A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an Ice Hockey match…… something I’ve only done once before – but this time I was given access to the team tunnel, and the ice. An amazing experience. The game was fast, the light was poor, the ISO I was shooting at was incredibly high – so a lot of the images had noise. I had blurred pictures, over exposed pictures, underexposed pictures, and was generally not a happy bunny.
So, I sat and thought about what I was seeing.
The players faces as they waited their turn on the ice. The concentration, and the shouting of the team manager taking players off, and putting new ones on the ice was constant.
I moved more slowly, more deliberately, and almost forgot about the frantic movements out on the rink. I started to enjoy what was presented right in front of me.
I realised that you have to change your attitude to fit what’s going on around you, and not the other way around.
I took a LOT of pictures, and afterwards decided that they would all look better in monochrome. It somehow fitted the scene better, and in addition disposed of the pretty awful colour cast caused by the lights.
One thing I’ve learned is, that if you are given the opportunity to shoot something new – do it – if you never even use the photographs again, it doesn’t matter – you had the experience. If you don’t, you will end up kicking yourself for the lost opportunity. Do not let fear get the better of you, and never ever worry about not getting that ‘winning’ image. It’s about the learning, the experience, and the test. Go for it.
Photographic Musings......... Or 
Nothing on the TV worth watching (is there ever?)so I sat with the radio on and scanned through things on Facebook, 500PX etc and eventually settled on your current blog entry. Having read it I scanned through your historic posts and landed here.
What you say makes sense, especially to me, I’ve turned down photo opportunities in the past, perhaps because I don’t have the right lens, or just.because I fear failure. But now I think “who’s to know? Have a go, if I fail at least I’ll know how to do it better next time”.
I’m trying to diversify at the moment and that seems to be leading me into dark locations using high ISO settings, I’m not exactly making it easy for myself but I’m having a go and do you know, I’m getting a much higher failure rate but I’m also enjoying my photography more than I have for such a long time. 😀
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Not easy with the game so fast and even given the press access, lighting very difficult. but as you rightly say, you have to have a go no matter if you bin the lot, next time you will stand a chance of getting something better. Well written as usual.
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