Too close for comfort

[Anders Östberg]

I decided I had to try some more icehockey again even though I had decided to give it up, just to sort of get over the bad feelings from getting the puck in the head last game I shot. The first picture made me re-live the incident though and I found I'm decidedly gun shy, getting really nervous when some player even passes the puck in my direction. Maybe I should stick to photographing small birds, they are not quite as dangerous. :)

I'm struggling with these small arenas, the light is so poor there's either too little DoF, too much motion blur or both. I don't know if it's really possible to get good picture quality here.

Anyway, comments welcome!

http://www.andersostberg.com/fotogalleri/albums/HaningeHockey_2005-08-28/JH5Q3800_TooCloseForComfort.jpg

http://www.andersostberg.com/fotogalleri/albums/HaningeHockey_2005-08-28/JH5Q3821_Tackle%20copy.jpg

[jpreston]

Looks like the guy on the left is feeling your pain, Anders. These look pretty good to me. Custom white balance?

[Anders Östberg]

He ducked and the puck just missed him. :)

I didn't bother with custom WB this time, I set the WB to "white fluorescent light" just to get the same for all shots and then adjusted a little in Photoshop. It was not too far off I think.

[Steve Mitchell]

From the looks of those two, it looks like you did great. Struggling in difficult lighting situations is one of the things I love to do. It adds to the challenge. I almost get board shooting in daylight. :)

[Anders Östberg]

Thanks Steve! It was extra tricky today as the lighting was extra poor. Apparently the ice don't stay hard enough if all lights are on, it's still too warm outside for the cooling system. It would be fun to get to shoot once in a larger arena with really good light. :)

[burgernfries]

The dude in the dark uniform must share your knowledge of what a puck in the head feels like, huh.
Nice Pics, You done good. ;)

[Anders Östberg]

Thanks JP! Hockey players are not as wimpy as I am though, a puck in the head is just another day at work for them. :)

[digitalmediatech]

I think they are great shots...keep up the great work. When you shoot hockey, where exactly do you set yourself up. I may have an opportunity to shoot some practices, but I have never worked with hockey. Thanks.

[Anders Östberg]

I think they are great shots...keep up the great work. When you shoot hockey, where exactly do you set yourself up. I may have an opportunity to shoot some practices, but I have never worked with hockey. Thanks.

Thanks! It depends a bit on what access you can get, generally speaking I'd say as low and close to the ice as you can and dare stand. Some rinks have plexiglass or netting all around and that may make it difficult to get clean shots. I tend to stand near the blue lines next to the penalty boxes or player boxes, sometimes there's a low press stand for photographers. You can also shoot from the spectator seat but that angle is usually less interesting I think. Best thing is to talk to the organizers in advance, both to make sure you can get access and also discuss where you are allowed to stand.

Keep in mind there is some risk to this, stay 100% concentrated on the game and the puck during plays. The best places to stand are also the least protected. Players clearing pucks from their defence zone tend to shoot them along and sometime over the boards near the blue line, just where you may stand. Pucks and sticks come flying sometimes, consider wearing a helmet.

[digitalmediatech]

Thanks for the assistance, keep up the great work!