Joe Blow

Unless you can get close, the netting will be visible. Been there and ya, it sucks. I feel your pain.

I do a lot of high school sports and they too, usually, have nets and chain link fencing to protect the fans. Unless you can get up right close, and I mean touching, the netting enters the focal plane. Chain link is worse. I try to shoot through the holes in the netting / fencing whenever possible. If you are close with a wide aperture, preferably with a full frame, you can shoot through netting. If you move back though, it will show.

If you are shooting through the holes, a smaller lens (filter) diameter, such as a 58mm, helps. If you shoot through the netting, a wider lens opening is better. With the 77mm dia of your Nikon 28-300 you should shoot through the netting.

I suggest that you ask the arena where you can stand to photograph. Tell them you're with the school.

If you are on good terms with the coach, ask if you can stand behind the bench.

Look for where other photographers, especially journalists, are shooting.

And hard as it may be, keep your cool if you end up in tight quarters and try to make the best of it. Just remember not to block the view of the spectators.

Good luck.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

No I wish.Sunday is the final game at this rink & all of us who take photos will be so happy!

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

Use manual focus and as mentioned, focus on the subject you want photographs of. The net will still be there but will not seem to be as prominent.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Shame - I can say that I have felt your pain though ;)

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

No there are to many risks for us photographers to be behind the bench,they wouldn’t allow us!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Ask to get as close to the netting as possible (6 inches would be great) . Shot at a high shutter speed to stop action and shoot wide open. The closer you get to the net at 300mm the more the net will disappear in the final image.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I appreciate your reply but I stated in my post that the seating is far away from the netting making it impossible to get close to it.We are in the upper balcony.I will share a picture of it after the game today so everyone can see what I am talking about.The lower floor is only for media not we amateur photographers! Go Comets!🏒

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The other option is to just put the camera down and enjoy the game. I have done this with my son's racing. I will shoot during testing and qualifying, but when it comes to eliminations I usually put the camera away and just enjoy taking in the racing from behind the cars on the starting line with the rest of the crew. When he raced motocross I got too much experience watching the races through a 1/2" viewfinder. It got old and I learned it was also important to take time to just enjoy the event as a spectator too.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Focus so your DOF starts beyond the net and don't use flash as it will illuminate the net. I don't do hockey but the technique works for fences and screens so should work for hockey nets.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I volunteer to shoot for a few hockey teams and that gets me on the bench and clear access to my target. Talk to the coach and show him some of your work and you just might be watching from the bench....you never know? Good luck and keep us posted.

TSHDGTL

You could get a Sony camera with focus near far range adjustment.

acreutz

Ask the officials if you can join the official photographers; or they may even have an area in "general seating" that is set up for photographers. Sometimes they officials can be very accomodating; and sometimes NOT. In any case, enjoy the game!

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

You must be close to the netting and use a an aperture not less than f5.6.

jcboy3

The only way to diminish netting is to use a large aperture in order to blur it as much as possible. I wouldn't shoot at an aperture above f/2.8. The 28-300 lens is too slow; consider renting a 70-200 f/2.8 or 300 f/2.8 for this.

With the netting at a distance, manual focus will allow you to keep focus on or near the players rather than on the netting.

And unless you are really close to the netting, it will be visible; just less so with a faster lens.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

Yes so true Todd but I wanted to get just a few shots as this is the Barons Cup & today will determine what team takes home the trophy!