C&C Hockey photo "Missouri Mavericks"

Yet another Hockey photo getting better but still lacking. Shot @ 1/640 f4

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skydiver_8 wrote in post #9671038
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I could not get the photo to load at first. In fact I always have trouble load photos on here

What focal length was this taken at?

Rich1884 wrote in post #9671115
What focal length was this taken at?

200mm

White Balance is a little to blue, looks soft in the focus as well.

I can not figure out why the focus is a tad soft, the whit bal looks great on main PC with calibrated monitor, does look a bit blue on lap-top. Any sugestions on the focus?

Focus is on the boards, although still slightly soft there too. Also seems rather dark. WB seems OK?

Eugene:

What is your focus set up? Hopefully your are using AI servo, Center point focus and have focus start set to work with your back * button or AF-ON button and NOT with half-press of shutter. If you are shooting center point, then it looks like it picked up focus on boards (high contrast there of signs and white) and not on players. It is important to try and keep that center point on your main subject. You can then crop for composition later. If you are using half-press shutter to engage AI servo, learn how to move this to the back buttons (Custom Fn IV on 40D...search for threads on here about "back * button focus" or "Custom Fn IV" etc to learn more). Takes a bit to get used to but much better for shooting sports.

As to lighting, if this was shot with your 70-200, drop aperture to f3.2 and you will brighten up things much better (assuming all other things stay same). Or simply adjust exposure in post processing.

cstewart wrote in post #9672911
Eugene:

What is your focus set up? Hopefully your are using AI servo, Center point focus and have focus start set to work with your back * button or AF-ON button and NOT with half-press of shutter. If you are shooting center point, then it looks like it picked up focus on boards (high contrast there of signs and white) and not on players. It is important to try and keep that center point on your main subject. You can then crop for composition later. If you are using half-press shutter to engage AI servo, learn how to move this to the back buttons (Custom Fn IV on 40D...search for threads on here about "back * button focus" or "Custom Fn IV" etc to learn more). Takes a bit to get used to but much better for shooting sports.

As to lighting, if this was shot with your 70-200, drop aperture to f3.2 and you will brighten up things much better (assuming all other things stay same). Or simply adjust exposure in post processing.

Very good words of wisdom, will try to set the AF tothe back instead of half press shutter, You know I shot @ f2.8 and things were not as sharp as in this current photo, so moved to f4, but have not tried other f stops yet. Thank you

Eugene

primnumbers wrote in post #9673018
Very good words of wisdom, will try to set the AF tothe back instead of half press shutter, You know I shot @ f2.8 and things were not as sharp as in this current photo, so moved to f4, but have not tried other f stops yet. Thank you

Eugene

I find my copy of 70-200f2.8L is sharper at f3.2 than wide open at f2.8. As such I try and shoot 3.2 or higher when light permits (not often in hockey rinks I shoot in!)

Chris