Richter City Roller Derby Final

A few weeks ago I went long to the TSB arena in Wellington to photograph the final of the Richter City Roller Derby bouts between the Comic Slams and Smash Malice. For those of you who do not know about roller derby, I won’t be of much help to you. Google is probably your best option as my understanding of it is pretty limited to say the least.

My main reason for going was to practice a bit more sports photography and to test the low light and focusing ability of my new camera. I was shooting at 6400 ISO at f4, with the shutter hovering between 350th and 500th of a second. The camera didn’t perform too badly considering. The image clarity was immaculate for 6400 ISO, however having the extra stop from 2.8 lenses, boosting the shutter to 750th or 1000th would have been a real boon to be able to sharply capture moving subjects. The roller derby is certainly a challenge to focus-track also, as you have multiple subjects moving erratically in different directions, and elements of camera suddenly cutting across the scene, can all cause the camera to miss-focus.

I had the opportunity to meet Getty agency photographer Hagen Hopkins. Here is some of the work he did during this event. As you can see, I still have a lot to learn!

Here are some shots from that event:

A fan waves to the commentator before the Richter City Roller Derby grand final begins.

Members of the Comic Slams prepare for their grand final bout at the TSB arena.

Anna Pave-U’Ova of the Comic Slams, in the teams dressing room before the grand final bout.

Members of the Smash Malice team perform pre-bout stretches in the dressing room before the grand final bout at the TSB arena.

Velocity Raptor of Smash Malice stretches before the grand final bout.

Jem Molition of Smash Malice in the teams dressing room before the grand final bout.

Cher Trouble of Smash Malice, marks her teammates arm in the dressing room.

Orange Ruffie of Smash Malice.

The teams prepare for their grand final bout at the TSB arena.

The two team captains, Ma Whero Mischief (Comic Slams) and Skanda Lass prepare to clash during the opening of the grand final bout.

The teams prepare for another ‘jam’.

Jammer Ella Kazam breaks free of the pack.

Comic Slams captain Me Whero Mischief clashes with Smash Malice jammer, Tuff Bikkies.

Orange Ruffie of Smash Malice goes down.

The crowd applaud the action.

Captain Ma Whero Mischief celebrates.

Anna Pave-U’Ova and J’Knee Dodgem cheer on their teammates.

Ma Whero Mischief prepares to block Smash Malice jammer, Orange Ruffie.

Jem Molition of Smash Malice and Suffer Jet clash.

Here is a few slow shutter panning shots.

Jem Molition is checked by paramedics after a collision on the track.

Comic Slams team members jostle with people in the crowd while Jem Molition is checked over by paramedics.

A few more slow shutter panning shots!

Comic Slams jammer, J’Knee Dodgem signals her teammates to call off the ‘jam’.

Skanda Lass. Captain of Smash Malice. Yes, she really is that tall!

Another ‘jam’ takes place.

Players wait for a new ‘jam’ to begin.

Players collide during the last minutes of the grand final bout.

The Comic Slams congratulate each other on their grand final victory.