Blackhawks 6, Blues 1

[dmwierz]

Had another chance to go down to the United Center last night. Man, I struggled with the white balance - started out custom off the just-Zamboni'ed ice (too blue), went to AWB (this REALLY didn't work) and eventually settled on CWB off the "dirty" ice, and this worked best. Still, had color cycling. Man, I missed my strobes.

Great save by Manny Legace. He was unbeatable.

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784772.jpg

Legace, unfortunately for St; Louis fans, injured his right arm in this collision with Patrick Sharp. Sharp was uninjured.

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784773.jpg

Blues D Eric Brewers crosses center ice.

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784774.jpg

Blues LW Paul Kariya is shadowed by Hawks C Jacob Dowell

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784776.jpg

Recently-elected Young All-Star Patrick Kane, who had 2 goals and an assist in this game, comes 'round behind the net.

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784777.jpg

Blues back-up goaltender, Marek Schwarz, seeing only the second action of his career, didn't need this kind of help, as he only stopped 8 of 13 shots in the game, but D Bryce Salvador kicks the puck in his own net for the 6th Hawks goal of the night, as Chicago LW Rene Bourque looks on.

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784778.jpg

Here's another one of Brewer, sort of a trading card shot. Don't like the crud (TV guy) in the background, though. Note the concentration of the Goal Judge Ben Hecht - not looking at the puck but eyes glued to the goal line. Either that or he's asleep:

http://www.pbase.com/image/91785573.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Dennis

[Sledhed]

Love #2 Dennis, there are a couple of shots in the Sun Times today of the same play from a different angle. Colors, crop and action all look excellent.

[xr250r]

Fantastic shots, Dennis!

In the Kariya/Dowell shot, is there something happening out at the blueline or center ice? Seems like half the crowd is watching something in that direction!

[dmwierz]

Love #2 Dennis, there are a couple of shots in the Sun Times today of the same play from a different angle. Colors, crop and action all look excellent.

Chris - here's the burst of the play. Wasn't sure which one I liked best, so I posted the one of Sharp on Final Approach, about to touch down. One of the few times I hung on the shutter, and I've liked the results:

http://www.pbase.com/image/91786171.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/91786173.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/91786174.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/91786175.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/91786177.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/91784773.jpg

xr - not sure what eveybody's looking at.

[JayK07]

Oh so jealous Dennis. Great work you need an AP ha. Very nice work.

[FlyingPhotog]

Were you using strobes? If so, great stuff!

If Not: I wouldn't be so disparaging on the TV folk considering you're directly benefitting from the place being lit for TV. If it weren't for "the crud (TV Guy)" as you so eloquently put it, you'd be showing us your amazing shots taken at (maybe) 1/250 @ f/2.8 ISO 6400.

Lumens for everyone, I say! ;)

[dmwierz]

Were you using strobes? If so, great stuff!

If Not: I wouldn't be so disparaging on the TV folk considering you're directly benefitting from the place being lit for TV. If it weren't for "the crud (TV Guy)" as you so eloquently put it, you'd be showing us your amazing shots taken at (maybe) 1/250 @ f/2.8 ISO 6400.

Lumens for everyone, I say! ;)

FP - no, these were shot ambient, and maybe I was a bit harsh on the TV dude. He's "crud", not in a personal nor professional sense, but 'cuz he's busying up "my" background ;) .

[FlyingPhotog]

FP - no, these were shot ambient, and maybe I was a bit harsh on the TV dude. He's "crud", not in a personal nor professional sense, but 'cuz he's busying up "my" background ;) .

Funny, 'cause most of the hand-held operators I work with say the same about still photogs! :p Just yankin' a little chain (I've worked in Sports TV for nearly 20 years and have done plenty of NHL games for the American and Canadian networks...)

These are all very, very good but the collision "strip" is outstanding...

[Darsk47]

These are tremendous. I aspire to shoot like that. (Strobes or ambient!)

It seems the United Center is filling up a bit more - not seeing those empty chairs as much. It sure makes the background more appealing.

[900spg]

Very inspiring shots. Though I shoot in much different conditions I have always found that I need to set my custom white balance off of dirty ice. I really like the point of view in the first shot with Lang in the frame but the focus on the goalie. Thanks for sharing these with us and letting us see what can be done.

[MizzouMan_2000]

Great shots, esp. being ambient. I sure hope the Blues can get their act together.

[Bobarazzo]

Dennis, Fantastic shots! Is that Robert Lang in the first shot? It's been a while since I've followed hockey and lost track of him. He was with the Kings last time I checked. Wow, that was a while ago! I think I'd have gone low on the goalie especially being out of position like that.
Oh ya, and Sharp gives new meaning to crashing the net, awesome sequence!

[TTurrill]

Dennis..... Great shot of a flying "Hawk". Ambient is tricky because of the 60hz cycle on the lights........ Glad to see Manny playing well, excellent shot of the glove save. I just finished up at the Joe, Detroit beat Vancouver 3-2 in a shootout. Zetterberg scored in the shootout....:)