August 11, 2008
Legg Mason Tennis Classic Day One
I will be at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic all week covering the tournament for OffWing. Here are the picks from the first day of action.
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Posted by Allen Clark at 08:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 03, 2008
Becoming A Sports Photographer
Came across a pretty good video from Harry How, a sports photographer with Getty Images. I must say a lot of what he says hits home with me and validates my path to date.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
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May 31, 2008
Getting Those Summer Shots: Tennis
Now that summer is here and things are warming up it is time to get out there and start shooting some summer time sports. I love to play and shoot tennis.
For the past several years OffWing has covered the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, DC. In addition to the Legg Mason, we will be covering Washington's new World Team Tennis Team, the Washington Kastles.
FYI - Clicking on the thumbnails will take you to a larger version of the image.
The Basics:
The great thing about tennis is that players typically hit a lot of shots to win a match, which gives you as the photographer more opportunities to capture some good pictures.
Like most pictures involving people you will want the faces visible and in focus (especially eyes).
You will also typically want to shoot with a higher shutter speed so that you can "stop" the action. Try a shutter speed of 400 to start out. If you have a point-and-shoot camera, put it into "sport mode."
How To Shoot Different Strokes
Image 1
Groundstrokes (Forehand & Backhand): Shoot across the net or at the net post so that you can see more of the body. There is also a better chance of getting the tennis ball in the shot from this angle. The picture to the left is John Isner, in this shot I have actually went up higher in the stands and shot down on him. This angle also removed the stands with people in the background, making it a very clean shot.
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Serve: In the above, are pictures of the serve from different angles. The first image of John Isner (Image 2) is probably the weakest of the three. Image 2 & Image 4 were taken on court, while the second one was taken from the stands. Note how John Inser (Image 2) is somewhat lost in the stands, while Kei Nishikori (Image 3) stands out more. The picture of Kei Nishikori benefits from the angle, but also a nice streak of light that hit him as he hit his serve, while the background is in shadows.
Overcoming Problems
Chain link fence: This is not a concern when shooting pro tennis, but it can be an issue when you are taking shots of your kids on the local court. What typically will happen is that the auto focus may focus in on the fence instead of the on court action. The trick is to place your lens on to the fence and open up the aperture of your lens. You can also try manual focus. NOTE: Do not let the lens touch the fence, use a lens hood to protect your lens.
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Distracting backgrounds: Above is a picture of Bob Bryan (Image 5), as he hits a backhand. I like the picture, but the top of his body is lost in the stands. Trying some of the following tips will make your images more powerful.
- Change your location so that the background of the tennis player is also different. If you have a telephoto lens, that may mean moving up and away from the court so that you can shoot down on the action. The picture Gael Monfils (Image 7) is a great example of this technique.
- If you have a Digital SLR shoot with the aperture as wide open as possible, remember this means a lower number. This will have the affect of blurring the background, which will make your player stand out. Here is another shot (Image 6) of John Isner hitting a forehand, but this time I am at ground level, but the people in the stands are out of focus.
Evening/lack of light:
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11
As the sun drops down, stopping the action with high shutter speeds becomes more challenging. But that doesn't mean that you must stop taking pictures. You just have to be a bit more creative. Below are some things that you can try:
- First off, increase the ISO of your camera which will increase the sensitivity of the camera to light. Be careful though, increasing the ISO too high can result in increased "noise" in the photo. The pictures of Andy Roddick (Image 11) as he follows through on his forehand demonstrates this. For this picture I had to increase the ISO to 1000. If you click on the image to get a larger version you will see "noise" which looks like little specks in the shadows and stands in the upper right hand corner of the image.
- Open up your aperture as much as possible and look for pictures that don't require high shutter speeds. Things like facial reactions after a point, or close-ups in between points can be great. In image 8, Marat Safin is looking up at the scoreboard as they replay a point.
- Be more artistic by lowering your shutter speed to under 100. Arms, legs, racket and ball will begin to blur as they do in Image 9 of James Blake during his service motion.
- I liked the composition and color in image 10. There was no motion so I could use a slow shutter speed. What I saw was the long shadow of the player on the court, and the bright pink hat that popped out because the background was in the shadows.
