First Volleyball Game for the local paper

[donek]

After supplying the local paper with a number of shots this summer, they asked me to shoot some sports. I did my first volleyball game last night. I don't expect a lot of feedback from the paper on these, so I thought I'd see if I could get some here. Please let me know what you think.

I did a fair bit of shooting with the fish eye.
http://donek.smugmug.com/photos/95010283-L.jpg

http://donek.smugmug.com/photos/95011260-L.jpg

I did a little shooting with the 50mm f1.4 from the edge of the net. It got me a faster shutter and lower ISO than the other f2.8 lenses. I was surprised that in many cases it was long enough to get a good shot. I probably could have bumped the shutter speed up to 1/500th.
http://donek.smugmug.com/photos/95009017-L.jpg

This was shot with the 70-200mm f2.8
http://donek.smugmug.com/photos/95014640-L.jpg

The rest of the photos I submitted to the paper can be seen here: http://www.donek.smugmug.com/gallery/1885818/1

[photodoug]

those shots lend themselves to fisheye use...number 1 is a fine shot.

[ian408]

Me too. I like the fish shots.

[donek]

Me too. I like the fish shots.

I've trolled around a bit and haven't found any similar shots. Is the use of a fisheye rare, or am I looking in the wrong place? Would love to know what I can do to improve the other shots. Ideas or examples of really good volleyball shots would be great. Something to emulate or inspire me to try something.

Thanks for the comments.

[Tee Why]

I like the first one the best. A very lively perspective and composition.

[CalexPhoto]

I've trolled around a bit and haven't found any similar shots. Is the use of a fisheye rare, or am I looking in the wrong place? Would love to know what I can do to improve the other shots. Ideas or examples of really good volleyball shots would be great. Something to emulate or inspire me to try something.

Thanks for the comments.
Great shots, I think, at least IMO that the fish eye is rarely used in Sports pictures and was very cleverly used by you in your pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[botanist]

I like the fisheye but as was said using it in sports is rare due to the unsharp/distorted nature of the glass.

I dig #1 the most. #2 is proof positive that the angle you choose for any SWA shot must be made deliberately depending on your purpose. While I think that's a great shot from an abstract point of view I don't think it lends itself well to sports. JM2C though :dunno

[FrankieAng]

I have a question to ask of those of you who have shot volleyball before, is an 85mm f/1.4 lens too much focal length if I shoot from the side court and or seating? I would think that it would be fine for shooting from the end court toward the net to catch players above the net, but I am curious if it is too much lens for side court shooting. Thanks for your opinions.

[donek]

I have a question to ask of those of you who have shot volleyball before, is an 85mm f/1.4 lens too much focal length if I shoot from the side court and or seating? I would think that it would be fine for shooting from the end court toward the net to catch players above the net, but I am curious if it is too much lens for side court shooting. Thanks for your opinions.

The third shot was 50mm from the edge of the net and then cropped further. I would think 85mm would be fine. I think you'll get a bit too much in the frame shooting towards the net, but it depends on what you're looking to get and how much room you have to crop. I think I'll spend at least 2 of the matches during the next game trying to get shots of the girls diving out of the court to get the ball. Your 85mm might be ideal for that sort of shot too.

[donek]

I like the fisheye but as was said using it in sports is rare due to the unsharp/distorted nature of the glass.

I dig #1 the most. #2 is proof positive that the angle you choose for any SWA shot must be made deliberately depending on your purpose. While I think that's a great shot from an abstract point of view I don't think it lends itself well to sports. JM2C though :dunno

That's interesting as I've seen them used a lot on snowboarding. I bought the lense specifically for sports. Here's a shot I got a couple years ago.
http://donek.smugmug.com/photos/26214848-L-1.jpg

[FrankieAng]

The third shot was 50mm from the edge of the net and then cropped further. I would think 85mm would be fine. I think you'll get a bit too much in the frame shooting towards the net, but it depends on what you're looking to get and how much room you have to crop. I think I'll spend at least 2 of the matches during the next game trying to get shots of the girls diving out of the court to get the ball. Your 85mm might be ideal for that sort of shot too.
Thanks Sean, I appreciate your thoughts. I plan to rent the 85mm and give it a try. I have heard that the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 can be difficult to shoot due to the DOF, but I am curious to give it a try. When I do, I will post some images for everyone's critique.