This season I am trying to get close up photos of the players on the ice for the Syracuse Crunch to use if a player needs to be featured on their website or social media outlets.
Syracuse Crunch Alex Green (57) on the ice against the Utica Comets in American Hockey League (AHL) action at the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Syracuse won 6-1. Nikon D500/18-140VR, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 6400, EV +1.3, 140mm Focal Length.
I use photography holes cut into the protective plexiglass large enough for a lens and small enough to keep pucks out (so far!). Without thick and marked up plexiglass between me and the players, I can shoot with a faster shutter speed. This helps a lot when players get close to me.
Syracuse Crunch Declan McDonnell (52) on the ice against the Rochester Americans in American Hockey League (AHL) action at the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, February 20, 2021. Rochester won 3-2. Nikon D500/18-140VR, 1/1000s, f/5.3, ISO 6400, EV +1.3, 80mm Focal Length.
While sometimes they are not going at full speed, I still need to be ready when the players turn towards me.
Syracuse Crunch Gabriel Fortier (9) on the ice against the Rochester Americans in American Hockey League (AHL) action at the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Rochester won 4-2. Nikon D500/18-140VR, 1/1000s, f/5.3, ISO 6400, EV +1.3, 85mm Focal Length.
The key to a good action portrait is to catch the player with their head up with little background clutter and the frame as filled as much as possible so little to no cropping is needed. This gives the Crunch media people the best image possible.
