Hockey rink pics

[jerryph]

I went back again, but this time with not just one lens but a few more.

This time I took my 70-200 F/2.8, 30mm F/1.4 and the 50mm F/1.8 and had lot of fun.

I started off with the huge 70-200mm, and when I put on the 50mm, I felt as if the camera was light as air, what a weight difference!

Here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryph/sets/72157604515421416/show/) are a few pics of my time there. I always get a kick from watching the little ones playing. It is both exciting and funny as heck at times!

I had to go up to ISO 1600 to get the 1/200-320th of a second that I needed to reduce motion blur. It was also an exercise in removing high ISO noise as well as watching out for too shallow a DOF. Camera was always in manual, but next time I may play with SS or aperture prioritiy modes.

[Snappers]

Some nice shots there Jerry, Looks like you had fun

[dkippen]

Jerry - very nice shots and exposure looks good too. I've heard that shooting in an ice rink can be difficult.

And it's always fun to watch little kids play sports - they don't have the competitive edge yet.

[LensBaby]

No Debbie they do not, but their parents sure do. I have seen parents actually get into a physical fight over a pee wee football game. How sad is that? Now if I could just get those pics! HA

[jerryph]

Thanks Debbie, yes its definately a challenge to get good pics at a rink, especially this one... its quite old.

Here the parents yell and scream and bring big horns to the games, and the kids have a lot of fun, but the parents now and then have words. It is rare that it gets worse than that.

By that time, the kids are too busy enjoying themselves on the ice... thank God... lol

I have to bring the video camera some time... the parents sit in groups based on the side their kid is playing on and they have chants... back and forth they chant to spur on their kids, its hilarious.

[dkippen]

Sue -

When my niece was playing soccer, one set of parents (dad and mom) were banned from the games after excessive yelling, swearing and threatening to cause bodily harm to the coach because their daughter wasn't getting enough playing time. I feel sorry for the kids today and the parents that come to the games. What ever happened to "let's just have a good time and play??" The parents need to realize they are modeling behavior for their children and need to just lighten up.

[LensBaby]

That is what I thought. I actually had a coach use HORRIBLE language AT my son when he was on his baseball team (he was in first grade) Needless to say he kept doing it, and I RIPPED him off of that team. You would have thought he was on a NFL team!

[jerryph]

My friend's daughter was on a Ringette team with a bit of an abusive coach. 4-5 bad incidents including one forceful grab and shake by the jersey and this coach found himself on the receiving end of a black eye from my friend (it was his daughter being shaken like a leaf!).

Today, this team is coached by someone that cares about the sport and fun of playing, and the players are not scared of being roughed up if they lose. Their new coach is my friend.