Photographing ice hockey presents unique challenges for photographers. The game's high speed and dynamic action require quick reflexes and a good understanding of the sport. Whether you're shooting at an amateur or professional level, mastering the art of hockey photography involves careful preparation, the right equipment, and a keen eye for capturing the game's most exciting moments.
Understanding the Game
The first step to capturing great hockey photos is to understand the game. Knowing the rules and flow will significantly improve your shots. Having this knowledge will help you keep your lens out of harm's way when shooting for the media. If you are not familiar with hockey, start watching games on TV to observe player movements and strategies.
Pre-Game Preparation
Most NHL games start around 7:00 or 7:30 PM, providing ample time for preparation. Ensure your camera batteries are charged, compact flash cards are cleared, flash batteries are charged, and lenses are free of debris. Review your camera settings to avoid any carry-over settings from previous shoots that could hinder your performance.
Also take a look at the game match up. Who are the stars on each team? Who is on a scoring streak? Is there bad blood between these teams? Knowing the teams and the main players helps get great shots.
Essential Equipment
Selecting the right equipment is crucial for capturing high-quality hockey photos. Here are some recommendations:
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- Cameras: The Nikon Z 9 would be my camera of choice. If that is out of your price range then the mirrorless Nikon Z 6 III would be my next choice. Other cameras to consider are the Sony a9 II at about $4500 and the Sony a6400 with the 55 to 210mm lens at about $1200. If we were at a camera store together my advice would be to buy a mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z or Sony. This is were all the latest advances in camera technology seem to be moving.
- Lenses: A 70-200 mm zoom lens or similar is a must as well. But to fully cover the rink you will need a 24-70 lens and a 400 mm lens as well. The 24-70 will get you those up close celebration shots and the 400 the shots of action at the other end of the rink. If I could only pick one, it would be the 70-200mm lens. I use a Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens. The Sigma is a sharp, fast and versatile lens. I highly recommend it.
Here's a comparison of recommended camera models:
| Camera Model | Approximate Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nikon Z 9 | High | Flagship mirrorless, advanced features |
| Nikon Z 6 III | Mid-range | Mirrorless, excellent performance |
| Sony a9 II | $4500 | High-speed, professional-grade |
| Sony a6400 with 55-210mm lens | $1200 | Affordable, versatile |
Camera Settings
Achieving the right exposure is essential for capturing clear and dynamic hockey photos. Here are some recommended settings:
- Manual Mode: Shoot in manual mode for full control over exposure.
- ISO: I will typically shot in manual mode at ISO 2000. The minimum ISO you will probably be able to get away with will be around ISO 1600.
- Shutter Speed: 1/1000th of a second. To freeze the stick in mid bend set your shutter speed to about 1/1000th of a second. To have motion in the stick set your camera’s shutter speed to about 1/350 of a second at the pro level.
- Aperture: f/4 to f/5.6. I typically do not shoot at f2.8, so if you do not have an f2.8 lens, don’t worry, you can still get great shots.
- Auto Focus: I also use Auto Focus Area mode on my camera and the Continuous Focus mode on my lens because the action is constantly moving.
Do not use a flash when shooting ice hockey.
You will have to experiment because the lighting in every rink will be different.
White Balance
Everything is white… the ice, the boards, the uniforms. Use a custom setting for consistent results. I use a custom white balance setting metered off the ice or the stairs (the stairs are usually cement and a nice neutral gray color) and never let my camera automatically set the white balance.
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I have found that the auto white balance will sometimes change between shots and give a series of game shots that look a bit off in color. I have often noticed that the auto mode is too warm for my tastes giving the ice a darker color, almost grayish color, which it shouldn’t have. After some experimentation I have settled on a white balance of 4000K which gives me the balance that I am looking for. It’s important to note that the white balance in the arena you are shooting at may be significantly different.
Remember to take your reading from a neutral gray or white color in the light you are shooting in. Often lens cleaning clothes are made neutral gray and are great to meter off of.
Digital Photography - Photographing Ice Hockey How-To
Where to Shoot From
The NHL has predetermined where the press can shoot from by placing removable cut outs in the glass for a photographer’s camera lens. These cut outs are located by each goal line. There are usually six of these openings.
Ice Level
I prefer to shoot from just a few feet in front of the goal line on ice level. From this angle you should be able to get good shots of the goal, players celebrating after scoring, and behind the net where you can look for some great hits when players are battling for the puck. Angling your camera will also get you shots along the boards as players make their way into the offensive zone.
In major markets there are more media than there are spaces to shoot. In that case, just shoot through the glass on ice level. The plus side to this is that you do not have to worry about your lens being hit by a fast moving puck.
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It’s also very important to remember that when the play is along the boards in the corners there are likely to be big hits. The boards and glass are made to flex. If there is a hit by the glass that you are shooting through make sure you pull yourself back to avoid getting hit by the flexing boards and glass. Having a camera to your eye when these boards flex can lead to a broken lens, a black eye and defiantly a bruised ego!
Remember that often teams will dump in the puck by whipping it around the boards as they cross the blue line. This is the time where a camera lens is in the most danger of getting hit by a puck. Make sure to pull your camera back out of the glass when players “dump” in the puck!
Second Level
I also like to change things up and shoot from center ice at the top of the second level (often where the TV cameras are). This is just above the glass and gives a great view of the entire rink. From here you will get the opportunity to shoot at both goals. This is a plus because you can catch action on both sides of the net, rather than limiting yourself to just one side.
You will need at least a 400 mm lens from here. If you cannot afford one, consider a 2x Teleconverter for your 200 mm lens. Make sure it matches your lens’ make and model for compatibility!
Hockey Photography Tips
Goalie Shots
For a goalie to stop a shot traveling at speeds of over 100 mph he has to react before the shot reaches him. Typically, he will go down on both knees to cover the low ice.When the play is in the offensive zone, aim you camera at the goalie. Zoom in (or out) wide enough to get about 8 feet in front of the goalie and focus. This is to capture any action around the net. Watch the goalies knees. A hockey goalie has trained his reflexes to be some of the fastest in any pro sport. Once his knees start to bend, hit the shutter release on your camera and hold it. Keep firing away as fast as your camera can take pictures. If the puck makes it to the net, odds are, you got the shot!
Slap Shots
Your best bet is to point your camera at a defenseman whose team is currently attacking. He should be by the blue line. During a power play is probably your best time to accomplish this. Wait for the attacking team to pass to your defense man and start firing away as soon as he raises his stick to shoot.
Capturing Celebrations
When the home team scores a goal you may feel the urge to join in on the celebration. A horn sounds, spot lights on the players, crowd jumping up screaming! You may be tempted to join in… Don’t 🙂 Now is the time for you to get some great shots of the players celebrating. A great hockey shot doesn’t have to be action, often its emotion. So look for these shots just after a goal.