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May 08, 2008
DC United Fall Short Against Chicago Fire, 0-2
Despite strong play early in the first period, DC United could not overcome the first period goal by Chicago's Justin Mapp. The second period goal by Cuauhtemoc Blanco sealed the game, as DC United just didn't seem to get anything going.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 8: Chris Rolfe #17 of the Chicago Fire steals the ball from Marc Burch #4 of the DC United during a MLS game at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on May 8, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)For more on the game and reactions visit the following sites:
- Behind The Badge, MLS Game #7: DCU 0 - Chicago 2
- From Black and Red, This blog is...
- The DCenters, First Impression - DC United 0: 2 Chicago Fire
- BLCKDGRD, United 0, Chicago 2
- From DCUnited.com, This blog is...
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 8: Gonzalo Martinez #23 of the DC United and John Thorrington #11 of the Chicago Fire struggle for control of the ball during a MLS game at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on May 8, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
Use of our pics are free to independent bloggers who credit the photographer and link back to OffWing Photo.
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DC United vs. Chicago Fire (0-1), After The First Period
It has stayed dry so far despite threats of Thunderstorms, so far the only thing dampening spirits is the single goal by Chicago Fire late in the first period.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 8: Clyde Sims #19 of the DC United and Justin Mapp #21 of the Chicago Fire struggle for control of the ball during a MLS game at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on May 8, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
More photos to come following the game.
Use of our pics are free to independent bloggers who credit the photographer and link back to OffWing Photo.
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Photo Shoot For New DC United's Jersey And Sponsor
Here is a slick little video of my friend Mitchell Layton, sports photographer extraordinaire, during a photo shoot with some of the guys from DC United as they sport their new uniforms with the VW logo. DC United just inked a deal for VW to be their shirt sponsor.
Caught this as I was doing a little pre-game prep. OffWing Photo will be out there tonight to catch all of the soggy action from tonight's game against the Chicago Fire. Game time will be just after 9pm due to a 30 minute pre-game show on ESPN2, who will be airing the show.
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April 30, 2008
Photographers Rights
Yes, as a photographer you do have some rights.
For the sports photographer this might not be as big an issue as it is for others. But I can imagine that a photographer somewhere might be approached on school grounds while taking pictures of your own child participating in a sport. Photographer's rights is a hot topic right now on several blogs and podcasts. There is some good information and reference material that I wanted to share with all of you.
- Photographers rights for the, the United States.
- Street photographers rights for the, Australia.
- Photographers rights for the, the United Kingdom.
- This is a scary post regarding ads that are running in England, UK Declares War on Street Photographers
- Here is a link to a follow-up post about what is happening in the UK,Photographer's Rights: One More Time.
Posted by Allen Clark at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2008
New York Times Writes About Sports Blogs
Or did they?
Earlier this week the New York Times ran a story, "Tension Over Blogging." In the story, Tim Arango writes, "Tension over sports blogging is one of the strains between sports franchises, leagues and reporters to have emerged during the digital age."
Funny, the story did little to talk about the sports bloggers that started blogging and the millions of people that turn to blogs for coverage of the sports they love and to interact with the other fans that coalesce around specific blogs. The story didn't talk about the role of blogs in sports or even journalism. The story also didn't touch on how the blogs have affected the coverage of sports and the expectations of the readers of the New York Times or your favorite blog, like OffWing Opinion.
Are you asking yourself what the story was about yet? The blogging headline caught our eye but the story had nothing to do with blogging, the real story is one that has played out in other industries over the past decade, it is about the Internet and it's affects on an industry, this one being the "sports entertainment industry." At stake are billions of advertising dollars.
Prior to the Internet only print, radio, and television news organizations had the means to communicate to the masses. Traditional media's audience have come online and blogging has simplified the process of publishing to the point that quite literally anyone can publish a blog. The larger sports leagues have at the same time been developing their own media delivery platforms, while also securing the "coverage" of the events as a revenue stream. They are now making moves to limit access and coverage of their sporting events so that the public's eyeballs (and subsequent advertising dollars) return to League and team websites.
