking: Players standing at the net take actions to stop or to alter an opponent’s attack.

Digging: Players use their skills to prevent the ball from touching their court after a spike by the opposing team.

Serving: A player stands behind the baseline and serves the ball, in an attempt to drive it into the opponent’s court. The main objective is to make the ball land inside the court.

Set: Usually a set is the second contact a team makes with the ball. The main goal of setting is to put the ball in the air in such a way that it can be driven by an attack into the opponent’s court.

Attack (or spike, the slang term): The hit is usually the third contact a team makes with the ball.

The object of attacking is to handle the ball so that it lands on the opponent’s court and cannot be defended.

SOURCE: wikipedia.org

Match summary: A team must win two of three games by being the first to score 15 points, or more as it is necessary to have a two-point spread. Score lists follow this pattern: Team A def. Team B 15-7, 12-15, 19-17. Text copy spells out defeated.

SOURCE: Associated Press Stylebook

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 23

The court Rules 2006 NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS Rule 1: Facilities and Equipment Section 4: Safety, Lighting ARTICLE 5. The court should be uniformly and adequately lighted. …

Strobe lights are allowed. Courtside flash photography is prohibited within 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) of the court. Flash photography outside the 2-meter area is allowed unless it presents a safety hazard.

Also, according to NCAA rules, “Media equipment and personnel are not allowed in front of the team benches, warm-up area, scorekeeper’s table or on the playable surface between the extended attack lines on the bench side of the court. In all other areas, media equipment and personnel must be at least 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches) from the court and, if space allows, within 1 meter of the boundary of the playable area.”

COURT: National Collegiate Athletic Association, ©2006

VANTAGE POINTS: Modified from Paul Guillory, ©2005

200mm or 300mm lens for serves

85-200mm lens for spikes, sets and blocks 85-200mm lens for digs

300mm lens for spikes and blocks

because it allows you to get closer than your actual location, and it is an excellent portrait lens for coaches and players on the side as well,” he said.

“When the opportunity avails itself,” Janoski said, “I often shoot from seating (the bleachers) at either end, a few feet higher than the players heads and use 300mm and 400mm lenses at f/2.8. Around the court, I use an 85mm lens at f/1.8 or f/1.2 and a 70-200mm, f/2.8 lens.”

Grimm’s advice does not stop with technique.

He also encourages photographers to look around for different angles and pictures that capture the action and the emotion of the game.

“Shoot from a variety of different camera angles,” Grimm said. “Shoot beneath the net, at the back end of the court, from beside the bench and take a shot or two from the stands when you aren’t courtside. Sit down so that you are less of a distraction and so that you can hand-hold a

24 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

slower shutter speed. The best photo is the shot of your team’s players going high above the net, on the opposite side from you, and hammering the ball back past the opposition.”

Steve McEnroe, a photographer with the Rapid City Journal in South Dakota, said it is easier looking for those creative angles at high schools than it is when shooting college volleyball games.

“I like to sit on the floor, beneath the elevated stand of the net judge,” McEnroe said. “This gives a lot different view than the usual shot from behind a team into the net. College officials won’t let you into the area.”

With everything from history of the game to terminology potentially having an impact on coverage of the game, Gillespie concluded with another sound piece of advice for any photographer covering any sport, “Learn the game....” n FALL 2006

Downey (Calif.) High School players cannot hold back emotions following a five-game loss to Santa Monica (Calif.) High School. Photo by Chris Hanewinckel Megan Kroeker celebrates after a fifth-game point to put Kansas State University ahead. The Wildcats battled Colorado to a five-game win. Photo by Chris Hanewinckel

Trivia • The ball is not less than 65 centimeters (25.6 inches) or more than 67 centimeters (26.4 inches) in circumference and shall weigh not less than 260 grams or more than 280 grams (9 to 10 oz.).

• The previously published circumference specifications of 25.5 inches to 27 inches will be allowed until the start of the 2007 season.

• The ball must be spherical with a flexible, smooth leather or leather-like cover of 12 or more panels with a separate bladder. It will be uniform and light in color, or a combination of colors; at least one-third of the surface must be white or light.

• The pressure of the ball must be between 0.3 and 0.325 kg/sq. centimeters (4.3 to 4.6 lbs./sq. in.).

SOURCE: National Collegiate Athletic Association, ©2006

The Terrebonne High School (Houma, La.) volleyball team members celebrate their three-game victory over H.L. Bourgeois.

Photo by Matt Stamey Kansas State University coach Suzie Fritz calls out plays against Missouri at Ahearn Field House. Photo by Chris Hanewinckel

FALL 2006

COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY • 25

Critique

Perhaps one of the most valuable skills a photographer can learn is how to critique a photo. And how to be critiqued. Below are four photos, all available on the JEA Web site in low-resolution format. Critique each of the photos on technique (focus, use of appropriate shutter speed and aperture, color, depth of field), composition (use of the rule of thirds, repetition of shapes, dominance) and meaning (looking beyond the surface for an unusual photo).

All photographs can be improved. What could the photographer have done to improve each photo?

Photo by Chelsey Collins (1/125 @f/4 at ISO1600)

Photo by Thomas Kaup (1/160 @f/5.6 at ISO1600 with flash)

History • It was not until 1900 that a ball was made specifically for volleyball.

• In 1919, American Expeditionary Forces distributed 16,000 volleyballs to their troops and allies. The widespread distribution provided a stimulus for the growth of volleyball outside the United States.

• The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) was founded in 1947.

• The first World Championships were held in 1949 for men and in 1952 for women.

• Volleyball was added to the program of the Olympic Games in 1964.

• Beach volleyball became a FIVBendorsed variation in 1986 and was added to the Olympic program at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

SOURCE: wikipedia.org

Photo by Thomas Kaup (1/320 @f/5 at ISO1600 with flash)

Photo by Matt Stamey (1/250 @f/5.6 at ISO400 with strobes)

26 • COMMUNICATION: JOURNALISM EDUCATION TODAY

FALL 2006

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