Shooting Volleyball with the Nikon D4 using available light

Nikon D4, 70-200 ƒ/2.8, ISO 12,800, 1/1250, ƒ/4

Today I shot a volleyball game with just available light. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the quality of the images were for shooting under sodium vapor lights.

The Nikon D4 is something I wish I had back in the 1980s.  During those years I was shooting sports every week for the daily newspaper that I worked back then. Now I only occasionally shoot sports.

While the Nikon D4 has the high ISO capabilities the new technology of vibration reduction also contributes to the photos being sharper than I can remember.

Nikon D4, 70-200 ƒ/2.8, ISO 12,800, 1/800, ƒ/4

White Balance Setting

To insure I got the best skin tones possible, I used the ExpoDisc.  I put the ExpoDisc over the lens and pointed it towards the lights in the gym.  I also slowed the shutter speed to 1/100 to be sure I was not catching the lights during a cycle.  After doing this for both of the Nikon D4 cameras, I cranked the shutter speed preference in the Auto ISO settings to 1/2000.

Nikon D4 Exposure Settings

  • Aperture Priority
  • Auto ISO
    • Lowest ISO 100
    • Highest ISO 12,800
    • Shutter Preference 1/2000

I also was using the Vibration Reduction on the lens to help improve sharpness due to handholding the lens.

Nikon D4, 70-200 ƒ/2.8, ISO 12,800, 1/1250, ƒ/4

With the Nikon D4 you also have auto focus setting as well to choose from. 

Auto Focus Setting for the Nikon D4

  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • 21 Grouping
  • Kept it centered and locked it
  • Focus Tracking on Long
  • Shutter on C-H 10fps
Nikon D4, 120-300 ƒ/2.8, ISO 12,800, 1/1000, ƒ/5.6
My Favorite Angle

This is my favorite angle for shooting volleyball. However, the one thing I would have loved even more was to shoot from a slightly higher angle. The reason for this would help me keep the net from trying to refocus my lens.

Why I like this angle is I can show the team I am covering. You can see their face expressions and while I cannot see the other teams faces, I can see the competition in the body language.

The good thing in shooting up a the players is it gives them this Greek gods feel.  I like athlete looking like they are bigger than life.  Shooting up at them helps to create this feel.

There you have it, my settings and secret weapon, the Nikon D4.