Byfuglien in Front

Fierce action in front of the net
(Chicago 2008)

Along the Boards

Battling in the corners makes all the difference in a close game
(Chicago 2008)

Subject: Hockey

Ah, the sport of my childhood. Hockey is such a action packed and fast paced sport that a picture can truly capture a moment and speak a thousand words.

I have been a part of just about every aspect of the game, from playing at the age of 3 through my senior year at high school, to being an assistant coach at the high school level for 5 years, and now being a big fan of the Chicago Blackhawks as they start the biggest season of their franschise. During my tenure as assistant coach, I also developed and maintained the team's website, Nighthawks Hockey Online.

It is a great time to be a fan again, especially when I get to bring my camera gear and play photographer, too. It's a game like no other, where you so close to the action and there is so much going on at once. There are manneurisms of certain players, intensity of different situations, and also that fun moment every once and a while that you just feel like capturing,

 

Hockey All Around

I have had only a few opportunities to catch a game as a photographer, so my collection so far is limited. But there is so much hockey around now that winter is approaching. Everything from high school, junior level, to professional teams like the Wolves and the Blackhawks.

One of my first shoots came at the high school level when I was coaching. While it would have been pretty neat to capture the action from the bench, I had my handful with 16 teenagers that I had to deal with. There was one game that I had to sit out because of a suspension (don't ask), so I was up in the stands and behind the net taking photos.

The next change I got was at a Blackhawks game this past March. We had great seats right on the center line and I was able to get a variety of shots of both live action and during the breaks. I had a little trouble with the white balance and color levels from shooting indoors, but nothing that Photoshop can't fix. The main problem I have, though, is getting time to adjust them all. :(

 

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