AHL Hockey - IceHogs vs Wild 12-26-14

Pretty packed game since it was right around the Holiday. Lots of good action, and two goalies that stole the show. As always, everything shot with 1DX + 300 2.8 mk2, 1/1000, 3.2, 2000 iso. Enjoy!

1.

Awesome pictures as usual. Thanks for sharing.

One question is that I notice that you shoot at 3.2 vs 2.8 wide. Do you feel that you get that much more depth of field or your image quality is better on that lens at 3.2? Just curious.

Thanks for the compliments on the photos.

The image quality is equal when shooting at 3.2 compared to 2.8. I prefer shooting a bit more open so I can get a better range of DoF, as you mentioned. Believe it or not, just that one stop does help when you have two players that are close to each other, or when a player is screening/playing in front of the net. You would certainly notice a difference in the first shot. I will try to shoot a period at 2.8 against 3.2 so I can show the difference between the two.

deveraux wrote in post #17388637
Thanks for the compliments on the photos.

The image quality is equal when shooting at 3.2 compared to 2.8. I prefer shooting a bit more open so I can get a better range of DoF, as you mentioned. Believe it or not, just that one stop does help when you have two players that are close to each other, or when a player is screening/playing in front of the net. You would certainly notice a difference in the first shot. I will try to shoot a period at 2.8 against 3.2 so I can show the difference between the two.

Hope to get some advice. Just recently purchased 7DMKII to shoot my son roller hockey, my question is what would you recommend in term of AF area selection? Are you using single point, AF point expansion, zone AF, or 65-point automatic selection AF? I just wasn't sure what is the best for hockey. I know you have the 1DX but I'm assuming the 7DMKII has similar AF system. Thank you in advance.

Me, personally, I use single point, and have a pre-registered point on the other side of the viewfinder. For example, I shoot from around center ice, so when the team I am tracking is moving from right to left, I use a single point focus far on the right side, with a pre-registered point on the left. This allows me to capture a person if the enter the frame from the left side of the viewfinder, and also allows for some viewing space in case the player quickly passes the puck. I follow a player with the right focal point, and then if I need to switch to a player on the left side of the frame, or if I pan over and something is happening on the left side, I switch over to the other point to capture action from that side.

I also tend to use the joystick frequently to move around that focus point. I find that AF point expansion doesn't span out far enough as I usually jump about two squares over. It also depends on what target you are focusing on, and the angle you are shooting at. Also make sure you are using AI Servo as that will help.

Feel free to PM with any other questions you have. Make sure to post some shots as well, so myself, and others, can help you in the fine details. Those are the things that will help you really grow and learn.

deveraux wrote in post #17410470
Me, personally, I use single point, and have a pre-registered point on the other side of the viewfinder. For example, I shoot from around center ice, so when the team I am tracking is moving from right to left, I use a single point focus far on the right side, with a pre-registered point on the left. This allows me to capture a person if the enter the frame from the left side of the viewfinder, and also allows for some viewing space in case the player quickly passes the puck. I follow a player with the right focal point, and then if I need to switch to a player on the left side of the frame, or if I pan over and something is happening on the left side, I switch over to the other point to capture action from that side.

I also tend to use the joystick frequently to move around that focus point. I find that AF point expansion doesn't span out far enough as I usually jump about two squares over. It also depends on what target you are focusing on, and the angle you are shooting at. Also make sure you are using AI Servo as that will help.

Feel free to PM with any other questions you have. Make sure to post some shots as well, so myself, and others, can help you in the fine details. Those are the things that will help you really grow and learn.

Thank you for taking your time explaining. I will post some images on the next event.

awesome

deveraux has been kind enough to invite me along and get me a pass for some of the IceHogs games (THANKS!). The first few games I shot using center point AF with expansion (1D IV). It quickly became obvious to me that it was inadequate for hockey. Tracking and using AF with the player at the center of frame was frustrating and caused some missed shots.

It is MUCH better, if your team is moving left to right, to select an AF point (with expansion) to the far left of the grid. This gives you some room and flexibility as deveraux stated above.

I also use his settings of 1/1000, f3.2, ISO 2000.

Good luck and have fun shooting your boy's roller hockey.

resurrection!

i havent shot hockey (nothing here since our NAHL junior team left after 2013-2014) but im confused about the pre-registered focus point on either side of the viewfinder...

5D3 here so maybe its something not available to me (only on 1D series?) but i definitely agree on using off center focus point. if im trying to catch some good goalie action, i favor top center or top right/left so the goalie stays in focus instead of catching an attacker or defender...

i too got an invite once long ago but im so out of practice that it might take me a year to get back into the groove. i have my name in the hat for a new semi-pro team thats starting here this season but still havent heard anything...

Bringing it back from the dead just in time!

The pre-registered points may indeed be only with the 1DX, but I am unsure to be honest. And I do exactly the same thing with focusing on the goalie as opposed to risking getting defender/attacker.

In other news, I just got credentialed to shoot the Chicago Blackhawks preseason game on Saturday the 26th, so I'll be posting photos from that once I go through them.

deveraux wrote in post #17712845
In other news, I just got credentialed to shoot the Chicago Blackhawks preseason game on Saturday the 26th, so I'll be posting photos from that once I go through them.

Congrats and I'll look forward to the shots are you put out top-notch work. Be sure to get plenty of my namesake.

Thanks for the compliments, and hopefully Kane is playing that game. I'm hoping either he or Toews is out there, along with Hossa/Keith.

Funny, as I look at the pictures above, three of the guys in the photos here played for the Hawks in the SC playoffs, and all of them got a ring; Cumsikey, Teravainen and Darling. Pretty awesome watching them go from playing here to getting cup in the same season.

deveraux wrote in post #17712845
....

In other news, I just got credentialed to shoot the Chicago Blackhawks preseason game on Saturday the 26th, so I'll be posting photos from that once I go through them.

absolutely amazing news!

congratulations on your achievement. your hard work is paying off...

Thanks Dave. Spoke with the Director of Photography for the team, and there are 12 people (including him and myself) shooting, so I probably wont be on the glass the entire time, which is OK because then I can get some arena shots as well. Rented the 200-400 to see how it will handle hockey as he said the 300 may be a little loose when I go up higher. He also said they have 20 year old fluorescent lights there, which kind of shocked me, so I will need to do some color correction once I get back. Either way, still a great opportunity and really looking forward to it.