Ice skating baffle

[vyellon]

My daughter is taking figure skating lessons. I like to take some nice pictures but having under-exposer problem. Lighting is very poor in the rink. I have to shoot at 1/90 to avoid blur since the skaters are always moving (some time fast).

I am using EOS-D30 with 28-70mm 2.8 L lens and no flash. Even when I open the lens wide open with ISO 200, still under-exposed.

I also try using higher ISO, 400, 800 and 1600; exposure get little better but still slightly under-exposed and lot of noise start to show.

Anyone have suggestions for different ways of shooting and/or any tips in Photoshop? Do I need a faster tele lens?

I saw on bhphoto.com 2 lenses which I can afford:

1. Telephoto 100mm f/2.0 EF USM Auto Focus Lens for USD 470.

2.Telephoto 135mm f/2.0L EF USM Auto Focus Lens for USD 900.

Are they good lensesand will they solve my delima?


Thank you very much.

[kd6lor]

I am wondering if the problem you are suffering is a result of white ice and darker subjects. I suspect this because you say that when you push the camera to ISO 1600 it is still dark. The exposure may need compensation, not necessarily a faster lens.


BTW what the heck happened to ASA? Is this like Zulu, Greenwich and GMT?

PJ

[philgabe]

Vyellon:

Even if the light is poor, I find it hard to believe that you would underexpose the whole picture at 1/90, 2.8, using ISO 1600. And I'm also surprised that 1/90 would "freeze" (no punt intended) the action on the ice (skating is pretty fast sport). I agree that it doesn't sound like it's a lens issue, but rather an exposure compensation issue. Have you tried to autobracket your exposure? Another thing that came to my mind is the white balance issue. Do you get accurate colors or is there some kind of color cast?
If you could post an example of a picture straight from the D30 (no Photoshop manipulation) with the shutter speed, ISO and f/stop information it would help determine what the issue is.
I shot last week the commencement ceremony of the new bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America in Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago: very very dark, no flash allowed. I shot most of the pictures at ISO 400, 1/125, f/3.5-f/4.0, exposure compensation +1. I would be surprised if your ice arena were darker than that church. I suspect it's not darker but much more challenging for the camera because of the the white ice and light reflection.

Cheers!

Philippe

[vyellon]

Thank you all for your comments.

It turned out (I found out) that they dim the light down during practice in order to converse electric consumpsion . They think that the white ice reflection is bright enough for practice. Brighter for hockey though, but dimmer for figure skating. This is life in California, US :(

In preparation for the competition tomorrow, they turn the light up a bit this week. And I'm told that the skaters will have spot light on them during performance.

Yesterday, I took a few shots with the brighter light condition and able to shoot at 1/125, 2.8, ISO 800. Please, view a sample here: http://www.shuttercity.com/ShowPhoto.cfm?AcctID=2217&PhotoID=25716

Best,