NHL Shots

[FrankTheKnife]

Hi,

First time poster, be gentle.

It's been now 2 weeks since I got my first "real" camera. Its been a long 2 weeks of reading and it seems I have a long way to go. But I wanted to share some pictures and hoped that someone could tell me where I went wrong. I tell you the seats were outrageous, maybe too good since I have to shoot through the boards. This is the first time I've used the camera outside my house (Its been too cold to go outside). When I got there and sat down, I panicked. It seemed like I forgot everything I read, darn it. The players seem underexposed and the ice is overexposed. I used my 50 1.8 and 28-135 IS.

Any advice appreciated for next time. Although I'll probably never get seats anywhere near these.

Thanks,
Frank

[FrankTheKnife]

Here's 2 more.

[sageone]

I think the last shot is your best. You are too far away in the others to really capture the feeling of the shot. However, I shoot a lot of sports stuff and I know that it's hard to get good hockey shots unless you have free reign of the entire rink or you have a nice long lense. I'm not a fan of shooting through the glass either...but in a rink, sometimes that's your only options.

Good first post.

[FrankTheKnife]

I was thinking that I would crop the longer shots especially the ones cwith the action around the net but at ISO 1600 the shots were real grainy.

[sageone]

I was thinking that I would crop the longer shots especially the ones cwith the action around the net but at ISO 1600 the shots were real grainy.

Yea, some cropping would help. Rinks and gyms typically have poor lighting and I'm always fustrated shooting in them because using the flash when shooting sports isn't an option in my opinion. You lose the effect you're trying to get.

When I'm in a rink with poor lighting, I'll go to a 800 ISO and shoot on manual. Sometimes I'll under expose the shot just to get a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. You obviously lose some light to the shot, but sometimes you can find a balance that you can live with.

[FrankTheKnife]

Thanks Sageone. I was all over the place as far as settings go. I have some shots at ISO 400 and was able to get 1/500, but the picks were still grainy. I need to find one and 100% crop it then post. I'm just wondering if the glass I was shooting through caused some of my pain. I also was supposed to set a custom WB but of course I forgot to do that.

[sageone]

Thanks Sageone. I was all over the place as far as settings go. I have some shots at ISO 400 and was able to get 1/500, but the picks were still grainy. I need to find one and 100% crop it then post. I'm just wondering if the glass I was shooting through caused some of my pain. I also was supposed to set a custom WB but of course I forgot to do that.

The glass could most def. be a cause of some of the grain in the shots - not much, but you are shooting through roughed up, thick glass that's meant to keep 120 mph rubber pucks from smashing fans faces.

I say mess around with the settings in Tv and M modes with ISO combos and see what you come up with. Visit a local skating rink or head to a high school hockey game for practice. Luckily enough, I work at a high school so have plenty of opportunities to do so.

[ranchonodinero]

The pictures are good, but the seats are phenomenal!!

Just curious, did you use IS or turn it off?

[FrankTheKnife]

I started out using the 28-135 w/ IS on. But I quickly changed to the 50 1.8 since I was sitting so close. I couldn't shoot anything on the other end of the ice because there was a huge glare from the boards. So I accepted the fact that I would only shoot the action in front of me.

Here's a 100% crop and slightly edited - http://fjsconsulting.com/cropped.jpg

I just went back and took a better look at the 200+ pictures I took and the ISO 400 definetly look much better. But still grainy.

[sugarzebra]

The face off picture is great Frank; as long as he's not blocked by another player it might me nice to see all of the goal tender. Your seats are terrific.....in Toronto they would be about $400/seat....if you could get them!

[FrankTheKnife]

I was pleasantly surprised when my brother-in-law handed me the ticket. $120 face value. I guess the the Islanders aren't as popular as your Leafs. But I say, Lets go Rangers!!!

[Croasdail]

Yeah - I was going to say..... screw the shots... look where the seats were! Nice Brother-on-law. But yes, some fun shots you got there too.

[FrankTheKnife]

Yeah, it was a good night, limo ride, several cases of beer, and dinner afterwards - all for free - well I will have to be nice to him at Christmas dinner now.

If only my pics would have came out the way I wanted the too! That would have made it perfect.