Feedback on Hockey Pics

[Alan Dye]

Hello All,

Just found this site. Here are a few pics of the type of action shots I take. Let me know what you think.

Both were taken with a
Digital Rebel and a 70-300mm f4-5.6.
ISO 800
Tv 1/250
Av 4.5
No Flash

Thanks!

[Groundworxs]

Hi Alan Dye,
There is a good thread going about hockey on this forum call UHL all the advice I would give you is listed there already so I won't repeat it here.

Cheers

[tabrandt]

Hi Alan,

Very nice shots. I will look forward to seeing more.

Did you use custom WB or did you keep it on auto? Do you shoot in RAW or JPG? Sorry, I don't mean to blast too many questions at you I just also enjoy hockey shots and am always wanting to know what other do to get good shots.

Tom

[Alan Dye]

Hi Tom,

Yes, I use Custom White Balance. Most of the time I shoot in jpeg, but I am starting to shoot in Raw and edit in PS Elements.

I just picked up a Tamron SP AF 28-105 f2.8 off of Ebay in hopes that the quality of my pics will improve. ;)

Thanks!

[Groundworxs]

Hi Alan,
your white balance is fine the colour is good. I have adjusted your image. and posted it below. I cropped tighter adjusted in curves to lighten the image boosted the saturation slightly and increased the contrast. Let me know what you think.

To ensure that images are sharp you need to keep your shutter speed between 400-500 adjust your iso as high as you need to to acheive that. I would say don't worry about the grain. A sharp grainy picture is better than a blurry picture without grain any day. The information attached to your picture says it was shot at 400 iso and 200 shutter speed at 4.5. Bump up that ISO

All the tips I am passing on I learned from fellow photojournalists who were both picked over many other applicants for newspaper jobs. They were both picked because of their ability to create great sports images. My pictures looked a whole different a year ago. I know they are not perfect now but they are much better now.

One more tip if you want to shoot in doors and get good pictures you will need to invest in some fast glass. For the camera you have 2.8 is almost essential. Those are expensive. The 20D has very low noise at the high ISO's so if it is in your budget you may consider that paired with the Canon 70-200 F4

Cheers Groundworxs

[Alan Dye]

Groundworxs,

Thanks for the feedback! You can definately see the differance in your pic and mine. I'm gonna have to work with PS Elements and figure out how to make all the adjustments you mention. (I just used the quick fix on PS2).

I have considered the Canon lenses in f2.8, but at this time my budget won't allow it. Hopefully the Tamron will get me thru until I can afford better.

Thanks,
Alan

[Groundworxs]

Groundworxs,

Thanks for the feedback! You can definately see the differance in your pic and mine. I'm gonna have to work with PS Elements and figure out how to make all the adjustments you mention. (I just used the quick fix on PS2).

I have considered the Canon lenses in f2.8, but at this time my budget won't allow it. Hopefully the Tamron will get me thru until I can afford better.

Thanks,
Alan
Hi Alan,
There are some tips I picked up from hanging around some pros for the last year. The first was to never use the quick fix. That function takes away too much detail from the image. There is an amazing book you should look through sit down at Chapters it is a very easy read The Photoshop CS book for digital photographers by Scott kelby flip through and you will begin to understand some of the power in photoshop. I would suggest picking up a used copy photoshop 6 or 7 I use CS but it is expensive. Elements is will not allow you the conrol you are looking for. This may all sound quite intimidating but just do one step at a time. I drove myself crazy thinking I needed to know it all now. Then I relaxed and started to apply the tips as I learned them.

Don't get too hung up on gear. You have a 2.8 which is as fast as you need. Yes the Canon will auto focus faster so this means you will have to ensure your technique is good. You can set your lens to manual focus and train it on the goal for example then wait for the action to come to you. If you work on your physical location in the rink you will automatically improve your shots. Shot from the goal tenders line or close to it from the first row or go behind the net. You can always ask the management if you can shoot the pracitices then you don't have to worry about spectators.

I have attached 2 files to show you the difference. The first picture the only adjustment I made was the quick fix. Remeber the quick fix takes information away from your picture.

The second image is how I would adjust it when I send it to the newspapers. all the adjustments enhance the information.

Good luck keep clickin'
Cheers
Groundworxs

[tabrandt]

Groundworxs,
Those are some great tips! Thanks. I have just started playing with PS and bought the Scott Kelby book a few weeks ago. My photos did dramatically improve when I purchased my Canon 70-200 F2.8L but I am still trying to figure out the WB and shooting in RAW. I am currently using a Digital Rebel but hope to upgrade one day to the 20D.

Does anyone have any experience using a mono-pod? Will it make a noticable difference over handheld for hockey shots like the ones above?

Thanks again for all the great tips, I can't wait to get back to the ice rink.

Tom

[Alan Dye]

Thankx for the tip Groundworx. I'll have to make time and give'm a try. You can really tell the differance 'tween the 2 pics you posted.

Tom,

I use a mono pod everytime I shoot (especially indoors). It stabilizes the shot (less blur) and makes it easy to pan the play.

Good Luck!

[Groundworxs]

Hey guys glad to hear the tips were of some help. I have not used a Monopod if your shutter is set at 500 that will freeze any action and your pictures will be crisp. Only the puck maybe blurred a little but I like that in a pictures. Few of the pros I know use a monopod the reason is that it restricts mobility and can limit your ability. You are forced to shoot on one level. Lots of them still hand hold using a 300 2.8. That is a beast of lens. There is one pro in England who uses a 400 2.8 hand held. That is a little much. For the most part I am not holding the lens for the duration of the game. I raise it up when the action comes close.

Keep clickin'
Groundworxs