Hockey question, please help!

[BaseballPhotographer]

Hey everyone,

I am attending a Gwinnett Gladiators game, it is going to be indoors. I am going to be on the ice taking pictures for a man who works for the Gladiators, he told me if I gave him a CD of the pictures I took and he liked any of them, he might could get them into the team book. I am goin to pick up my credentials for the press pass in about 25 minutes. I really need some help as to how I should set up my camera. I have a 400D with a Canon 75-300mm f/4-6.5 and a Canon 18-55mm f/3.5. Neither of the lenses are IS. Please help, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Stephen

[dmwierz]

So, you've never shot hockey before, you're using what is charitably known as amateur equipment, and expect to learn how to do so at the ECHL level in the next 25 minutes from an online forum? Well, at least you're taking professional sports photography seriously, which is more than I can say for how I'm taking your question.

My next door neighbor is a brain surgeon. Maybe if I visit "Neurosurgery On The Net" someone can teach me how to perform a procedure in the next half hour so my neighbor will let me take over for him this afternoon.

On the other side of me is an airline pilot. If I visit "POTN" (Piloting On The Net) you think I can learn how to fly a 747 in 25 minutes while I wait for my flight, so I can take over on this flight if I'm needed?

While certainly not brain surgery, nor even flying an airplane, Stephen, it can take years to learn how to cover a sport like hockey, especially at the pro level.

Sorry, but this question is so absurd I almost couldn't help myself...almost.

[tomd]

let's see:
Custom WB, shoot RAW....
oops never mind I see your post was about an hour ago, you're probably at the game already

[cstewart]

Probably too late and as Dennis says anyway a bit pointless given your timing, but try ISO 3200 if you can go there (maybe 1600 if light is good), ensure shutter speed is 1/400 or 1/500 shutter or even higher...those ECHL guys move pretty quick...and you will no doubt need to shoot wide open on the lenses you mention. IS does not matter as you need a fast shutter speed anyway. Use a custom white balance off the ice surface. Shoot in AI Servo Mode for auto focus. Many on here prefer the center point for AF, I sometimes just use the Auto AI Servo mode (uses all ponts).

If you have never shot it before you will find it extremely fast and tough to anticipate the action. Heck I've played for 26 years and coached for the past 6 and I still find it hard to get the shots even though I know where the play will be.

Also, in the event that you do get anything, expect to post process them before cutting to a disk. Especially if you end up being limited on the light due to arena conditions or aperature.

And if you get anything post some examples here so we can see how you made out.

Lots and lots and lots of luck.

Chris

[Sledhed]

So, you've never shot hockey before, you're using what is charitably known as amateur equipment, and expect to learn how to do so at the ECHL level in the next 25 minutes from an online forum? Well, at least you're taking professional sports photography seriously, which is more than I can say for how I'm taking your question.

My next door neighbor is a brain surgeon. Maybe if I visit "Neurosurgery On The Net" someone can teach me how to perform a procedure in the next half hour so my neighbor will let me take over for him this afternoon.

On the other side of me is an airline pilot. If I visit "POTN" (Piloting On The Net) you think I can learn how to fly a 747 in 25 minutes while I wait for my flight, so I can take over on this flight if I'm needed?

While certainly not brain surgery, nor even flying an airplane, Stephen, it can take years to learn how to cover a sport like hockey, especially at the pro level.

Sorry, but this question is so absurd I almost couldn't help myself...almost.

That's probably the best response I have ever read on this forum! :lol:

No one here can tell you how to set up your camera, we have not seen the lighting or the conditions you are shooting in. So anything anybody here tells you about aperture or shutter speed is just guessing.

[MJPhotos24]

I shoot a lot of AHL and will tell you a 4.5 just won't work worth a crap in those ECHL arenas. I'm shootin 2.8 with a 300 IS and at bare minimum requirements for a IIn and barely getting results at times depending on which flicker of the light I get - oh yea, those lower level lights flicker, a problem I never had in the NHL.

Dennis and Chris (Sledhed) summed it up pretty good, but what scares me is "give him a CD and maybe they'll use them in the team magazine" - give them? That's one of the most annoying things around and it ruins the industry, idiots happy to give there stuff away just to see it in print! Sorry, but it's true.

[Sledhed]

Only you, your mama and other photogs care about credit lines.

[MJPhotos24]

Only you, your mama and other photogs care about credit lines.

My mama don't know what a credit line is...

[eigga]

Dennis that was hilarious.

I guess if you pull it off you will show your stuff!.... wasn't the 75-300 voted worst canon lens.

I also have to say that having the balls to say yes and take a chance is the only way sometimes, and others its plain stupid. You decide for yourself. Good luck!

[KIPAX]

dmwierz People post looking for help. the OP obviously hasn't got a clue.. His lens is nowhere near good enough .. But he asked. He could be the nicest person you ever met with a heart of gold. But because he doesn't understand whats needed you feel the need to shoot him down...

dmwierz now believes he is so much better than everyone else that he can scorn people at the lowest level .. Shame on the rest of you for joining in :(

To the OP .. Your lens will not be good enough. Even with the best lighting available you will struggle. You need a f2.8 at minumum with reach. Get what you can shooting in raw.. rescue what you can and next time don't be so quick to say yes.. find out if you can manage it first... Good luck..