The NYT's article is really about the problems of print journalism in meeting the needs of their viewership. Stories come out everyday about more layoffs at a venerable publication. Management hands out point and shoot cameras to reporters; video cameras and audio recording devices to photographers. Quality drops as both reporters and photographers are asked to do more in less time. Yadda, yadda, yadda...I don't really want to go down this path right now.
John Harrington also wrote about this topic today in a story, Sports Coverage Blackout - It's About Time. He also touches on press limits being proposed by high school sport leagues in various places around the country. OffWing Photo also looked at this topic earlier this year and how it was being played out in Arkansas and Illinois.
OffWing and OffWing Photo will continue to cover the events that we are given access to. While our writers can sit in the stands or watch from their living rooms, our video and still images our taken by yours truly and a group of dedicated photographers. We strive to provide quality images that would rival the other photographers covering events, we don't want to do anything less.
The disservice of all this is to the fans, because your source for information is being limited. OffWing blogs because like you we love our teams and the sports we cover. The limits of our coverage should come down to our capabilities and the desire of our fans. While the big leagues can lock us out, they shouldn't. We increase the value of their "product" and bring them more eyeballs.
Sorry, I am a hopeless romantic. I root for my home town team, look up to the heroes of my sports, and feel fortunate to share with all of you what I can.
Rah! Go team!
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 06, 2008
Busy Day For OffWing Photographers
Saturday was a busy day for the OffWing photographers. Kate McGovern was covering the exciting the story of the Capitals getting into the playoffs by the hair of their chinnie (not sure of the spelling on this), chin chin. Don't get me wrong with that characterization, the Washington Caps have been playing great.
Alexander Semin celebrates his third period goal with Ovechkin and Green. The goal sealed the win for the Capitals at 3-1.
Photo by Kate McGovern
The Caps have completed an incredible comeback as the first team in the 30-team era of the NHL’s history to go from 14th or 15th place in their conference to a playoff spot. Kate posted a couple of other pictures that you can check out on OffWing.
At the same time Ellen Blanchard was at RFK covering the return of soccer season as the DC United took on Toronto FC. DC picked up a 4-0 win in front of the hometown, for more on the game you can check out Kris Herrell's coverage, Ellen also has more pictures from both the first half and the second half.
Photo by Ellen Blanchard
So what did this leave me? A day of spent inside a cold and dark hotel ballroom for a some continuing education. I along with about 30 other photographers participated in the Aperture Users Profressional Network's (AUPN) road tour of one-day intensive briefings on Apple's Pro photo application, Aperture, which is a great workflow tool for photographers.
With the Caps extending their season we are planning for an exciting spring and summer. OffWing and OffWing Photo will again be expanding our coverage of more sports and events.
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March 22, 2008
What I Want To Do When I Grow Up
I was trolling through my Google Alerts this morning and came across this gem of a posting from the Nemo Design Group on their blog.
So this kid...er photographer (I mean no disrespect) just got back from British Columbia shooting some snowboarders for Nike and has a great post that includes an interview and some pictures from the shoot. His name is Cole Barash, sure he is young, has a great eye, cool clients to work for, do I sound jealous...maybe just a little.
Anyhooo, take a look at his work, it rocks.
Posted by Allen Clark at 08:14 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 21, 2008
Knowing Your Subject
It always helps to know or even have played the event that you are going to shoot.
Here is a great example of this, famous dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov got behind the lens to shoot the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Check out the exhibition announcement for a statement from Mikahil, more info and pictures.Posted by Allen Clark at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2008
Playoff Hopes Beginning To Fade In Loss To Pittsbugh
So what do you say about a game that is lost in the final 40 seconds of play? What is worse is that it was scored mistakingly by Nicklas Backstrom. An empty net goal by the Penguins 15 seconds later by Jordon Staal had the many Pittsburgh fans in the stands on their feet cheering for their 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals.
