26 Jan hockey. From the bench!

[Lacks_focus]

Well, I finally got my butt on the bench to shoot some hockey. I like the improved IQ due to absence of glass, but I don't like the angles. The action is always going away from you. I like to get where I can see the players coming for the net. I did get a few decent shots in the neutral zone and a few shots on net I like. You just can't see many faces with the net shots.

While shooting this game, something popped into my head... We spend truck loads of money on fast lenses, fuss over which (if any) filter to use, worry about every spec of dust we see on the sensor or lens, and then we go to a hockey game and shoot through a 1/2" thick piece of crappy Plexiglas!!! Does this seem a bit crazy to anyone else?

A few pics. All shot in Manual 1/400, f2.8, ISO 1600, and in RAW. PP was adjust WB and push the exposure 2/3s in DPP. Resize and USM in PSE5. No noise reduction.


1.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795480-L.jpg

2.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795382-L.jpg

3.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795528-L.jpg

4.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795580-L.jpg

5.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795595-L.jpg

6.
http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795569-L.jpg

[DavidEB]

nice shots. I'd crop #3 close the subject & it would be fabulous. Skaters always look sharp on their edges.

...but I don't like the angles. The action is always going away from you...

ain't that the truth. D's and breakouts are the only times the skaters face you, and goalie shots.

[dlpasco]

I like #2 - it shows the lengths a player will go to avoid contact with the goalie (most of the time! ;) )

You must have pretty decent light in this rink.

Dan

[Lacks_focus]

nice shots. I'd crop #3 close the subject

Thanks. I went back to the RAW file to get it closer. It was already cropped from the original JPEG. I had to use a little Noiseware to clean it up.

http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125927500-L.jpg

[Lacks_focus]

You must have pretty decent light in this rink.



The light in this rink isn't terrible, but not what I'd call good either. I had to shoot RAW @ 1/400, f2.8, ISO1600, and then push it 2/3s in DPP.

I like #2 - it shows the lengths a player will go to avoid contact with the goalie (most of the time! ;) )

There was some good action at the net. Here's another I liked with goalie "interaction".

http://lacks-focus.smugmug.com/photos/125795405-L.jpg