First time 70-200 f/2.8 lens - Flames practice

[Cman1138]

Rented the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 lens today to shoot 2 Flames practices and the family skate at the Dome. To bad my dad doesn't know jack about photography as there's maybe 1 keeper in the skate pics. Anyways, here's my first try at some pros, all from the second level 1/640 f/2.8 ISO1600. C&C welcome, I'm thinking tomorrow drop the ISO back to 800 and the sutter to 400 or 500.

1 - McElhinney Set
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5448.jpg

2 - Iggy calling for the pass
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5518.jpg

3 - Kipper expecting the shot
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5524.jpg

4 - Reggie pivoting
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5668.jpg

5 - Composites flex... but so do good old trees
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5589.jpg

6 - Play-fighting with the coach
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5803.jpg

7 - Missed it by that much...
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/th__MG_5554.jpg (http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5554.jpg)

8 - Kipper's keeper
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/th__MG_5777.jpg (http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Practice%2007-12-20/_MG_5777.jpg)

[b18turboef]

in number 3 it looks like he already missed the shot lol

[Cman1138]

in number 3 it looks like he already missed the shot lol

Sortof. I've got a nice series of shots where you can see the pile of pucks form to the side of the net as they are caught and tossed aside. Practices tend to have many pucks all about. Heck, I even scored one for myself going to the skate session 5 hours later.

[snapmando]

in number 3 it looks like he already missed the shot lol
LoL...

Hell, It looks like he didn't even see it......

In well lit NHL Arena's, you should be able to use ISO 800, check for exposure though. These are good, but they look a little blown out to me. It could be my monitor though.

Hockey takes alot of practice, be happy your at an NHL Game and not in a regular rink. Regular Rinks = Frustration.

I'm still learning, BTW..

Good Luck, for your next Shoot..

[Cman1138]

LoL...

Hell, It looks like he didn't even see it......

In well lit NHL Arena's, you should be able to use ISO 800, check for exposure though. These are good, but they look a little blown out to me. It could be my monitor though.

Hockey takes alot of practice, be happy your at an NHL Game and not in a regular rink. Regular Rinks = Frustration.

I'm still learning, BTW..

Good Luck, for your next Shoot..

I usually shoot ISO 800 1/640 f/2.2 with my 85mm lens. Wasn't sure what going down to f/2.8 was going to do and after a couple quick tests it looked like 1/500 ISO800 was pretty dark, hence the step up. I've got the lens for tomorrow morning still so I will shoot the quick game-day skate and stay at ISO800. BTW, which puck do you think is the actual shot in #7?

[snapmando]

I'm assuming you have the EF 85 f1.8 , for starters?

Did you by chance, take a Custom White Balance off the ice?

In an NHL Rink, I would expect you should be poppin' of shots at atleast 1/1000 @ 1600.

In some of the smaller rinks I shoot in, I have shot at 1/640 @1600 on my XT, with the Sigma attached. Most of the time though I shoot at 1/500 @1600, and thats in a crap rink.

Hmm, I guess I'm gonna have to hit up an NHL Game to test out my set-up.

As for the puck in #7, the pick is very small compared to the others but I'd guess the one by the blocker?

[Cman1138]

I'm assuming you have the EF 85 f1.8 , for starters?

Did you by chance, take a Custom White Balance off the ice?

In an NHL Rink, I would expect you should be poppin' of shots at atleast 1/1000 @ 1600.

In some of the smaller rinks I shoot in, I have shot at 1/640 @1600 on my XT, with the Sigma attached. Most of the time though I shoot at 1/500 @1600, and thats in a crap rink.

Hmm, I guess I'm gonna have to hit up an NHL Game to test out my set-up.

As for the puck in #7, the pick is very small compared to the others but I'd guess the one by the blocker?