The 5-3 loss to the Pittshburgh Penguins makes getting into the playoffs that much tougher for the Washington Capitals. Joe Dumas, of OffWing puts it this way, "the two losses on the weekend make it that much harder for the Caps to sneak into the playoffs, as they are 6 points out of the 8th seed and 7 points out of the Southeast lead. With only 12 games to go, they need to do something special to make the postseason."
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 9: Goalie Cristobal Huet and Shaone Morrisonn of the Washington Capitals protects the net during a NHL hockey game with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 9, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 9: Shaone Morrisonn of the Washington Capitals and Pascal Dupuis of the Pittsburgh Penguins struggle for control of the puck during a NHL hockey game on March 9, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 9: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals controls the puck during a NHL hockey game with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 9, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008
Sports Photographers Have The Super Bowl Covered
© Jack Howard
There is a great story over on the Popular Photography website detailing how the Super Bowl is covered by photographers of different news organizations. The have a slideshow, interviews with Peter Reed Miller and Joe DiLora, and some other interesting items.
- Story: Super Bowl XLII: The Ultimate Shoot-out
- Super Bowl Slideshow
- Slideshow and interview with Peter Reed Miller
- Slideshow and interview with Joe DiLora, Assistant Manager of Canon Professional Services
- Story: How To Shoot a Stadium From the Stands
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December 28, 2007
Interview With Chris Rutsch Of Hartford's Wolf Pack
I came across a piece about the team photographer for the Hartford Wolf Pack, an American Hockey League (AHL) team located in Hartford Conn.
- Read the story here.
- You can view Chris' pictures here
- The story comes from Mitch Beck's"Howlings: Hartford Wolf Pack News And Commentary."
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December 12, 2007
Shooting the Game: Interview with Norwegian hockey photographer Espen Hildrup
Our good friend Jon Swenson over at the Sharkspage recently interviewed Norwegian hockey photographer Espen Hildrup and allowed us to republish the article here. Jon runs a great blog, you should check it out if you are haven't already.
2006-07 VALERENGA TEAM PHOTO - ESPEN HILDRUP
Norwegian photographer Espen Hildrup was kind enough to answer a few questions about hockey photography, the Norwegian Hockey League champion Valerenga team, former NHL Allstar Espen Knutsen, and ice hockey in the small country of Norway.
Espen's latest collection of 2007-08 Valerenga hockey photos are available here, and photos from the 2006-07 Valerenga season are available here. The official GET-Ligaen league website is available at hockey.no, and the official Valerenga Ishockey team website is available at vif.no.
JOHNNY BRUUN 2-1 SHOT - ESPEN HILDRUP
[Q] How long have you been photographing sports, and how long have you been shooting ice hockey in Norway?[EH] I started shooting ice hockey - and sports - in February this year. I picked up photography as a hobby 3 years ago, with a Casio compact. Got my first dSLR 2 years ago; an Olympus e300. Since then I've been doing work for Corinthia International, SAS Radisson, several advertising agencies, magazines and newpapers.
Last winter the weather was really bad here in Oslo, Norway; no snow, only rain and fog, so I didn't get to use my camera at all. Then I called Valerenga Ice Hockey and asked if they could use someone to photograph them. They said yes - and since then I have been to all of their games. Valerenga is by far Norway's #1 ice hockey club, with 25 Norwegian Championships. The ex-NHL All Star player Espen "Shampoo" Knutsen is their head coach.
[Q] What camera do you use when you shoot a game, and which lenses do you use most often for hockey?[EH] I'm using a Canon 5D. Not a typical sports camera, with full frame and 3 fps; but 13mp and very clean high ISO images helps.
In the beginning I brought all sorts of lenses to the games, but the 70-200mm f/2.8 soon became my favorite. I also bring the 1.4x teleconverter, for extra reach - but that gives an f/4, which is a little on slow side. Also the 85mm f/1.8 is a good lens.
[Q] There is a tremendous amount of action and detail in your photos. What do you look to capture when you shoot a hockey game, and what is it like shooting at some of the ice hockey rinks in Norway?
[EH] Having played ice hockey for several years, when I was younger, I try to anticipate the action. Often I just keep the focus at the keeper and zoom in/out as the players move around him. I also try to keep both eyes open; one in the camera, with the other I try to "scan" what goes on outside the viewfinder... When you follow the same team you learn their typical tactics and moves, so you can locate yourself accordingly.
