NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings

This past weekend I was blessed to be able to shoot the Columbus Blue Jackets as they took on the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.  For this game I wanted to set up an overhead remote, so I was sure to arrive extra early.  When setting up a remote there are a few essentials that I use.

• PocketWizards
• Magic Arms
• Super Clamp
• Lots of Safety Cables!
• Gaffers Tape

When setting up a remote, I make sure to secure each item that is up there with a  safety cable.  I have one cable for the camera, the Magic Arm, and the Super Clamp. That way, if a piece of equipment fails, you hopefully won’t have anything falling.  After everything is set up and locked down the next step is to focus the camera.  I like to focus on the guys that bring out the nets.  That gives me just the right focusing point.  Once it is focused, you then must turn the lens and camera to manual focus, otherwise your frames will be out of focus.  Once they are in manual focus, take gaffers tape and tape down your focus on the lens. By doing this, it will prevent the focus from moving.

There are many advantages to using remotes.  Remotes can allow you to get multiple angles of one particular play, or they can let you get angles that are not accessible during a game.

Below is my setup.

The picture below is an example of how I focus the camera hours before the game.

After I have focused the camera, I head back down to test it and make sure it is working.  You can tell if it is working or not by a red light on the PocketWizard.

Below is shot is of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith (2) diving for a loose puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72).  It is hard to tell at this angle, but Smith is in midair.

Here is the view I had as Smith dove for the puck.  As you can see, it is a useless shot, but it gives you the idea of how remotes can give you multiple angles.

Below, Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) deflects the shot of Detroit Red Wings center Damien Brunner (24).

Here are some other shots from the game.  You can see the whole gallery right here.