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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Lens hood tore off at NHL game
Christopher Anderson, Photographer
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Machesney Park | IL | U.S.A. | Posted: 9:56 PM on 04.05.09 |
->> I was watching the Blackhawks at Blue Jackets games this afternoon and one of the Blackhawk defenseman went to clear the puck and threw it around the boards. A photographer had what looked to be his 70-200 peaking out through the photographer's hole in the glass and the puck ripped his lens hood off and threw it out to center ice.
I've never seen that before. Anyone else ever seen it or know who the photographer was? |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 10:26 PM on 04.05.09 |
| ->> I suspect that isn't all that unusual. One of my Big Metro buddies lost the hood to his 70-200 at the Mellon arena one night while we were covering HS playoffs. He had the lens about halfway thru the gun port in a corner and an errant puck came ripping around the glass and shredded the hood. The refs stopped the game to pick up the pieces and life went on. John said they quit asking about the broken hoods in the office after about the third explanation... |
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Mike Janes, Photographer
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Attica | NY | USA | Posted: 10:46 PM on 04.05.09 |
| ->> It's kind of strange, my hood is in my bag when shooting hockey - no reason to use it. Don't shoot it as much as I'd like to but don't think I've ever noticed anyone using there hood on the 70-200. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 11:51 PM on 04.05.09 |
->> I definatly keep mine off for that reason. Never want a game to be halted due to a piece of your kit coming off.
Depending on the size of the hole, it can be pretty tough just to pull your lens back without catching it and cracking it yourself much less catching a puck.
Also I've learned that at least with Canon's hoods its best ot always put some gaffers tape on as well. I learned that the hard way after someone pointed out to me that my lens hood was floating in the diving well at a NCAA swim meet. It was just on my second body over my shoulder and without even any real contact it must of gotten knocked loose. I always made sure to secure it better there after to keep something like that from happening again. I can only imagine it rolling out onto the floor during a bball game for example in the middle of the action and someone stepping on it and slipping etc. Not only would I be out $40 for a cheap piece of plastic but I'd probably have a few other people upset with me as well. |
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Adrian Gauthier, Photographer
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Mississauga | ON | Canada | Posted: 12:01 AM on 04.06.09 |
->> Those pucks come flying by, and if you're not used to it, it can definitely happen.
At the regional high school playoffs this past month, a puck actually ended up flying through the hole beside mine. Luckily, the other hole slot was empty, but those holes are big enough for a 300 to fit through (at least at the ACC), so dangerous things can happen. I don't shoot with the hood on though, with either the 300 or 70-200. |
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Al Santos, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 9:12 AM on 04.06.09 |
->> I've never seen anyone use lens hood while shooting NHL through the glass. Isn't this common knowledge for those shooting hockey?
When in doubt, I always check with the team photographer. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 9:21 AM on 04.06.09 |
| ->> This happened three times in one night when I was at The Sporting News in 1997. Klutho's remote camera was grabbed through the hole by a player and the hood was yanked from it. An inexperienced photographer from the Post-Dispatch actually stuck their camera through the hole and it was busted. And a puck came through the hole, hit my nearly un-taped hood and it fell on the ice. Next game... Mark Buckner had a no lens hood policy. The later two were preventable. Don't be stingy with the tape. |
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John Howley, Photographer
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Circleville | OH | USA | Posted: 11:13 AM on 04.07.09 |
->> I saw that on TV Sunday. I recognized the photographer but couldn't tell you his name.
Following Jeff's post - from what I could see on TV, he was a Canon shooter.
I haven't shot the CBJ the last two seasons, but was always a little nervous about sticking my lens (without a lens hood) through the hole. |
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Richard Denham, Photographer
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Toronto/Buffalo/Niagara | On | Canada | Posted: 11:21 AM on 04.07.09 |
->> Quote Mike Janes
"It's kind of strange, my hood is in my bag when shooting hockey - no reason to use it. Don't shoot it as much as I'd like to but don't think I've ever noticed anyone using there hood on the 70-200."
Quote Al Santos
"I've never seen anyone use lens hood while shooting NHL through the glass. Isn't this common knowledge for those shooting hockey? "
Really, imagine that guy had no lens hood on, what would have taken the impact? His lens. No way I am ever putting my lens through the glass without a lens hood on it. even shooting behind glass I still keep my hoods on all my lens's when shooting hockey, or any other sport for that matter |
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Mark J. Terrill, Photographer
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Simi Valley | CA | USA | Posted: 6:32 PM on 04.07.09 |
| ->> Most arenas I've been to don't allow lens hoods, and rightfully so in my opinion. We shouldn't be taking a chance on affecting the game because of a lens hood falling on the ice. That would be just another excuse they could use to close off access to us. In 27 years of shooting hockey, I've never used a lens hood and never been hit by a puck. Just leave the lens hood off and pay attention or shoot overhead if your that concerned about your gear. |
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Tom Gannam, Photographer
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St. Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 6:41 PM on 04.07.09 |
| ->> we have a "no lens hood" policy at the Blues games in St. louis for just this reason. A few years ago we had a photog lose their lens hood in a playoff game which led to the ban. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 7:17 PM on 04.07.09 |
->> Richard, how are you able to focus and get good contrast with a lens hood on when shooting through the glass ?
