Zenit vs Dinamo-Ural: a three-set volleyball story through my camera

I like to arrive at Platonov Volleyball Academy before the noise kicks in. The court is still half-empty, balls fly in warm-up, and I’m already walking the baseline, checking angles. Being a sports photographer Saint Petersburg often means evenings like this: a men’s volleyball match Zenit Saint Petersburg vs Dinamo-Ural Ufa and a clear brief — solid match photography for clubs, media and sponsors.

Once the first serve goes up, the rhythm changes. The opening set turns into a real tug of war, ending 27:25, and I’m constantly choosing what to prioritise: the block, the server, or the coach losing his voice on the sideline. That’s where experience in sports photography helps — one wrong step and you get a perfect shot of the referee’s back instead of the winning spike. Zenit takes the set, emotions explode, and I’m already behind the bench catching reactions from both sides.

The second set feels different: Zenit controls the game, 25:15, and I move higher to show the whole system — powerful attacks, disciplined defence and the crowd behind them. In the third, Dinamo-Ural tries to bite back, the score ends 25:21, and the rallies get longer and more dramatic. My job here is to deliver a clean visual story of a 3:0 home win: celebrations, handshakes, sponsor logos, small details that matter to federations, clubs and brands who use these photos worldwide. That’s exactly the kind of work I offer when you need reliable sports photography coverage in Saint Petersburg.

See the full gallery with the best moments from the Zenit vs Dinamo-Ural volleyball match here: Zenit (Saint Petersburg) — Dinamo-Ural (Ufa).