Ice Hockey Challenge

[jasp]

Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.8
Focal Length: 116 mm
ISO Speed: 3200
Exposure Bias: +1 EV
Flash: No Flash

Challenges are stopping action, lighting, getting the ice to look like ice and NOT gray, etc.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[GadgetRick]

I like it!

[wamplers]

Looks like you did a good job. The f/4.8 is kind of weird...open the aperture up to your max aperture and you'll get a faster shutter speed.

[TheMoons678]

I've recently picked up photography and am in an intermediate hockey class here at BYU. The temptation has come to hop on the ice with my camera to take action shots of pee-wee kids for parents during practice or pick-up games.

Part of me is excited about the idea because I would be able to grab action shots that nobody else could get, but then I am also a little worried about freak equipment accidents on the ice. Also I've never done sports photography, and would be working with a D80, 50mm 1.8, and my two VR kit lenses 18-55, 55-200mm.

Is this idea beyond stupid?

[jasp]

Steve:
Thanks for your comments. The apeture is unique to my Nikor 70-300 lense. Apparently the apeture changes as I zoom in from a wide open 4.8 at 70 to a 5.6 at 300. I'm putting some $$$ aside to someday purchase a lense that will remain 2.8 or better throughout the zoom range.
Thanks again.

[jasp]

Moon:
How well can you skate? Regardless, wear all the necessary protective equipment especially a helmet and elbow pads. Shin pads are strongly recommended. Then be careful that you stay aware of your surroundings while on the ice. We photographers tend to get "lost" in the shot. How many times have we moved while looking through the lense and found ourselves going over some edge?

In any case, your proposal is doable. I once did video of goaltenders in practice in an effort to visibly show them what "cutting down the angle" is all about.

Go for it.

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by jasp

Moon:
How well can you skate? Regardless, wear all the necessary protective equipment especially a helmet and elbow pads. Shin pads are strongly recommended. Then be careful that you stay aware of your surroundings while on the ice. We photographers tend to get "lost" in the shot. How many times have we moved while looking through the lense and found ourselves going over some edge?

In any case, your proposal is doable. I once did video of goaltenders in practice in an effort to visibly show them what "cutting down the angle" is all about.

Go for it.

Great skater with good balance. Yeah I'll for sure wear my gear. Should be interesting. I'll wear bright colored clothing so the kids can watch out for me, round them up to tell them to be careful around me, and that I will take their action pics if they and their parents want.

[LL III]

If you can do a custom white balance, do so with a gray card, in the rink. Another option, and I've had some success, use the ice itself for a custom white balnce. Find a white patch of ice. It seems to give me a more realistic ice color.

[jasp]

Moon:

Good advice from LL about white balance. I usually play with my over exposure button and OVER expose for the white ice. Cameras seem to make white ice 18% gray. So I play with the overexposure until I get the ice the white that I want. Be careful though, you can overexpose the whole shot if you go too far.

Another thought, get down to the level of your players. You might take a knee to get to that level. In my case at Tabor, I'm restricted to the "press box" and my photos show that "height." From time to time I am allowed at ice level in a penalty box and I get some great shots from there.

I'd be interested to learn how you made out.

[MrBeta]

I've always heard shooting ice is tough but I've never been at a game with my camera. I need to plan better. Most of the hockey games I go to are last minute decisions.