Looking Through The Hole

It has taken me all season long to make a photograph with my wide-angle lens during an NHL game.

I've been covering the New Jersey Devils home games with four cameras. During the first two periods, I shoot from ice-level through a hole in the glass. I use a 300mm lens looking down ice, a 70-200mm lens for mid ice to the closest goal, a 16-35mm lens for any skirmish in front of me, which is like 12-36 inches away from my face, or against the boards and, last but not least, my remote camera mounted in the rafters of the Prudential Center.

All season long I've juggled four cameras, and I've never made a picture with my 16-35mm lens. It's all about timing and a hell of a lot of luck! I either end up cutting off heads or feet or frankly getting nothing in focus. There is really no time to pick up the camera and look through the eyecup. You just have react and hold it up through the hole, at the widest setting 16mm, and just point and shoot at the action. Last night was my night to make something worth keeping. It won't win any contests, but considering I've made nothing all year with that wide-angle camera, I'm pretty excited with these shots.

The first two images posted are examples of what I get all the time - the edge of the glass visible in the frame ruins the shot. But the third and fourth images are much better - getting peak action all in the frame.

Every time I shoot a Devils game I consider not using the short lens and keeping it simple with three cameras instead of four. But I keep trying. I'm happy I stuck with it. My patience paid off.