Photo of the Week
(Nikon D300, iso3200, 1/500 @ f:2.8, 300mm Lens)Catamounts goalie Mike Spillane #31 keeps his eyes on the puck during the
Vermont Catamounts win 3-2 over the Maine Black Bears at Gutterson
Fieldhouse on Saturday night November 29, 2008 in Burlington, Vermont.
© 2008 Brian Jenkins
Ice Hockey is such a fun and challenging sport to photograph. It is so fast paced and usually the lightning is really poor. Each time I photograph a hockey game I make it a point to get a close up photo of both teams goalie masks. Each mask is unique and a work of art. At the end of the year I plan to make a collage of all the goalie masks I shot this year. Next time you are at hockey game (if you like hockey) you should really take a look at the masks if you can.
At the game against the Maine Black Bears I really wanted a super tight photo of Mike Spillane's mask so I put the 300mm lens (I usually shoot most of the game with an 80-200mm lens) on my camera and waited until there was a face off right in front of the Vermont goal. On the face off the puck went into the corner. Usually I would try to grab my other camera for a wide angle shot but this time I decided to concentrate on Mike as he watched the action. I have envisioned this kind of shot before and after a few years I finally got it. I love the big eyes and the intensity at which Mike is watching the action. I think he has done a good job so far of replacing Joe Fallon who is now with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Most of the hockey that I shoot is UVM. They are really looking pretty good this year and I hope they can keep up the hard work for the rest of the season. There is still a lot of hockey left and it should be an interesting rest of the season for the Catamounts.
Go Cats!