Hi Roger, Thanks for your kind remarks.

I like to keep the aperture wide open so as to soften the background, which also helps making best use of available light of course. Also, I'd use a shutter speed of 1/1500, possibly 1/2000 if you've enough light. With exposure set to manual therefore, I set ISO to auto although arguably it's not essential. Take a few test shots before things get going and check the histogram. Good way to check white balance too, although I shoot in raw so can always make adjustments after.

I took a grey card along to measure white balance and I use the preset every time now. This saves time in processing and gives consistent results from one weekend to the next. One of the flourscent settings may work okay, otherwise you may like to experiment with a 'user setting'. I found single spot is best for focus, or perhaps 9-point dynamic if your camera offers such options. When using the so-called 'Dynamic 3D' option the manufacturer likes to advertise, often I found I got great shots of the crowd while the players became little more than a blur. Far too hit and miss! Also, I set/use the AF-ON button on the back of my D4 rather than the shutter release for focus so I can pre-focus on a given spot like the net at the far end of the ice rink, or can press & hold the AF button when following the action as above. I tend to use the focus spot one above centre as thats where I generally pick up the action. I have rarely shot 'portrait', cropping after the event if the shot merits it.

Hope this helps...

Andrew

Hi,

I think I'd change little if anything in this shot. I like the red tail lights striking out against an otherwise dull scene, although perhaps I'd like to see a little more space to the right of the car if I were to be real picky. I like too the way in which the tall tress to the left kind of lead us to go looking beyond the photographer as we wonder what's around the corner to the right? All in all an atmospheric shot which works for me. Hope this helps...

Andrew