Hockey shooting

[Onyxdragun]

It looks like I get to attend a hockey event here next week and looking for advice.

So let's start what I have to work with:

Canon XSi with 70-200mm f2.8L IS
50mm f1.8
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS

Will I need to shoot at ISO 1600 the whole time if I use my 70-200mm? Since my XSi is a crop body will I still get decent enough shots say.. half way down the ice if I am shooting from the end boards?

I'm media accredited so I am assuming I'll get to be in a photoshoot spot (ya know the area of the glass where there is a hole to shoot from)

Just looking on advice for something like this, ie; landscape/portrait shots, wide angle or up close, try and get puck + face in shot or something

Thanks guys!

[pastanley]

It looks like I get to attend a hockey event here next week and looking for advice.

So let's start what I have to work with:

Canon XSi with 70-200mm f2.8L IS
50mm f1.8
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS

Will I need to shoot at ISO 1600 the whole time if I use my 70-200mm? Since my XSi is a crop body will I still get decent enough shots say.. half way down the ice if I am shooting from the end boards?

I'm media accredited so I am assuming I'll get to be in a photoshoot spot (ya know the area of the glass where there is a hole to shoot from)

Just looking on advice for something like this, ie; landscape/portrait shots, wide angle or up close, try and get puck + face in shot or something

Thanks guys!
I use my 40D for local college hockey (click on my flickr account below) and I use 1600 ISO all the time with my Sigma 70-200 lens. I set up C1 on my 40D strictly for shooting hockey. I shoot at f/2.8, 1/250 sec, AW, and 1600 ISO. I am going to start shooting RAW this year.

[dmwierz]

Tyler - nobody can tell you what ISO to use at your event since we have no idea what the ambient light is at your arena. I'd suggest shooting in Manual exposure mode if you're comfortable doing so, open your 70-200 f/2.8 up to f/2.8, and use your histogram to guide your setting for ISO to keep your shutter speeds >1/640s or so.

You'll want your histogram to be biased towards the right (since there will be a LOT of whites in the image). You also should do a custom white balance off the dirty ice, and be prepared for the colors to shift from shot to shot due to the arena's lights cycling in their own color.

If you're more comfortable with a program mode, select Av with evaluative metering

Check out the 2nd episode of the podcast in my signature for a lot of information on shooting indoor sports. It includes details on most of this stuff.

As far as lenses go, I shoot from the sides of the rink, about even with the face-off circle, with a 70-200. If you shoot from the corner, or behind the goal line, a longer lens will come in handy for getting the up-ice rushes. I also have employed a ladder like the one below to get over the glass/screen. Avoiding shooting through the scratchy glass makes a HUGE difference in the quality of the images. The platform of the ladder also make a nice place to rest a monopod, if you use one.

[Onyxdragun]

Thanks for the replies. I guess it's good that the first week is training and the 2nd week is the actual competition (re-read the media form) .

Guess that gives me time to go out and playing around to see what camera settings work best etc.

Thanks!

[xpond]

Hi Tyler - good luck with your hockey shoot. I've shot a number of hockey games and the older arenas are typically poorly lit, and a most challenging assignment. I agree that you will need a high ISO and can only determine which one to use once you're in the arena. Typically I'm up around 1600 with my 2.8 70-200 lens.

I'd recommend AV priority but would not crank the lens open to 2.8. Focus is going to be a challenge with the very fast moving game and you'll want more depth of field than you'll get at 2.8 if you happen to be zoomed in at 200mm. I usually back off to 4.5 or 5.6 if I can get away with it. The key point here is you're going to want a shutter speed at or around 1/500th. You can go down to 1/250th but you'll be tossing away a few extra shots.

In additon you'll probably want to bracket up about 2/3 of a stop to off set the white ice surface. White balance can be another fiasco but I've had good luck on my 5D II just setting it to auto. (kind of a cop out I guess)

Finally, I'm not sure on the laws in your neck of the woods but here if the athletes are under 18 they will be wearing cages on their helmets. Hockey is a great sport for facial expressions but the cages can make it difficult to get light inside the helmut.

One last point. Most seats in an arena are well above the playing surface and only great for photographers who want pictures of the top of everyones helmut. You really need to be down at ice level to capture facial expressions. I've captured the best shots when I've been alowed to shoot from a standing positon on the players bench but that's a rare treat.

Good luck with your photoshoot

Ken

[tfd888]

I would use the 70-200 2.8 wide open at 2.8 and adjust your ISO as necessary to obtain the shutter speed you want (most rinks you are going to be at 1600 or maybe even higher). You most likely will want to shoot in manual as long as the light is even across the rink so that the camera isn't tricked by the ice, if the light is uneven or you don't feel comfortable shooting manual, then try AV with center weighted average metering.

Be sure to have fun and don't get hit by a puck ;) :p

[BTBP88]

Has anyone ever tried to hook up a flash from above the glass in the bleachers? Not on the glass but say hooked up to a railing about 30-40 meters from the ice? I have an opportunity to try that and just wonder on settings for my 580 EX II flash. Any ideas are welcome.

[DarenM]

I use my 40D for local college hockey (click on my flickr account below) and I use 1600 ISO all the time with my Sigma 70-200 lens. I set up C1 on my 40D strictly for shooting hockey. I shoot at f/2.8, 1/250 sec, AW, and 1600 ISO. I am going to start shooting RAW this year.

Are you actually able to get decent shots using 1/250?

[Onyxdragun]

can't remember if I posted this, but I uploaded roughly 65 photos to flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tyleringram/sets/72157622082935039/

You can see my progression over the week of visiting GM Place :) Now, if I could just get an invite back to GM Place to photograph our Canucks! lol I can dream right?