[Q] You have a large collection of photos online, many are of the Valerenga club who have won three straight Norwegian titles. How would you compare the Norwegian league to other leagues? How does Valerenga look so far this season?
[EH] I haven't seen any other leagues except for watching the NHL on ESPN360.com. And comparing the norwegian GET League to NHL is like comparing a Skoda to a Ferrari...
As mentioned, I started shooting ice hockey less than a year ago. Before that I was only into landscapes and travel photography - which got a little boring.
Valerenga is also #1 again this year; but the competition is getting tougher. Valerenga lost 3 major players last season; 2 Americans went back to the US, and 1 native Valerenga-player went to play professionally in Germany. So after not really having found new players, combined with teams like Storhamar Dragons, Stavanger Oilers and Sparta Warriors who are working seriously to be the best, this season looks more uncertain the last year.[Q] Hockey is very popular among the youth in Finland and Sweden, and interest is growing in Denmark and Germany, are more young kids in Norway starting to gain interest in the sport?[EH] Ice hockey is a small sport in Norway, and I have often wondered why. I just do not understand it; why norwegians do not give this sport a chance. In Sweden Ice Hockey is a major sport. Likewise in Finland. One explaination could be, that people has some kind of mental connetion between ice hockey and fighting. Maybe media in Norway has focused too much on the fights, and too little on the game itself. I don't know...
On Valerenga's Hockey School, this year there were almost twice as many participants as last year. And on average, there are 10% more people coming to see the games in Norway this winter. So it looks like ice hockey is picking up in popularity. It also helps that a TV channel broadcasts a match every Thursday night.
There's a lot of talk about the climate change here in Norway; the winters getting warmer, with less snow and ice. So I think more people will look for indoor sports for the winter seasons. This could give ice hockey a boost in the years to come...
[Q] With Norway's Patrick Thoresen playing for the Edmonton Oiler's AHL affiliate in Springfield, and fellow Norwegian Ole-Kristian Tollefsen racking up 47 penalty minutes already for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL, which Norwegians are having the most success playing outside of Norway? And is there a Norwegian player or prospect that fans should keep an eye on?
[EH] Besides Patrick Thoresen and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, I do know the name Mathis Olimb, an ex-Valerenga player who now plays for the Augsburg Panthers in Germany. There's talk he will be playing in the NHL next year.
Right now I heard Mathis Olimb's litte brother, Ken Andre Olimb, who scored Norway's 1-0 goal against Ukraine in the Junior World Championships in Germany, is a player to watch. Also Ken Andre will become one of Norway's top international players. Last night, Patrick Thoresen's little brother Steffen Thoresen signed a contract with Valerenga. He arrives from Allsvenskan in Sweden. So things are looking good right now!
[Q] Espen Knutsen played for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 1997, but he also received a second shot at the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the recommendation of former San Jose Sharks/Norwegian national team head coach George Kingston. Knutsen was the only Norwegian to play in an NHL allstar game, the Swedish Elite League team Djurgarden called him one of the best players in the teams history after he retired, and he captured a Norwegian championship in his first year as the head coach of Valerenga, What has been Espen Knutsen's impact on hockey in Norway?
[EH] Espen "Shampoo" Knutsen's impact on norwegian ice hockey is tremendous! He's an icon in Norway, even though I don't think the average Norwegian actually realizes how big being an allstar in the NHL really is. This combined with his sympathetic and nice way of being, makes him a very popular person in Norway. He earned the championship in his first season as head coach for Vålerenga last season. Now there's people who wants him as coach for Norway's National Team.
Thanks very much for taking the time to answer a few questions, and for telling us a little about hockey in Norway. A handful of photographers have contributed to the Shooting the Game series, including Grega Juvancic from Slovenia, Jenik Bohac from Latvia, Laurent Lardiere from France, and several others.
[Update] 2006-2007 in review: Norway, Valerenga Norwegian champions for the 25th time - Eurohockey.net.
