Hockey Tips?

I'm planning on buying a 70-200 2.8 for my kids sports (I have a Nikon D50). I took my 50mm 1.8 to the hockey rink to see if 2.8 would be enough light. I had to crank up to 1600 ISO, and this was the best I could get (I did run it through noiseware). This was through the glass, and normally, I'll be shooting from the bench. Is there anything obvious I'm doing that I could change to get better pictures? Looking at everyone else's pictures on here has made me realize how much improvement I could make. Thanks.

that shot looks properly exposed, was it shot at 1.8? or 2.8? it looks like there's a decent depth of focus

that looks like island sports complex on neville. ive not had my 70-200 down there, but 1/2 stop darker might not hurt the photo posted ( or pull push? it in PP)

I didn't think about the custom WB until I left. This one had levels adjusted in PS. I was shooting everything at 2.8 to see if a 70-200 2.8 would work there. You nailed the location. This one was on the Clearview side. I took some even darker ones, but when I underexpose, I get huge noise problems (not sure if that is a general problem, or something specific to my D50). I'll try custom WB (point at ice) and 1/2 stop underexpose and see how that works out. Thanks for the help.

personally, the higher ISO I shoot, the more I overexpose. Noise really likes shadows, so if you give it less shadows to work with, you're better off. Shoot RAW and then correct the exposure and bring back some of the highlights in PP.

I've been in the middle of discussions on another board.. where I've posted some women's (Minnesota-Duluth for those who know) college hockey stuff... Some people prefer the ice almost blown out so long as the jerseys are exposed properly, while others prefer to see shadows on the ice. Personally I'll take the overexposed ice if I get the faces and jerseys..and I don't like flashed hockey because some of the college players have the plastic face shield which reflects, while some have the cage which creates the nasty shadows..plus sometimes you have to shoot through the glass which eliminates the chance to flash unless you can strobe the arena.

Drove the 2 hour road trip as a fan AND to get the players in road jerseys this past weekend
http://www.viewthroughmylens.net/Gal...menAtSCSU1.jpg

Through the glass at the road arena, I was able to shoot 1/1000 BUT the lights cycle amazingly bad.
http://www.viewthroughmylens.net/Gal...tCloud2_13.jpg

Noise reduction done a bit BUT this arena has amazingly ugly ice.. the lines and logos are all so faded they look a few years old and the season isn't 2 months old yet!

One with white jerseys not blown out but ice pretty much is overexposed, a bit more noise reduction was done on this one.
http://www.viewthroughmylens.net/Gal...hDakota2_8.jpg

I'll stop before I hijack the thread.. I don't want to do that. The more pictures I shoot the more I wish I had time and was really making the money to make the time worth trying RAW.

Great pictures. Thanks for the help everyone. I overexposed a little and like the results better. I also think I can get decent pics at 2.8 / 1600 / 1/400 at this rink. This one is better, but it is WAY cropped since I was using a 50mm from the stands.

Man, I gotta work on how the ice looks.

Well, crop it to the shooter/goaltender and you won't see nearly as much ice...nor the curling circles.

Edit: I missed your statement about way cropped already.. but I saved it and did auto-level in Elements and it made the ice white and pretty well exposed.

High school hockey starts a week from today so it'll be off to a bunch of not so bright arenas compared to the college ones I've been in lately.. the first game is in one that I remember as being really dark though I haven't been there in 7 years.