Lighting for Indoor Hockey

Discussion in 'Lighting and Hardware' started by DFRANCIS, May 19, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. May 19, 2015 #1
    DFRANCIS

    DFRANCIS TPF Noob!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    Hi

    I am new to the forum and would like some help in what to use for strobe lighting in a hockey arena. The last professional used two strobe lights and a couple of pocket wizards, but I am unsure what the lights were. The arena is fairly large. I would also like to setup a camera so that I can trigger remotely along with the strobes.

    Any advice or recommendations?


     
  2. May 19, 2015 #2
    tirediron

    tirediron Watch the Birdy! Staff Member Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    45,748
    Likes Received:
    14,781
    Location:
    Victoria, BC
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit
    To do this properly, you'd need more than two strobes IMO. Measure the distance from the overhead to the ice surface to determine your required power (I'd go for about f5.6 or so) and once you know your power, figure out placement by determining beam spread based on the reflector you will be using. You will need one PW for each light (unless you connect them by cable, but I would avoid that - too many risks) and one for each remote camera. A well built Lexan box clamped to the upright of the net (on the backside) should do nicely.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. May 19, 2015 #3
    DFRANCIS

    DFRANCIS TPF Noob!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    Thank you for your reply. I am new to the lighting side of photography. The distance from the top to the surface of the ice is 80 feet.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. May 19, 2015 #4
    tirediron

    tirediron Watch the Birdy! Staff Member Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    45,748
    Likes Received:
    14,781
    Location:
    Victoria, BC
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit
    Okay, so you're going to need about a GN of about 400, or probably about 2400 w/s at ISO 100 - the number of lights you need will depend on the beam spread and light circle produced by the reflector you choose.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. May 20, 2015 #5
    DFRANCIS

    DFRANCIS TPF Noob!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    Thanks for the info. What is GN? Also are you saying 2400 watts at 100 iso? Is this how they are gauged? As I said before, I am new to the lighting side of photography. I guess the guy before just flooded the arena with light, although he only had two strobes! What model do you recommend, I am on a budget so nothing way out there on price.
     
  6. May 20, 2015 #6
    Mach0

    Mach0 TPF Supporters Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    Messages:
    2,616
    Likes Received:
    431
    Location:
    203
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit
    Budget can be anything but at ISO 100 a guide number of 400 isn't going to be cheap.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. May 20, 2015 #7
    DFRANCIS

    DFRANCIS TPF Noob!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    Ok, so what am I looking at here?
     
  8. May 20, 2015 #8
    Derrel

    Derrel Mr. Rain Cloud

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    Messages:
    48,229
    Likes Received:
    18,867
    Location:
    USA
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit
    The most-popular arena lighting systems have been made by Speedotron, and Dynalite. For decades now. Speedotron is one of the USA companies that actually "invented and developed" modern, studio electronic flash systems, over seventy years ago. Their 2400 and 4800 series packs have been arena flash staples for decades now. They have reflectors and extension cables suitable for arena lighting.

    See this 1999 Sportsshooter.com post on arena lighting for some ideas of ideal type setups.Arena Lighting

    Dynalite has its own "Arena Series" lighting items. Arena Series Dynalite
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. May 20, 2015 #9
    tirediron

    tirediron Watch the Birdy! Staff Member Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2005
    Messages:
    45,748
    Likes Received:
    14,781
    Location:
    Victoria, BC
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit
    "Way out there" probably means something different to you than to me. If I were to do this, I'd rent the gear; I haven't worked out the math, but I'm guessing you'd want eight heads and two 2400 w/s packs; to buy new? About $10K, used <$2K. This isn't really an undertaking for someone "just getting into lighting" and two of any lights will NOT flood an entire arena. The budget option would be one pack and three lights; center hice, and each goal.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. May 21, 2015 #10
    vintagesnaps

    vintagesnaps Been spending a lot of time on here!

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2013
    Messages:
    8,638
    Likes Received:
    2,738
    Location:
    US
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    You have to know what you're doing to make sure they're anchored properly because obviously you can't risk one of them possibly coming down from that height onto players below (unless arena staff will be installing them). I do hockey in existing light and know what permissions and restrictions are in place for that so there would be much more liability involved in doing this.

    I took a workshop with this photographer on sports photography which touched on strobe lighting but didn't get into specifics. There may be some differences now but the links show his set up.
    Workshop at the Ranch - April 2005 - Arena Sport Strobe Lighting 101 Dave BlackDave Black
    Workshop at the Ranch - April 2010 - Little Lights BIG Arena - PART 1 Dave BlackDave Black


    (Just realized what Derrel posted - great minds! I agree, check out Sportsshooter.)
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2015
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Jan 11, 2021 #11
    PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY

    PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY TPF Noob!

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2021
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    37849
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos NOT OK to edit
    how to strobe a large arena:


    how to strobe a smaller arena:


    I do professional strobe installations for universities and team photographers if anyone is in need of that service :)
    pm-r
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Jan 13, 2021 #12
    John Fantastic

    John Fantastic TPF Supporters Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2020
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    66
    Location:
    Seattle , USA and Manila, Philippines
    Can others edit my Photos:
    Photos OK to edit


    Hello DFrancis,

    This is an unorthodox suggestion. Since Ice Hockey events are already well lighted, why don't you use a late model DSLR or Mirrorless with very good ISO Performance then as suggested by @nixgeek, go Manual with auto ISO Mode. :)

    Meaning you shoot at a chosen shutter speed and aperture and let the camera choose the ISO to compensate for lighting. I have seen many modern DSLR's and mirrorless cameras that produce excellent results even at an ISO of 24,000 . :)
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page