I've always had to keep the barrel of my lenses as flush against the glass as possible to have any luck with the AF.
Also while I certainly can respect your desire to protect your glass, I dont think your need to protect your investment should come at the risk of affecting the game.
Hoods are great when it makes sense to use them, but when its a situation where they could come off and affect play, or even just get in the way of your fellow photographers such as on a very crowded baseline in basketball or other cramped shooting conditions, thats when you should leave them off. |
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Jerome Davis, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 7:24 PM on 04.07.09 |
| ->> 2 Years ago during a Sabres and Flyers game in Buffalo, I got hit in the face with a stick that slid into the hole in the glass. I was in a corner hole and as Mike Knuble (Flyers) skated towards the attacking corner, his stick went into the whole and smacked me right in my jaw. |
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Adam Cairns, Photographer
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 11:14 PM on 04.07.09 |
->> I was sitting right next to the photographer whose hood was the victim of the fly-by pucking. It was one of those metal hoods that screws on the end of the 70-200 rather than the standard Canon snap-on plastic hood. The hood was smashed pretty good but his lens was untouched. The photographer took a lot of grief from everyone in the vicinity, including a nearby police officer who did a lot of finger pointing to make sure everyone knew exactly whose camera halted the play.
Coincidentally, another photographer's 70-200 was smashed to bits at a Blue Jackets game a few weeks ago in almost the same spot. I was told it went cleanly through the front five elements of glass without even hitting any metal. A hood wouldn't have protected much in his case. Moral of the story, practice extreme caution while shooting hockey at ice level. |
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Ed Mulholland, Photographer
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Pompton Lakes | NJ | USA | Posted: 11:51 PM on 04.07.09 |
| ->> I shoot NHL hockey all season long and have never used a lens hood, in fact I think I've only seen one photographer all season that did use one... |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 1:25 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> Adam, sounds like we'll need a Mythbusters to see if its really possible for a puck (which is 3" or 76mm I belive)to be able to go through the first 5 elements of a 70-200 (which has a front filter diameter of 77mm) without hitting any metal.
Thats rather akin to a sniper shooting a bullet right through the scope of a rival sniper lol.
Given a puck is also 1" thick it actually shouldnt be possible to enter a lens barrel at all since that would be like putting a square peg into a round hole. Even though the diameter of the hole is the width of the square peg it doesn't fit on acount of the corners.
Not that any of this really would matter in the least if you caught a puck to your lens. Even if it can't really go through 5 elements its still going to do some damage and also probably give you a black eye when the camera smacks you in the face from the impact if your shooting at the time. |
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Jean Levac, Photographer
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ottawa | on | canada | Posted: 8:18 AM on 04.08.09 |
| ->> Leave the hood at home!!! |
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Rob Bye, Photographer
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Winnipeg | MB | Canada | Posted: 10:26 AM on 04.08.09 |
| ->> If I were shooting through a hole in the glass (not an option at the MTS Centre), I'd probably want to use a hood, but I'd choose one made of rubber. If they got hit, my plastic Nikon hoods would shatter into a million fragments and the metal ones cost too damned much to be risked! |
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Jamie Sabau, Photographer
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Pickerington | OH | US | Posted: 10:40 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> All right, enough everybody! The photographer, who shall remain unnamed, who was involved felt REALLY, REALLY bad about what happened and I'm sure you all are not making him feel any better chattering about it. Accidents happen. Let's learn from them and move on.
The rule is, at least in Columbus, no lens hoods. That's why this photographer was very apologetic. That said, he's also a really good guy and has always tried to follow the rules. He's forgiven and I'm quite sure he'll never let that happen again.
As far as a puck destroying the front group of elements without touching the metal, yes it is possible. I have a 70-200/4 sitting on a shelf here to prove it. Anyone want it btw? It's been sitting there for about six years now looking pristine from the outside, it's just missing the first group of elements. Another photographer had it happen this year in Columbus to his 70-200/2.8. Yes, the lens is fine from the outside, it's just missing its first group of elements. I've been told he has affixed it to a table in his basement to be used as a decorative cupholder to go with the displays of his other old cameras. |
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Richard Denham, Photographer
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Toronto/Buffalo/Niagara | On | Canada | Posted: 11:09 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> QUOTE Jeff Mills
"->> Richard, how are you able to focus and get good contrast with a lens hood on when shooting through the glass ?"
