Andy Mair has won the Hockey Writers’ Club image of the month, with “Symmetry – It’s all about the angles”, capturing Alec Rasmussen of Canterbury lining up to shoot in their victory over Teddington. Here, he reveals the tips behind the winning image.
What equipment did you use?
Nikon Z9, 400mm f2.8 VRii. ISO 125, 1/2500 sec.
How pleased were you with the shot?
It was one frame of a sequence shot throughout the action, and stood out to me because of the balance in the stick angles and leg positions.
Was it a case of right positioning? How do you know where to get right positioning at matches?
I had deliberately set my position to be about level with the top of the D, in the hope of getting some attacking action with the goalkeeper. Once I had shot the sequence that included this image, I moved more toward the baseline, so that I could get a clear sight down the pitch, for midfield play and an occasional view of the umpires.
Do you have any tips for aspiring hockey photographers?
Think carefully about what is seen in the background of your shots. If it is ‘messy’, perhaps try setting yourself up in a position that allows for simpler a background, or at least enables you to separate the subject.
For more details on how to join Hockey Writers’ Club and to learn more on hockey photography, contact the club here.
