My plan was to take some shots from my seat for the first two periods. That would allow a change of ice for the teams. For the third period, I'd go back above the sets and to center ice. Shots with no obstructions.
In the end, these were different shots. And that is what I'm going for.
First the funny stuff. No photograph ever improves because you put an obstacle between the camera and the subject. Filters or Plexiglas. I've ready read from some posters on the UHH that low level rink shots are tough because of the Plexiglas that surrounds the rink for protection of the fan, or to keep the puck in play. The Plexiglas will scratch and scar. Maybe the light will bend? I didn't even think of a possible distortion aspect.
Now that was one issue. Here is the other. The panels are only so wide and depending on where your seat is they can be close together. Holding each pane is a non-clear support.
Still, the angles of the game from here were just too good to give up. One of the things I had to work on was to capture a good auto focus target through all this. Fortunately I could easily tell when the AF caught the wrong target, such as a blemish on the Plexiglas. And just as fortunate I could lose the AF lock and reacquire within a few seconds. And the AF would also keep lock while passing over the false targets. This is not to say that were not a few misses, all I said is I had the chance to work on it.
All the shots were at ISO 800 and 1/1000 sec. I've been experimenting with the Anti-Vibration turned off when shooting over 1/600 but not this time out. I may not have needed it for the photograph, but I needed it for my eyesight through the viewer. The shots out of the camera were on the dark side, but not by much. Fixable, but I will say the pictures on the blog are darker than what I have at home. Not sure what happened there.
I did a lot of this for the night, I would play a guessing game - guess where the action would be. Focus on the goalie for example, and hit the shutter when I thought something was going to happen. I tried not to take 'portrait' shots, but looking for more action shots. And the definition of action is a bit on the loose side. A puck in the shot added value. A defender or two close by would help as well.
This shot was one I was thinking about. Lots of stop action. Ice snow flying. The blemishes on the Plexiglas do get lost in the shot, thankfully. And if the linesman standing on the line were not there, this would be pretty good.
Stop on a Dime
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
123 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
This was sort of a fun shot. Some action, puck rolling. What allowed this to be a keeper is all four players are total, that is they have heads and feet. I do not mind with some referee being a percentage, this case headless. But the players need to be total.
One through Two
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
105 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
Well most of the players are whole, but there are a lot of them so there are exceptions to the rules. The puck is there. Not too many Flint players though.
Net Front Congestion
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
105 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
From eye level, this is the type of shot I wanted to get. As an unexpected surprise, not only is the primary subject moving between two defenders and the puck is in play, but the bench for both teams is awesome. Everyone is looking at the play. No one is yawning.
To the Net
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
142 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
This was taken along the same view line. The bench isn't showing the same amount of excitement. But the defenseman on the left is just about to hit the ice. That has to be worth something.
Cross Net Pass
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
135 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
When I think of the night's hockey shots this is the one. Problem is, it is too close. As we can see, the closer the shot, the more the defects show up in the shots. If I was going to do anything more with this picture, I'd try to remove some of the blemishes. Might involve a bit of time. Although I don't have a total defenseman, I do have his stick is a not normal position. In fact, this would be evidence of hooking or even a penalty shot. No penalty called. #NotSurprised It was fun watching this sequence unfold through the viewfinder.
Alone in Front
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
127 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
By this time I had moved out of my seat behind the goal, so this was taken at an elevated position. Nice, clear, no spots. This was a clear breakaway and the shot. And actually the interesting thing is the puck is a bit off the ice. I'm looking too close to these shots.
Between the Dots
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
150 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
This is the second favorite shot from the night. All the requisite elements are present. Puck, players, snow ice and a (almost) goal. Just wide. But who is counting. It's a good shot. Both hockey and photo. And truth in photography, I had to remove a defense stick from the right of the image. Artistic license.
Tap In
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
247 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
MANUAL Mode, Size DX
Good night at the rink. I may have to go more often.
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