Hockey "Sportraits"

[drisley]

These are more amateur hockey pictures taken at a very dimly lit arena.
Today I took some of the shots from on the bench, so no plexi-glass to deal with. It makes a huge difference to colour and clarity, and with no plexi, I was actually able to gain 1/3 stop of light!

Again, the cycle of the lights caused darker, and sometimes redder areas in each picture. Shutter speeds were 1/500s at F2.8, ISO3200. Behind the bench I was able to get up to 1/640s

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5244.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5276.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5379.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5395.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5440.jpg

[liza]

Very sharp and clear, especially given the fact that you shot them at ISO 3200! The third one is just outstanding. What kind of noise reduction software did you use?

[DavidEB]

#3 is your best hockey shot I've seen. excellent capture of action, outstanding facial expressions.

[drisley]

Hey, thanks very much Liza.
I did use some MILD Noise Ninja on some of them. By mild I set the Luminence Reduction to 5/10, and Color Reduction to 9/10.
There were a few images where I nailed the exposure, and they didn't need any NR at all.
The 20D is very good in this regard, and shooting with a white background really hides any noise.

DavidEB, thank you very much.I was pleased with #3. FINALLY, I got some action in a picture. Experience definately helps. Unfortunately that picture was shot thru the dirty plexi, so the colour and sharpness wasn't as good as it could have been. It was taken from the corner of the rink, right at the goal line.

[Croasdail]

For what ever goofy reason I like the second shot.

[drisley]

For what ever goofy reason I like the second shot.
Haha, thanks.
Then you may like this one too :)

http://images2.fotop.net/albums2/sharpnsmart/hockey12182005/IMG_5319.jpg

[TourDeFrance2006]

Great shots, been playin myself for 15+ years. What lighting was used? Was the ambient light your only source? If so, I am amazed at 3200 ISO. The sharpness is fantastic. I took some shots of a freinds son in a roller hockey game and they were really dim/yellowed and some blurry...oh well more to learn...your pics are very nice

[drisley]

TDF, thanks for commenting. Only arena lights were used, that is why I was only getting 1/500s shutter speeds at ISO3200.
You have to overexpose what the camera's metering wants to use because it will always underexpose due to the bright white ice. This, and an improper white balance, will give a yellowish look. Thru experience I have found that 1/500s works for this rink in most situations from behind the glass.