Posted by Allen Clark at 09:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 21, 2007
Getting Great Photos For Your Publication
Are you unsatisfied with the pictures your photographer comes back with. Or are you a beginning/occasional sports photographer looking for the edge?
A great story was posted over at the On Sports sports blog with tips on getting better photos for your sport section.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Captain Chris Clark of the Washington Capitals is injured during a NHL hockey game with the Vancouver Canucks on October 26, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)While written primarily for the sports editor or writer, the tips can just as easily be used by the photographer going into a new situation, sport, or working with a new writer.
Posted by Allen Clark at 11:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 07, 2007
Arkansas Latest In Limiting Photographer's Rights
It seems that everyone is reading from the same playbook on limiting the rights of photographers, even if the photographer is the parent of a player in a state championship game.
Today we welcome the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) to the hall of shame. The AAA is the sponsoring organization of championship games for public and private schools. The news came from the Times Record in Fort Smith Arkansas in both an article and editorial.
Here are a couple of gems from the AAA's policy:
- “As this policy is written, a parent in the stands couldn’t take a picture of his own child and post it on the family blog or Web site (which might have ads),” said Mark Hinueber, vice president and general counsel for Stephens Media.
- Still photos, video, and audio can only be used for 24 hrs after the event. After which the AAA would own the rights.
Unfortunately as I was writing this the AAA's website was curiously down.....hmmm. Fortunately through the wonder of Google, I was able to view a cached version of their website.
We will see what happens when later this week Arkansas has their state football championships and the Times Record plans to runs pictures from the event.
Posted by Allen Clark at 10:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 03, 2007
Limiting Access To Sporting Events
I have been reading with interest with a lawsuit in Illinois by the Illinois Press Association, there is another story on this at Online News Squared. It seems that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) which sponsors the end of season atheletic championships have signed a deal with Visual Image Photography, Inc for "exclusive and unlimited access to tournament locations and photo opportunities."
The IHSA in turn is asking that credentialed media limit their use of photos taken at events that VIP will cover. This is just plain wrong.
Unfortunately there seems to be a growing undercurrent to limit access to events. Of course you have seen it on the pro level with the NFL limiting online audio and video to 45 seconds that must be removed within 24 hours. You can catch more on this by checking out the Sports Law Blog.
Hey....anyone want to compete on the quality of their photos, service, and editorial?
Posted by Allen Clark at 10:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 26, 2007
Capturing The Drama At A Hockey Game
For me tonight's loss by the Washington Capitals to the Vancouver Canucks was overshadowed by the injury to Chris Clark of the Washington Capitals. Clark caught the slap shot of fellow Caps player, Alex Ovechkin to the head. Early reports are that he got stitches in his left ear after the game.
The following picture is a great example of being lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time (my apologies to Chris Clark), photographically that is. In several locations around the ice rink there are holes cut into the plexi-glass that protects the spectators. It is through these holes that we shoot our pictures.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Captain Chris Clark of the Washington Capitals is injured during a NHL hockey game with the Vancouver Canucks on October 26, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)So what you say? Try taking a picture of something as fast moving as hockey without moving your lens more than a few inches to the left or right. The plexi-glass while providing safety, robs the photographer a clear view of much of the ice. I would estimate that from the hole where I was sitting tonight I could view approximately 40% of the ice.
Sometimes you get, only what you can get. Tonight I was lucky (but also prepared to shoot what I could). But sometimes the drama unfolds in that 60% of the ice that I can't shoot. This carries through to other locations with their own limitations.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Captain Chris Clark of the Washington Capitals is injured during a NHL hockey game with the Vancouver Canucks on October 26, 2007 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)Being creative can overcome some difficulties, but there is little you can do when you are shooting a basketball game in a dark gym, with a lens that has a maximum aperture of 5.6. So don't knock yourself to hard if those shots don't come out. Sometimes the pictures just aren't out there.
Below is a picture that includes an official's elbow when he skated by the hole that I was shooting through. I would have loved to have that picture.
But when everything does go your way, you better be ready!
See more photos from the game by visiting our Photoshelter gallery.
Posted by Allen Clark at 10:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
