Hockey camera settings

[BEphoto]

Got my first hockey shoot coming up on Thursday and I was just curious how you pros shoot. I'll be using my 70-200 for all of it.

Basically, what shutter speeds do you aim for? I'm guessing I should shoot at 2.8 and probably ISO 800. I'm still shooting an XT so the ISO performance at 1600 isn't exactly the best (not that even 800 is all that great).

This is just an adult amateur hockey league at the parks mall in Arlington, no Dallas Stars or anything, but it's still a great learning experience for the future.

Also, what do you do for white balance? I'm going to shoot RAW for sure, but would rather get it right straight out of the camera. Do you take a pic of the ice and set that as your custom white balance?

One last thing. I don't know if any of you have seen the rink at the mall, but I could shoot either straight through the glass from pretty much anywhere, or elevated from a few different points on each end and one side. If shooting elevated it would be through a net however. At f/2.8 I don't think it would show up because the net is fairly close to where I would be shooting from. There are two games Thursday evening so maybe I'll try both positions.

Thanks for any tips you guys can give. Very much appreciated!

Brad

[mattman]

manual mode - f2.8 - iso 1000 - speed 800 or 640 (depending on light) white balance auto or if you set it to "K" - drop it to 3800-4200 - the lower you go, the more the ice will look "blueish" so no lower than 3800 - center focus
if there are any holes in the glass, then shoot through those but keep your head on a swivel because speeding pucks can and will break lenses
since this is your first time, don't worry about going out and getting all the "action" shots, there are plenty of "posed" positions that are cool
shoot the goalie, they look cool with all the pads
HAVE FUN!

[AndrewCCM]

I think Matt pretty much summed it up. I haven't shot at the Parks Mall, but would guess the lighting may be a bit dimmer than the AAC. But...the players should be a lot slower too.

I typically turn off my IS and shoot at a bit higher shutters, but also a little higher ISO as well. The nice thing about shooting hockey and higher ISO's...since a lot of the frame is white, noise is not quite as obvious as it can be with other sports. A trick that some use is "exposing to the right" which basically means overexposing a tad... you can then bring them back in post which in effect helps with ISO noise. The real key is to make sure you have enough shutter speed and to expose as accurately as possible. Underexposure is the killer with ISO noise in post.

Good luck and have a great time!

[BEphoto]

Thanks for the info guys. Exactly what i was looking for.

As far as glass ports go, im not sure that the mall rink has those so it would be shooting actually behind the glass, not through it. Im guessing on this however.

I had already planned on overexposing a little, but not for the noise reasons that you stated andrew. I just assumed all of the ice would trick the camera meter into underexposing. Good to know that it will also help with the noise as well!

Should be a fun time. I'll post pics once i get them.

Thanks again guys.

Brad

[mattman]

Brad - don't listen to Andrew. He only shoots the Dallas Stars Ice Girls standing still!!!

[BEphoto]

Originally Posted by mattman

Brad - don't listen to Andrew. He only shoots the Dallas Stars Ice Girls standing still!!!

Ouch!

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by mattman

Brad - don't listen to Andrew. He only shoots the Dallas Stars Ice Girls standing still!!!

It is true though... Don't listen to me...I "agreed" with Matt.. heheh

[mattman]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

It is true though... Don't listen to me...I "agreed" with Matt.. heheh

heeeeeeey!

fyi - can't make tonight's game (Phoenix) but will be there Friday!

[BEphoto]

I'll be here from 10am-10:30pm for both.... unfortunately not for the same reason you guys will be there....

[AndrewCCM]

I'll be at both.. However, I may be a bit late on Friday. Son has soccer practice until 7:30....If it's good weather, my wife will take him though. :)

[khatley]

I will often shoot aperture mode +2/3 if you have to deal with unevenly lit rinks like I had to deal with this last weekend in Houston. I had to shoot at 3200 iso as well...terrible light there. I sometimes auto white balance or will custom off the ice after it has been roughed up pretty good.

[BEphoto]

Off topic but i figured it was a good story. Today at work i was walking back from the south side of the event level and saw the great one, Wayne Gretzky, come walking in from the dock. I walked up next to him gave him a slight nod and kept walking. He actually stopped me to check out the hats i was carrying and proceeded to make small talk with me for quite a few minutes. It was freakin awesome. I run into players and musician all the time at work and its no big thing to me. For instance, one day i was taking a cart full of boxes to the recycling and a few fell off of the top as i was walking past Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, and i think a trainer. They actually stopped and helped me pick up my stuff and talked for a sec, but it didnt phase me at all. But for some reason today really had me awestruck. Im not even a huge hockey fan but i mean, its wayne freakin gretzky. One of the most easily recognizable people in all of sports.

Just thought it was a cool story, mostly for matt and andrew since they are around the building all the time.

[AndrewCCM]

There is no better in the sport of hockey. That is a great story...
I keep meaning to go to the press conference after the Phoenix games, but never do...

Brad - I promise I'll stop by and say hello one of these days!

Ken - It was great seeing you at the game tonight. After seeing your face in person, I now remember you from the workshop a couple of years ago! Good talking with you guys...

[khatley]

moved to fight thread

[Jeff Lane]

Wayne freakin GRETZKY!!! Dude, I am absolutely on fire with envy!