NHL Shot going up in local restaurants

Hey guys,

Just got word yesterday that the owner of Rudino's Sports Grills in the Raleigh, NC area (decent sized sports restaurants) ran across this picture of Eric Cole of the Carolina Hurricanes and contacted me. He is actually good friends with Eric and has asked me for 5 prints of the photo. (1 for me autographed, one for Eric to keep, and one for each of his restaurants in the Raleigh area)

I am absolutely stoked to have this happen! At 19, I'm just starting to get my foot in the door and I love photography! Thanks for stopping and please CC on the picture are more than welcome!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​602507589/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​627780391/

How about $$$?

Congrats.

Level your horizon and crop it tighter. I think you can PP a bit for the lighting and to make it pop more. There's a couple of basic fixes you should make on it before you post it in restaurants with your name on it.

As it looks currently, it appears you got lucky on a capture from the stands.

cheers.

Darsk47 wrote in post #12233187
Congrats.

Level your horizon and crop it tighter. I think you can PP a bit for the lighting and to make it pop more. There's a couple of basic fixes you should make on it before you post it in restaurants with your name on it.

As it looks currently, it appears you got lucky on a capture from the stands.

cheers.

The horizon *IS* level (notice the glass stanchions are perpendicular to the frame.

This is a common issue with hockey rink pics. Do you level the 'visual' horizon or work with the real one. Unless the shot is directly across the rink, the boards are going to be at an angle. It's a case-by-case thing and I generally prefer the stanchions to be perpendicular. That's my $.02.

I agree with tightening the shot and dialing in a little fill light and contrast.

Most of all, congrats on the recognition. It's a great shot!

Alan Dye wrote in post #12229604
How about $$$?

Not sure yet, but I am not expecting any thing other than to be allowed to have my name put on the frame for recognition.

Darsk47 wrote in post #12233187
Congrats.

Level your horizon and crop it tighter. I think you can PP a bit for the lighting and to make it pop more. There's a couple of basic fixes you should make on it before you post it in restaurants with your name on it.

As it looks currently, it appears you got lucky on a capture from the stands.

cheers.

Thank you for the congrats. What would you suggest to make it pop more in PP?

And in sports photography, a lot of times its all about being lucky and just having the timing to know when you have a better opportunity of "getting lucky"

essvee wrote in post #12234456
The horizon *IS* level (notice the glass stanchions are perpendicular to the frame.

This is a common issue with hockey rink pics. Do you level the 'visual' horizon or work with the real one. Unless the shot is directly across the rink, the boards are going to be at an angle. It's a case-by-case thing and I generally prefer the stanchions to be perpendicular. That's my $.02.

I agree with tightening the shot and dialing in a little fill light and contrast.

Most of all, congrats on the recognition. It's a great shot!

After shooting this whole season I realize exactly what your talking about and its all about the angle of where your shooting from and where the players are. I will do some PP and post up another edition.

Thanks everyone!

essvee wrote in post #12234456
The horizon *IS* level (notice the glass stanchions are perpendicular to the frame.

This is a common issue with hockey rink pics. Do you level the 'visual' horizon or work with the real one. Unless the shot is directly across the rink, the boards are going to be at an angle. It's a case-by-case thing and I generally prefer the stanchions to be perpendicular. That's my $.02.

It is not level. Yes it is common mistake to not level the shots in PP if you are not level to begin with - as in the original shot here.

I don't know what you mean by the visual horizon or the real one. The 'horizon' in this shot is the top of the boards. Given the angle of the shot, if they're straight, the stanchions will be vertical too.

This shot is taken from directly across the rink just above the faceoff circle, no curved boards here.

Look at this adjustment. Now it is level.

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More on this topic:

Look at this:

The verticals and horizontals of this gate opening in the boards are true. What little you can see of the stanchions are true and the blue dasher board is horizontal. Much more pleasing than having the skaters going downhill to the left.

I often use the crop box for vertical plumb - you can see the lines of the gate opening are parallel to the lines of the crop box.

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Darsk47 is 100% correct, just an fyi, your PP shot you posted looks like the whites are blown out a bit to me...good capture, I would crop much tighter on it if you can...

Ed

Drewc2010 wrote in post #12234560
Thank you for the congrats. What would you suggest to make it pop more in PP?

And in sports photography, a lot of times its all about being lucky and just having the timing to know when you have a better opportunity of "getting lucky"

You blew out the ice second time around. So no, not good.

Try this:
level it
crop it
lighten the shadows a whisker
check your WB
saturate the colour a bit
apply a USM .....maybe 105, 1.0, 5

Luck? yeah. You were obviously a fan with a camera here first, so the fact that your shot is going to have the legs to get posted in a few restaurants...yeah that's lucky.

Congrats on the picture!

Agree with Darcy...the re-adjustment of horizon is better.

As far as hockey shot....he is tripping chasing a puck.....he may not be overly pleased at the action. But it's crisp! Nice action shot.

OP- Congrats on the shot!

Now if you have someone interested in displaying your work, then it has value. You spent $$$ on your equipment, your time is worth $$$ and your Photo is worth $$$. Doesn't matter if your 19 or 90, don't start giving away your work for just recognition! 1st rule of becoming a pro...Get Paid for All your work!! We've all been where you are...


Also, listen to the voice of experiance, Darsk is correct about the horizon. Little advice like his make a Big Differance in the end product. Customers will notice.

Good Luck!

Using the dasher as a horizontal reference point will frequently yield incorrect result, as it can and will be fooled by viewing angle perspective and by curves in the boards. Much more reliable are vertical references, like glass stanchions, vertical seams in the boards, door jams, post on the goal, etc.

Whether the OP cares or not is another matter, but as seen below, the image is approximately 1.5 degrees off horizontal, and this was clear to me on first viewing. In other words, it's off enough to be noticeable to me, and others.

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Darsk47 wrote in post #12235280
More on this topic:

[edit]

I often use the crop box for vertical plumb - you can see the lines of the gate opening are parallel to the lines of the crop box.

Yep, you're right. I looked at this too quickly on a small screen the first time.

I do the same. In my case I grab the alignment tool in LR and pick a seam in the boards or glass. I use the vertical as my primary alignment reference.

Darsk47 wrote in post #12235323
You blew out the ice second time around. So no, not good.

Try this:
level it
crop it
lighten the shadows a whisker
check your WB
saturate the colour a bit
apply a USM .....maybe 105, 1.0, 5

Luck? yeah. You were obviously a fan with a camera here first, so the fact that your shot is going to have the legs to get posted in a few restaurants...yeah that's lucky.

Thank you for the tips I will try again, still getting used to PP.

Also I would appreciate if you leave your thoughts about me and what I use my camera for out of this thread. I understand your view but I was not talking about luck on my part just the luck of the timing of the shot. So instead of offending someone who has worked all season on NHL photography, worked with numerous players, worked with a carolina hurricanes sports writer, and now will have a picture going up in Raleigh area sports bars I am proud of this moment so lets not take a jab at me starting out. I'm sure you started out at one point in your career too.

Drew

Also, everyone thank you for the kind congratulations and advice. I love this website and the advice it gives and I'm glad I finally stumbled upon it.

Drew