I always shoot on strobe when shooting through glass.
man I must be an anomaly or something. |
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Richard Denham, Photographer
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Toronto/Buffalo/Niagara | On | Canada | Posted: 11:13 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> My question is this.
Would you rather have a lens hood fall of (stuff happens) or have a lens get smashed and end of with clear glass all over the white ice.
Either way, the shooter is sticking his lens too far through the hole in the glass so one or the other is going to happen if the hood is not gaffed down.
I am not commenting on the specific incident the thread was about, but rather on the situation in general. |
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Jamie Sabau, Photographer
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Pickerington | OH | US | Posted: 11:30 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> Richard,
My lens was at least two inches from the edge of the hole when my lens got blasted and I wasn't even shooting at the time. I'll let your imaginations run wild on that scene.
Let's stop blaming the photographers. It's a dangerous sport to be shooting from the holes. Either accept the risks and be as careful as you can, or go up top to the upper shooting locations. |
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Karen Winger, Photographer
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Bridgewater | MA | USA | Posted: 12:04 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> I have never used a lens hood and I shoot a ton of hockey. I think if you are going to shoot at the photo hole positions you just need to accept the risk (all be it small) of your lens getting smashed as part of the cost of doing buisness. If that is not a risk you can afford, then take a higher postion.
That being said, paying attention to play action, taking care about the distance your lens is sticking thru the hole, and not texting on your cell phone would be good safety measures to start with. ( I say that because i see it all the time and I get nervous with people not paying attention and their wide open face in an exposed hole). If you have never played hockey, the puck can hurt with equipment on, I couldnt imagine taking on on the face.
You can also think of it this way: that lens, althought expensive to replace, just protected your face, which would of been even more expensive to replace. |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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Boston | MA | USA | Posted: 7:53 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> Never use a hood, almost scored a goal once when at a goal line hole - behind goaltender, but went straight across - after the puck hit lens dead center (filter cracked, lens fine), but am really posting about my pet peeve (which I am sometimes guilty of) - put the cover back on the hole when you aren't shooting!
I know some rinks don't have them (which I don't understand), but if your rink does, cover the hole when you aren't shooting. You agree to take risks when shooting at the hole, the fans next to you did not make that same agreement and there are always little rugrats who don't understand the danger of sticking fingers through. A fan gets hurt because of a hole left uncovered could mean the removal of the holes. (I'm talking about between period - not when you are still sitting in front of it) |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 9:40 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> No one should view this thread as an attack on any one photographer or photographers for that matter, rather it should serve as a tool to inform, remind and reinforce proper procedures for shooting ice hockey safely.
I dont think theres a single photographer here who hasn't made a few mistakes in their careers. That could be anything from forgetting to change your WB or ISO setting after a given assignment to having a lens hood fall off during a game to something serious such as not seeing a car coming at you on pit row and being seriously hurt or killed.
Accidents happen, sometimes your just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes we just get careless or distracted. Shoot long enough and its going to happen to you.
Move and and learn from the experience though. You'll probably never make that mistake again, thats for sure. Shooting the throwing events at a NCAA track meet last year I learned first hand to never turn your back on the hammer throw. I thought I was safely off the side and getting some shot put images til a hammer landed about 10 feet away. I'm always going to be aware of my surroundings at all times after that lesson.
Share that knowledge and help make sure other shooters can try to avoid it as well. Thats why we are all here, to help out another out. I'm sure theres a few people who read this thread who learned something they didn't know before and countless others who are going to be more aware when shooting as a result.
That puck can wrap around the boards literally in the blink of an eye. You might think you've safe for a moment because the action is down at the other end of the ice but all it takes is someone to clear a puck to ruin your night.
Same goes for shooting in the box between benches if your venue as one. You have to remain alert and ready to protect yourself at all times. I remember one of my first hockey games where I was shooting in the box and no one told me to watch out for flying sticks. Didnt think that was something to worry about naive as I was. Sure enough I was standing there shooting with a wide angle thinking I was getting a really cool shot of a bodycheck and next thing I know I got the blade of a stick cutting across the side of my forehead. Just a little cut and a bruise but I was lucky. Few inches to the right and it would of smashed my camera in my face or a few inches lower and it would of gotten me in the throat. Both sound quite unpleasant.
Be alert at all times and try to look out for each others safety. If you see someone doing something unsafe, speak up. They might not realize it and be thankful for the advice. |
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Steve Allen, Photographer
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Concord | CA | USA | Posted: 12:44 PM on 04.09.09 |
| ->> I think a lens hood offers protection to the lens so I use it indoors or out, regardless - even at night. |
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