How to Photograph Hockey Teams

Various forms of hockey -- generally played with a ball and a stick -- are found in cultures as diverse as Egypt and Scotland. Ice hockey on skates, however, is a North American game. The NHL started its first season in 1917-18, and hockey has been front and center ever since. If you live in North America, chances are that you know something about hockey, either as a player or a spectator. Capturing hockey action for posterity involves careful planning. No matter if you are going down to the rink to snap a few pictures of your daughter playing left-wing, or if you are putting together a book of photographs for the team, use the right equipment and compose your shots.

Things You'll Need

  • Camera
  • Lenses
  • Equipment bag
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Instructions

  1. Have the Right Equipment

    • 1

      Use a 35mm camera for a more professional hockey photo. It gives you a better product than a digital camera. If you feel more comfortable with a digital, take lots of pictures and cull.

    • 2

      Turn off the flash. With the ice and plexi-glass of the hockey arena, photographs can have light reflections that will ruin the shot. While it may seem intimidating to shoot without a flash at first, the quality will be superior.

    • 3

      Choose the best lens. As a general rule, the longer the lens, the further you can shoot. If you want to be able to take distance photographs from anywhere in the hockey rink, use as long a lens as possible -- 300mm to 600mm is ideal -- to save you having to constantly move around to catch the team in action.

    • 4

      Determine exposure. Set the exposure manually, rather than relying on auto exposure. The light in a hockey rink is generally consistent at either end, so you don't have to worry about inconsistencies in that regard.

    Taking Photographs

    • 5

      Take test shots before the big hockey game. Adjust your shutter speed and ISO as required, but leave the lens on the highest possible opening. This is also an opportunity to assess how well your light meter is working.

    • 6

      Use the highest shutter speed available, as it lets in the most light for your hockey photos. "The Globe and Mail" suggests that you set the ISO to 1,600, but if you have 2,500 or 3,200 on your camera, even better.

    • 7

      Determine the best location to take hockey team photographs and get as close to the action as you can. You may want to spend some time at middle ice and then move behind the goalie in hopes of catching a scoring shot. The closer you are, the better the photograph.

    • 8

      Concentrate on timing and composition. Getting the best hockey shots is a matter of knowing what to look for. When the action starts to heat up, be ready to shoot. Nir Bareket, a professional photographer, advises that what you leave out of the photograph is part of the composition.