[eigga]

Kipax.... most of the time I would agree but the 25 minute statement made this ridiculous.....should have been calling for a rental lens or faking the flu...JMO

[KIPAX]

I have to admit the 25 minutes thing is pushing it :)

I just dont like seeing clever people putting others down..........

[Paul S]

Kipax.... most of the time I would agree but the 25 minute statement made this ridiculous.....should have been calling for a rental lens or faking the flu...JMO

Being 17 years old and given the opportunity to shoot hockey at this level. I would have been thrilled to have been asked!! All he was doing was asking for help. How long ago was it when we were in our teens?

[eigga]

Being 17 years old

Starting off with that statement would certainly help, but I don't think we all check out each others profile before commenting.

[KIPAX]

I had no idea of his age..But do agree with you.. All he did was ask for help..

To be honest if I was 17 again I wouldnt spend my time on here :) :) :) :) :)

[dmwierz]

Before anyone (KIPAX, Paul) rushes to the OP's defense, you might want to do a search on his previous posts and all of our responses. I am well aware of who this young fella is, as are others on the board. The OP has frequented these forums before, and has ignored my and others attempts to inform him that he needs to develop his skills and abilities (and probably purchase some improved gear) before aspiring to cover events at these levels. We have tried many different styles and I can only speak for myself that I lost patience with this a while back.

I think I can safely say that I and a couple other respondents tin this thread have gone out our way to help and assist people with patience and understanding of their relative inexperience. If you don't think so, then so be it, but I advise you to also do a little research before jumping up to defend a supposedly helpless young photographer. And also do a little research before you flame another forum member, as in:

dmwierz now believes he is so much better than everyone else that he can scorn people at the lowest level .. Shame on the rest of you for joining in

Yeah, whatever, man. Judge me if you must. I will stick by my comments. Like I have said before, in some of the circles I shoot, I am the neophyte as I have only been doing this seriously for a handful of years. Many of the photographers I know worked for many, many years to get their first chance to shoot pro sports, and had excellent portfolios full of outstanding images before they even considered themselves worthy of asking for the opportunity to work these events.

Some of us who have actually SHOT a pro hockey (or baseball, or football, etc) game or two spend a lot of our free time on this and other forums trying to help aspiring shooters to develop their skills and experience. I will bend over backwards to aid anyone who shows a willingness to put the time in and do the work required to learn how to become a better photographer - and yes, who shows a modicum of talent, or at least an ability to think for him or herself and make steady improvement. We're not all pro's, and most don't even want to be, but if you post on here and ask for help, expect the replies to be honest and critical, in a hopefully constructive manner.

What I have no time for are people who want to start at the top, and who show no awareness of or respect for the opinions of people who are already doing what he hopes to do one day. I begrudge nobody for having the chance to advance their skills and stretch to cover an event or level outside of their comfort zone. However, saying you want to learn how to shoot a PRO hockey game in 25 minutes from an online forum, with NO prior experience and with marginal equipment tells me the OP hasn't learned a thing from all the posts he has made here, and that I am wasting my time even trying to give him a serious reply.

And I don't care HOW old or young he is. One of my best local shooting buddies is 17 years old, and he is working for his High School's year book, and has busted his tail shooting alongside me for his entire Senior year, covering dozens of events at all levels and all situations. If he were to get the chance to shoot a pro ANYTHING, I would drop whatever I am doing and give him my full attention and the benefit of what little knowledge I have, because I know he is giving everything he has, and then some, to becoming the best photographer he can. Next year, he's going to the University of Missouri Photojournalism school, and one day (probably soon) he will shoot right past me in ability, talent and experience, and I will be very proud to say I once was able to help him.

And I am outta here...

[MJPhotos24]

You also have to take note KIPAX this isn't the first time for this OP and the first FEW times Dennis did nothing but give good advice - when the same question is asked AGAIN it's a bit frustrating and with 25 mins even makes it worse!

(didn't see Dennis response when I wrote the above, got distracted editing and never hit enter seein it).

[Sledhed]

dmwierz now believes he is so much better than everyone else that he can scorn people at the lowest level .. Shame on the rest of you for joining in :(



I know Dennis personally and I've shot with him several times, we've even enjoyed a few beers together. He doesn't believe he is above anyone else here and always offers excellent to the point advice to people who want and appreciate it. It's just ridiculous to ask this question 25 minutes before you leave to shoot an event. No one can tell you which camera settings you need to use without having shot there before. If you have to ask these kind of questions your no where near ready to shoot a pro event. I mainly shoot baseball, everything from T-Ball up to the Majors, but I didn't start out shooting MLB games. It took along time for me to get to that level.

[Paul S]

Dennis, Did not know any history of Stephen's prier posts. Got to love these forums :) FWIW I think it will take me at least two hockey sessions to get it right. So thats about
20K shots more or less ?

[Cadwell]

There's a fundamental principle that we try and live by on POTN

"If you can't think of anything positive to say then it is better to say nothing"

It seems some of you have forgotten that. This topic is closed.