Ice Hockey

Joe T

Joe T

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Good morning one and all

Last night I went ot my first ice hockey game. I must say I quite enjoyed it. The Milton Keynes Lightnings beat the Solihul Barons 7-2.

I didnt take my camera. But as you can imagine, I spent the first half an hour sitting there trying to work out the best way to shoot it! You know, thinking about angles, shutter speeds, postions, lens choices etc etc! I seem to do this whenever I go to something new, even if I dont have my camera! :shrug:

Anyway, I might go another time with my gear. So my question is, has anyone shot this particular sport before and could offer any hints, tips or tricks? With such a fast moving game, it doesnt look easy!

Anyway, thanks for reading. :)
 
Played against the barons many times, and usually beat them :D

Best place to be to take shots of the action is on the ice, padded up and in a practice session. But you need to be a bit of a nutter to do it :bonk:

But your right Joe its a great game to watch - even better to play - As for shots slightly to the side of the barons net might have been a good place. The glare from the boards doesn't help but Its a bit like shooting at the zoo through a glass.

Think Jewel took some shots a while back of her son playing peewee hockey, so she might have some good ideas.

Allan
 
Thanks for the reply. :)

Would you advise going shooting from floor level through the glass plastic, or trying for a postion higher up? At the MK Leisure Plaze rink there is a small balcony up above the main seting area. There was one guy with a DSLR up there, and another with a camcorder of some sort up there last night. Looked like it could be a good place to shoot from given that you will bout of the way, and would get a good view. However, I dont know ifthe angle would work so well.

I was thinking a 70-200 2.8 would be ideal. Shame I dont have one. The 120-300 2.8 might be a big long (and heavy) for this work.
 
Keltic Ice Man said:
Think Jewel took some shots a while back of her son playing peewee hockey, so she might have some good ideas.

Allan
Click to expand...

I'm the wrong person to ask,lol I just point and shoot and hope for the best,lol or at least I did at that time when I had shot those pics of my boy on the ice. They are alot slower than the big boys as well,lol :D

I would definitely get as close as you can though, I dont' think going up high would be the right angle imo.

Cheers and good luck Joe! It is a great game innit!!! :D


Jewel
 
An IS/VR lens won't really help, you need faster glass to freeze the action. Many moons ago (and when it still existed) I worked at Richmond Ice Rink and would shoot the hockey every now and then. TMAX 3200 was a great film for it, gave a nice gritty feel. Might be worth bumping the ISO and processing to B&W with a decent amount of contrast to get a similar effect.
 
Joe T said:
then I will be very very tempted indeed to buy the 70-200 VR. :D
Click to expand...

Any excuse Joe ... as if we need an excuse ... :lol:

Not done this sort of thing but seen it on tv and it is fast .. very ... :eek:

For me I would think low down shots are gonna be the best approach from what limited knowledge I have of the sport ... :shrug:

Any chance you can have a word with the management/coaches and spend a bit of time in the penalty box ... or is that no use at all ... :thinking:

Anyway ... good luck with your quest Joe ... look forward to seeing the results ... or a pic of the new lens ... :D



:p
 
I would spot meter of the players with the lightest coloured jerseys and go full manual w, I'd also think about a custom WB setting. I would have said a lower vantage point would be better but I presume you will be shooting through perspex/polycarbonate so there well be scratches and marks on there.

Looking forward to seeing the pics, I presume you are using the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8?
 
Thanks hacker

I might try full manual at some point when I have got into it.

Ive got the 18-70 and the 120-300 2.8. Neither are perfect for the job. The 18-70 will be good for when the action is literally the other side of the perspex though. The 120-300 2.8 is a bit heavy, so Im thinking of using a monopod and pouch. Yes my intention is to shoot through the perspex - there is a raised platform (primarily for wheelchair viewing) that doesnt get used too much so I might try that. The angle may not work tho. We shall see.

Im tempted to stand at one end rather than at the side of the arena so that the length of my lens is less of an issue (i.e. the action is on average further away)

Re WB, I will be shooting raw so any further adjustments can be made letter if necessary. I do need to try a custom WB smetime - have never actually set one yet.

Im off now. Cya later.
 
Any news, how did you get on?
 
I went to see Nottm Panthers vs Mancs Phoenix last night, was thinking about this thread as a watched... I was sat so I could see just over the 'perspex' screen, but I guess would need a very fast lens to stop the action (no flash allowed). The 'official' tog was down by the halfway line across from me, big mutha of a white lens on his camera... would be interested in seeing your pics, Joe.

Oh if anyones interested, Phoenix won 4-3 in overtime.
 
Hi guys, just got home ;)

The game was good. MK Lightning won 11-2 in the end! Bit of a whitewash!

There was even less light than I though. I had to crank the ISO up to 800, and I was still only getting shutter speeds of 1/160-1/400 at f2.8.

I found a spot on the disabled viewing platform where I could see over the perspex. This helped the shots alot, but the angle wasnt great - its better to be down and low.

I think I filled 4 memory cards at 158 photos each....

I used my monopod pouch and it was absolutely perfect - It allowed me to swing the lens wherever I wanted. :)

I havent looked at the pics yet, but Im sure that when I do they will need a fair bit fo work - I had exposure compensation at -2/3rd to retain highlight detail, and the noise at iso 800 wont be nice!

Anyway, I will look at the pics later but I must say that I really enjoyed shooting this subject and hope to do it again soon. :)
 
thats pretty damn good you know!! :)

hope the rest of them turn out well mate. did you find it quite hard working out what settings to use with the glare from the ice and the ad boards??
 
Yeah your first posted shot is pretty good. If the rest are anything like this then you'll have some crackers :)
 
Very good shot, looks great here too :thumbs:

Look forward to seeing alot more of these :D
 
Nice one :thumbs:
 
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