Before and After — Houston AVP Tournament
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Another shot from the 2009 Houston AVP Tournament.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (at 73mm)
Composition and Processing
- Shooting doubles, you can get some pretty good diving passes by standing close to the net on the opposite side from where the other team’s hitter favors. That mean’s the blocker for the defending team is on that side too (seen in the original here facing back to the camera) and her partner is likely going to be digging the shot along the far sideline or across the diagonal. Or in this case, due to either a cut shot or deflection, diving in the general direction of the camera. My point is that it’s a position to shoot from where a high percentage of shots have the subject in profile or facing the camera. The only shot you miss is if the other team rolls the ball high and the defender has to chase it down away from the camera (although if they’re fast enough, they’ll be orienting their body back toward the net when they pass).
- Tilting the crop gave it a little more room for the subject to move (into the upper left corner) but also exaggerates the reach and makes the pass look more difficult than it is. I’ve got the player more toward the bottom half of the frame too as a result, since she’s both looking up and trying to pass the ball in that direction.
Original:
February 20 2012 06:31 pm | Photography