My new 40D does......HOCKEY!

[hckyguy14]

Hey guys, just picked up a 40D a week and a half ago. I decided to go take a few pictures of my sister playing hockey (she's the goalie).

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAMERA.

Very minimal post-processing, mainly contrast and noise reduction in LR, along with cropping.

All photos shot at ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/500 with my 40D connected to a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 lens with a whitebalance off the ice.

I plan on using the pictures I took of my sister to make a poster colage as a project for one of my photoshop classes.

Please, C&C the hell out of them!


1.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265535490_ADhSi-L.jpg
2.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265539890_EXfhi-L.jpg
3.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265540278_bjVfG-L.jpg
4.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265546841_dgfRV-L.jpg
5.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265546557_cwNiy-L.jpg
6.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265548742_ae9Af-L.jpg
7.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265549463_hEfzv-L.jpg
8.
http://www.photomojobyrob.smugmug.com/photos/265555202_RAZ7L-L.jpg

[cstewart]

No bump in exposure needed in LR? You must have good light in the arena as I almost always need to bump exposure on my hockey shots to look good even at 3200. Goalie shots (esp on pads) and a couple player shots (red jerseys) look a bit soft on my monitor. You might have been able to go to 1/400 and bump aperature to 3.2 or 3.5 to get a bit more depth of field and still freeze action. Also, what focus mode were you in? AI Servo? If so, were you using automated mode (uses all focus points) or just center point. I've tried center point recently with good results (SEE THREAD HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=467068)). It could be your lens too. I have the Canon 70-200f2.8L IS which is great so I can't comment on how the Sigma may respond (ie AF speed, quality etc).

I do love my 40D as well for hockey as the 6.5fps certainly helps. Once you become more comfortable with it, start grabbing more "action" shots with other players in the mix. Face offs are a good place to start with this as there are always 2 players battling for a puck and they are usually less in motion in the face off circle then if they are carrying puck.

Cheers!

Chris

[hckyguy14]

Thanks for your comments!

I did use AI Servo with the center focal point. I was a little rusty since I have not shot hockey in almost a year (although I play every weekend). The Sigma is a decently fast lense (although I'd rather have the Canon and I'm sure it is better).

I'm used to shooting from the corners (through glass) but this time I got to sit in the penalty box since I usually play with these guys. It was a very different perspective. I felt I could get better shots of the goalie, but every time I went for the serious action they turned, or someone skated in front. Next time I am going to try the corner again.

[cstewart]

...but every time I went for the serious action they turned, or someone skated in front...

I can't even count how many "back of the linesman's head" shots I have had to trash when shooting from penalty box! I think sometimes they stand there purposely just to ruin my shots!

[VinnyC01]

These look great for 3200. The only ones that even remotely look 3200 are 6 and 7. Well done.

[Brad999]

On my monitor, the shots look way better than the thread posted by CStewart. Not sure why, but the CStewart thread look fake and not very good. Maybe its the color of the jerseys or something but I like these better.

[danaitch]

My only comment (and I seem to be being hyper-critical today) is that in a couple of them (4&6) you've cropped part of the stick out. If this was just because you were shooting full frame, it can't be avoided. If you post-processed the crop the cut-off point (for me at least) takes away just slightly from the overall quality... which is high. Good stuff!

[hckyguy14]

My only comment (and I seem to be being hyper-critical today) is that in a couple of them (4&6) you've cropped part of the stick out. If this was just because you were shooting full frame, it can't be avoided. If you post-processed the crop the cut-off point (for me at least) takes away just slightly from the overall quality... which is high. Good stuff!

These were all cropped, so I did take the end of the stick out of the frame.


I understand what your saying though. My usuall rule of thumb is that if the puck is in the frame, I crop for the puck and player, if the puck was not in the frame, I crop just for the player.