Yes that's my 85mm lens. Love it for shooting the pre-game skates (see my other thread). I just had the 70-200 lens for a day with no real time to properly set things up so I tested a couple shots using the LCD screen (bad, I know) and shot away. Was more a fun experiment than going for anything to specific. Unfortunately today I got no pics because the security guard wanted to be a **** about the lens. I told him I know the rules, it's not a game only a practice and considering there were no acredited photographers there it's rather sad to be treated like a criminal when I'm just a huge fan. Infact I am the most connected Flames fan according to a Sportsnet contest.

I only shot with AWB, and usualy do so because it tends to work pretty well. When I shoot through the glass I have to correct colour anyways and from the second level I've not realy had colour issues. Thanks for the tips and comments though. Oh, and a tip for pic #7 (and #8).... click it ;)

[snapmando]

Unfortunately today I got no pics because the security guard wanted to be a **** about the lens. I told him I know the rules, it's not a game only a practice and considering there were no acredited photographers there it's rather sad to be treated like a criminal when I'm just a huge fan. Infact I am the most connected Flames fan according to a Sportsnet contest.

That sucks man, sorry to hear about that.

Hey, I wanted to ask you. Do you run any Noise software or your Images, before you posted them?

[Darsk47]

Hey C-man , great that you can get in so close to your team.
Maybe an XL Timmy's will get you past the security at the next practice :)

Couple of thoughts FWIW: I think some are bit blown out. Do you sharpen them at all? If so, what settings?

Any chance you can get near the bench for some low shots? I sat on the bench for a Leaf's' practice years ago at MLG. I think the people involved with the team all figured I was with somebody else and security let me in so I must've been allowed. Helps if it's a closed practice.

[Cman1138]

Hey, I wanted to ask you. Do you run any Noise software or your Images, before you posted them?

No, I just resize and crop to post them here.


Hey C-man , great that you can get in so close to your team.
Maybe an XL Timmy's will get you past the security at the next practice :)

Couple of thoughts FWIW: I think some are bit blown out. Do you sharpen them at all? If so, what settings?

Any chance you can get near the bench for some low shots? I sat on the bench for a Leaf's' practice years ago at MLG. I think the people involved with the team all figured I was with somebody else and security let me in so I must've been allowed. Helps if it's a closed practice.

No sharpening or any other PP before I posted them. Like I said above I was just doing this as a fun experiment and winged it.

As for access at practices, well last season fans were welcome to sit in the lower bowl for non-game day practices and ask for autographs as the players left the ice and such. This season coach Keenan was wanting to completely close all practices to the public but the powers above vetoed that idea. They comprimised with closing the lower bowl for all practices which does suck but it's better than nothing. MY dream right now would be to get an allowance to shoot a non-game day practice from between the benches using that 70-200 lens. Will take more than a few Tim's XL DD's though. I'm know out there amoungst the team and with several members of the organization but I've not yet gotten enough of an in to be asking for such favours. I've talked to most of the players on the team explaining who I am (just a huge fan) so I don't get quite so many looks around the rink like this one.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r131/Flamingc4life/Calgary%20Flames/2007-08/Game%2027%20vs%20Columbus/_MG_4008.jpg

Coincidentally, I just won a constest run by Sportsnet for the most connected Flames fan. It gets me 4 tix to a game, some swag and a tour of the TV production truck. Here's my winning entry video, plus the extended version, from youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgtRKW-CUBs - entry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwhveYzbLuw - extended

[snapmando]

I watched your You Tube Vids, you are a Hardcore Flamer. Nice !!!!

So, When are ya pickin up a 70-200L? You must have the itch now?

Looks like I'm gonna be going to Alberta in Mid-January. I'm gonna be lookin' for work.

The small City I live in runs off of the Wood Industry, and it's not doing good right now.
I got laid off of work recently, as I was in the Wood Business. I will tell you, my XT and Sigma are going with me. I'll be shooting whenever I can while I'm there. Sad thing is, I'll be leaving my Family behind. If I get a job, I'll probibly be commin' home for the days off, then back out to Alberta I go. I don't really wanna do it like that, but I have no other choice.