What this means is that a good sports photo should be shot so tight that you can literally see the sweat dripping off of the players face. Concentrate on the face and on the action. Nothing in the background to distract of the intensity of the image.

It’s a mantra I strongly agree with.

Heelan’s Jamie Buchmann hits the ball during Heelan vs Marion semifinal round action in Class 3A of the 2009 Iowa Girls’ High School State Volleyball Tournament played Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa…….Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds

However, after shooting three days of nonstop volleyball – I’ve been covering 10 teams – I was longing for a little change of pace. Because after the first day, all the photos tend to look the same. And that’s not doing my job.

Usually I shoot state volleyball with a 300mm lens from above and about 30 feet behind the back out of bounds line. Sometimes I mix it up with a 80-200 with a 1.4 teleconverter, but it’s usually all telephoto, all of the time.

I do carry a 14-24 wide zoom but usually only put it on for the tight celebration photos after a state championship game. You know the ones, players jumping up and down and hugging.

Today, for fun, I put that lens on and shot courtside at ground level for the final minutes of Heelan’s semi-final round game.

Here is the result:

Heelan players celebrate their victory over Marion in semifinal round action in Class 3A of the 2009 Iowa Girls’ High School State Volleyball Tournament played Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa…….Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds

And the night before, I shot up in the nose bleed section with the 80-200 sans teleconverter:

Western Christian’s Brooke Wolterstorff hits for a kill during Western Christian vs IKM-Manning quarterfinal round action in Class 2A of the 2009 Iowa Girls’ High School State Volleyball Tournament played Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa…….Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds

I like these photos. I think you still get the intensity of the action, but you get the bonus of being able to see the faces of the players not immediately involved. I love the expression of the player appearing to cower at upper right in the Western Christian photo and I love that the other players seem to be forming a circle around Brooke Wolterstorff.

It pays to mix things up a little bit when shooting sports. You relieve your own frustration with shooting the “same” photos day after day. And more importantly, you are able to show your reader images that add additional layers of context into the game.

I still love a good sweat-dripping sports photo, but sometimes tight ain’t right.

-Tim Hynds

(with apologies for butting into Jim’s blog)

Morningside’s Mitch Carstens runs down court after stealing the ball from Peru State’s Jovan Hitch during basketball action at Morningside College Friday, November 13, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I was surprised when I showed up to Morningside College and got one of the best parking spaces I’ve ever had when going to a basketball game there. Then I walked into the gym and found out why. Our sports department marked the photo assignment for 7:00. The actual game time was 7:30. But on the bright side I am paid by the hour.

I used both camera bodies with my 200/2 on one and my 85/1.8 on the other. Exposure was ASA 3200, 1/640 second at f/2.2. In the Morningside gym it does make a big difference if the game is played during the day or at night. During the day the windows can easily boost the light by about 2/3’s of an f/stop.

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Melissa Ploen (AKA Bustabitch Barbie) and Libby Claeys (AKA P.B.R) demonstrate a whip for the girls at Girls, Inc.

The Sioux City Roller Dames were at Girls, Inc. today skating with the girls and teaching them about the sport of roller derby. I’ve shot a few photos of the exterior of the new Girls, Inc facility at Cook park, but this was the first time I’ve shoot photos inside their new building. It’s an impressive facility, and a great place to shoot pics.

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Morningside’s Tanaeya Worden defends as Grand View’s Lindsay Hammon passes the ball during basketball action at Morningside College Tuesday, November 3, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I shot this photo at the Morningside basketball game tonight and I am still debating if I Like it or not. (Photo was taken with my 50D and 200/2 lens, exposure was ASA 3200, 1/640 second at f/2) I’d like to hear what you think of this photo, is it cool or is it crap?

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Heelan’s Nate Berger fumbles the ball as he is hit by Denison-Schleswig’s John Blum during football action at Memorial Field Monday, November 2, 2009. The ball was recovered by Heelen in the end zone for a touchdown.(Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

Heelan’s first touchdown of the game reminded me a bit of Iowa Hawkeye football. It ain’t pretty, but it gets the job done.

The Light at Memorial Field is rather ugly, but I still avoid using flash. Photos were shot with my Canon 50D and 200/2 lens. Exposure for most of the pics were at ASA 3200, 1/640 second at f/2. For some of the shots I dropped the shutter down to 1/500 in the darker areas.

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Kristin Sjobom and Gaby Martinez of the Polar Molars from Siouxland Dental Health participate in the Polar Plunge at Brown’s Lake Saturday, October 31, 2009. The event was a fundraiser for the Iowa Special Olympics. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

Every time I shoot the Polar Plunge someone asks me if I’m going to go into the water. Well, I would but luckily, er, I mean unfortunately my cameras are not water proof so I can’t. But I do have a lot of respect for the people who do jump in.

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Heelan’s Leisa McClintock reacts after scoring during volleyball action in LeMars Monday, October 26, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I don’t shoot at the LeMars High School gym very often. but it seemed a bit darker than I remembered. Photos were taken with my 50D and 200/2 lens at ASA 3200, 1/640 second at f/2.

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Jenna Mansker models a gown from Dave’s Bridal during the Bridal Fair at the Sioux City Convention Center Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

After the fashion show at today’s Bridal Fair, a woman came up to me and asked me if I got any good photos. I said the light was a bit tricky, but hopefully I got something decent. Then she tells me that from where I was at the only thing I was going to get were photos of peoples backs.

I suppose I could have explained how backing off with a longer lens provides a more flattering perspective for the models. And if I were to shoot from up next to the stage with a wider lens, which could provide some artistic shots, it also creates wide angle distortion which is not very flattering for the models. Plus I’d be at an angle where I’d be looking up their nostrils.

But since I know I have a tendency to not be polite to people who annoy me, I decided the best thing to do was just smile, nod, and keep on shooting.

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Briar Cliff’s Jonathan Smith defends as Northwestern’s Caleb Van Otterloo reaches for a pass during football action at Memorial Field Saturday, October 24, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

I like shooting sports on an overcast day. It gives me nice even light and I don’t have to worry about shadows. Just set my white balance to cloudy, set the exposure and shoot away. Photo above was taken with a Canon 50D and 200mm f/2 lens with a 2X Extender.

CLICK HERE for more photos form the game.

Heelan’s Brady Van Dusen tackles Sgt. Bluff-Luton’s Ross Chettinger during football action in Sgt. Bluff Friday, October 23, 2009. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)

Holy cow, Chettinger can jump. Photo taken with a Canon 50D and 200mm f/2 lens with a 1.4 Extender. Exposure was at ASA 3200, 1/640 second at f/2.8.

Click Here for more photos from the game.