Photo of the Week
(Nikon D300, iso 1600, 1/125 @f:2.8, 10.5mm)A general view of the stadium as the Bruins and Sabres warm up before the start of
the Boston Bruins win 7-4 over the Buffalo Sabres at TD Banknorth Garden
on Wednesday night November 19, 2008 in Boston,
Massachusetts. © 2008 Brian Jenkins
I always try to get an overall view of each stadium I visit. This being my first time at the TD Banknorth Garden and running late, I didn't get into the arena until 6:30 (game time at 7:00). I usually try to get to a sporting event well in advance, especially when it is a place I have never been. Once I got into the Garden I found out where to go and made my way to the rink to find a place to shoot the game from. After asking a few questions I found a spot, sat down and started shooting.
At hockey games there is a little hole in the ice so that you can stick your lens through and take photos. It can be pretty scary when a puck or body comes flying at the hole. I have had a few close calls, but haven't been injured yet. I got hit in the shoulder with a stick that came through the hole during a Vermont game one time and I have seen the results of a puck hitting a 200mm F:2 lens. It's not pretty.
I was sitting at my shooting position on the glass, shooting stock photos when another photographer from a different wire service came up to me and kindly booted me out of that shooting position. I guess some of the shooting positions are assigned but I just showed up and sat down. I got up and thought about my next move. The players were about to take the ice for the game and since I had to find another shooting spot I decided to get a general view of the Garden during the pre game ceremonies. I quickly ran to the top of the Garden and put on the fish eye (10.5mm) lens I borrowed from a friend and began to shoot.
The lighting is pretty cool during pre game. I haven't been to an NHL game since I lived in Colorado (12 years ago). I took several different shots while I was up there (see post here for a different version) but this was my favorite one. I wish I could have gotten the whole blue stripe of light but I was already leaning over the railing with my arm stretched out to get this shot. Didn't want to press my luck. Maybe next time I'll try a pole cam.
After getting a few good shots, I headed down to the ice, found an open hole in the glass and shot the rest of the game.