Shooting first NHL game

Hi all,
I was lucky enough to get into HSBC arena with my 40D and 70-200mm 2.8L IS lens. These were some of my shots from the game. Would love to hear some C&C from the pros around here. Thanks!

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I think all shots are excellent! What were your settings?

These look good. I find it funny that f4.0 was the fastest setting use used, with the the 2.8. Did you use any Nosie software with these.
Fedxpress

Wow - you nailed the exposure.
I assume you snuck in the lens and shot from your seat. You're fortunate the game staff let you through with the gear.

Suggest on the Miller shot you straighten it - maybe two degrees to the left and pull in on Ovechkin to isolate him more.

Otherwise well done - what you're missing most is the 'down-low' pro perspective.

Those are WOW! I need to get tickets to see the Caps.

Nice work. I really like your shot of Ryan MIller.

The exposures nice, but none of the shots have a wow factor for me. Perhaphs the last one has a little action but the others leave me a little cold sorry.

Lucky you! Nice shots.

1st time shooting, really nice work! My 1st try at a regular season game was last night also but not NHL.

Great shots! Where were you shooting from?

Most of the shots were taken at F2.8 but the ones above i believe were at F4.0. I had seats 2 rows behind the benches but obviously i didn't want to shoot through the glass. I moved up to the top of the section and stood next to the usher and shot most of the 3rd period. I have some more action shots and was lucky enough to catch the puck actually going into the net but the shot was a little blurry. The ISO was changed anywhere from 1000 to 1250 and i used the Imagemonic noise reduction software to get rid of some of the grain on the ice. Thanks for the comments

Nice exposure, though you picked one ugly game to watch - man did the Sabres play horrible that game and bet by the third a lot of fans went away, just plain out ugly. Hopefully get up to HSBC soon shooting. I'd just say crop a little tighter and good to go.

Darsk47 wrote in post #6982026
I assume you snuck in the lens and shot from your seat. You're fortunate the game staff let you through with the gear.

The Sabres & HSBC is very open photography wise. The only restrictions are you can't shoot from media areas (supposed to stay in your seat) and not obstruct fans view or where they'll be like exits and such. There's no lens limit, in fact there wording even says long lenses are OK...see below.

Flash photography is permitted. Guests may use cameras (including digital) with long lenses provided they do not obstruct the view of other patrons. In addition, guests and their cameras cannot block aisles or access-ways. Tri-Pods are NOT permitted.

Guests may only take photos from their seats, and are not permitted to use the "mouseholes" in the glass. Video cameras are permitted during youth hockey only. Only credentialed media are permitted to use approved areas, such as the 200 level platforms and glass cut outs. For questions regarding camera policies for other HSBC Arena events, please call Account Services at 1-888-GO-SABRES (1-888-467-2273).

Yeah...if i lived in Buffalo i would definitely have seasons tickets. I went to a game in Anaheim to watch the ducks play the Sabres and they wouldn't even let me in the arena with my then 70-200mm 4.0. I stood at the entrance to the 100's section at the top of the stairs right next to a security guy and the usher. I wish i had one more game to go to but i fly back to San Diego in a few days. Again, thanks for the great comments

Haven't paid to go to a game in years, I've tried to sit and watch in person but just can't do it. Watching right now on TV I'm paying more attention to where the photogs are positioned in the background, looks like Toronto has actual shooting space. Going to have to try the top angle next time shooting there, which hopefully is soon!

Hey Mike - that's good to know. I was just talking with a bud a couple of weeks ago about getting to a game there. Now if we do go, I'll bring my camera.

Darcy