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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
DECC, Duluth Minnesota
Josh Gibney, Photographer
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Somerswowrth | NH | USA | Posted: 11:55 AM on 03.16.08 |
->> Has anyone ever covered hockey at the DECC in Duluth, MN? I am flying out to cover UNH in the Women's Frozen Four Thursday (and possibly) Saturday and I am wondering how the lighting is there and what they have for shooting positions. Didn't see anything in The Guide...
Also any good places to hang out in the area? :D
thanks in advance |
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Jon Wright, Photographer
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Wayzata | MN | USA | Posted: 11:58 AM on 03.16.08 |
->> You will be right next door to the major shopping and entertainment area of Duluth (easy walking distance) Try the onion rings or chocolate malt at "Grandmas".
Have fun! |
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Justin Hayworth, Photographer
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Des Moines | IA | USA | Posted: 3:35 PM on 03.16.08 |
->> You should check with SS members Clint Austin or Derek Montgomery they both work at the paper in Duluth. Or check with Brett Groehler the UMD photographer, he's also a SS member. All three are great and easy to work with. Shooting positions are limited. No holes in the glass. Limited space on small risers behind the benches. I usually shot from the concourse level and that worked pretty well.
But look up Austin or Montgomery and they should be able to help you with what the light is like. I remember it being a bit dark iso 1000 2.8 at 500th or so. |
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Ken Hupila, Photographer
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Babbitt | MN | USA | Posted: 3:45 PM on 03.16.08 |
| ->> It's been awhile since I've shot there, but the bit dark is good info. |
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Josh Gibney, Photographer
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Somerswowrth | NH | USA | Posted: 4:03 PM on 03.16.08 |
| ->> Thanks everyone :) |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 5:39 PM on 03.16.08 |
->> Justin and Ken are both right. The DECC is not too bad though. Image #3 was shot using ambient light at 1000 ISO 1/400 f/2.8. It was shot in raw and brought up a bit so if you shoot RAW you should have no worries.
Shooting positions are indeed a bit limited. Usually there is a spot about halfway between the benches and the highest row of seats, but I can see the DECC or UMD using them in some promotion as they have previously this year so counting on that spot would not be advisable.
There is a small spot behind the UMD bench that is about 3-4 feet wide and could fit two photographers at most. There are no holes in the boards either. There is a catwalk and you can shoot directly over the goals, but be careful. I always triple-check to make sure anything that could fall of is removed before going up. I know I don't need to tell you this, but it's always a good idea to be safe.
The catwalks can be accessed through the press box and outside the spots directly overhead, you can find other "nests" or whatever you might call them where TV guys sometimes hang out or those guys who fire the large spot lights. There are about 6 or 7 of those around the arena and most of them were empty throughout the year. However, with it being the Frozen Four, this may change.
I can't imagine the first two games would sell out, but I've been wrong before so in the event that they do not sell out, there are plenty of good places to shoot from in the seats. The security guards at the DECC are really nice and have never hassled me for doing this before.
Now, outside the photography part of the Frozen Four... I recommend the following places to grab some good food and drinks. In no particular order, here they are...
1. Pizza Luce (corner of Superior Street and Lake Avenue)
2. Grandma's (Canal Park, hard to miss Grandma's face painted on the wall of the restaurant)
3. Burrito Union (on east 4th street near 15th avenue east)
4. Northern Waters Smokhaus (In the Dewitz-Seitzer building in Canal Park, awesome sandwiches)
5. Amazing Grace (In the bottom of the same building as Northern Waters)
6. Green Mill (Canal Park, little bit of everything)
7. Fitger's (on Superior Street, good beer, good food, stay away from the Wildfire Beer if you don't like drinking something that tastes like Tabasco Sauce)
Canal Park has many chains (Famous Dave's, Red Lobster, Old Chicago, Subway, etc. if those above don't fit your style). Canal Park is very close to the DECC. You can walk to it in just a few minutes.
Anyway, hope this helps everyone out. Hopefully myself, Clint and Amanda Odeski or whoever is shooting the games will be able to meet up with some of you guys. Safe travels and see you later this week! |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 5:42 PM on 03.16.08 |
| ->> That should be "Image #3 on my member page," when talking about the light inside the DECC. Sorry if that confused anyone. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 5:47 PM on 03.16.08 |
| ->> And there is a great, fun used bookstore on the main drag in town. Well at least when I was in Duluth in 2001. |
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Josh Gibney, Photographer
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Somerswowrth | NH | USA | Posted: 5:49 PM on 03.16.08 |
->> Derek, thank you so much for the info. I am looking forward to the trip! I think the only thing left for me to look into is a good establishment on Friday at about 4PM to watch UNH's men's team in the Hockey East semifinals on the Dish :)
cheers! |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 6:11 PM on 03.16.08 |
->> Walter,
You are correct. I believe the name of the place is The Last Place on Earth. But you are right, the place is fun and different than any other bookstore I've ever been too. |
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Clint Austin, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 12:21 AM on 03.17.08 |
->> I think that Derek hit it pretty much right on with his post.
I have a friend who shot his Nikon D3 during the quarterfinal game at 6400 iso available light with awesome results. I have shot strobe all the games there this year so it is hard for me to remember the ambient light setting. I seem to remember that it is about 1000 iso and 1/320 at f2.8 at least with my cameras.
I know that if you are in the press box looking at the rink that the light on the goal to the left is about two-thirds of a stop brighter than the one on the right side.
If you have the card space to shoot raw I recommend it because the lights can change shift color.
I know that there is wireless internet access in the press box area, and that we have good Verizon service in the building as far as transmitting goes. If you need a spot to work from in the press box you might want to contact the folks at the University of Minnesota-Duluth athletics office to reserve a space because I know they pretty much assign them out. We rarely transmit from the DECC because the newspaper office is only a few blocks away.
Parking at the DECC is $4 but if you tell the attendants that you are working press and show a credential they let you park for free.
Once you enter the arena if you hook around to the right and go about halfway down and look for Section 12-14 that is press box access. There are no elevators to the press/catwalk area so be prepared to haul gear. The DECC is the oldest arena in the WCHA and I think it can be a little tight to shoot in if there are a lot of shooters.
If you are plan on setting up remote cameras in the catwalks it is advisable to have MultiMax Pocketwizards.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth strobes will be on Channel 1
The Duluth News Tribune strobes are on Channel 4
Jack Rendulich with the AP has two remote cameras on Channels 2 and 3
As far as glass that I recommend, I think that a 300 f2.8 is the best lens to use and I also have a 70-200 on a second body. I have a 400 f2.8 that I think is a little tight for action. Since we strobe I keep a 1.4x tele extender in my bag for extra reach if I need it. Derek or Amanda may have different thoughts than I do on this.
I do not know who is all coming into town for the games but I am open to getting together Thursday evening for a couple of drinks or dinner with whoever is around. My cell is on my member page.
Derek I think the place that Walter is talking about is Big Lake Books. It was the one they shut down a couple of months ago for fire code violations. I do not know if they are back open again.
If there are any other questions please feel free to contact me. |
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Brett Groehler, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 9:56 AM on 03.17.08 |
->> Josh
I think Derek and Clint covered it all, but per my email give me a call when you get in town and I'll show you around. As the photo stewart for the Frozen Four I just want to make sure we're on the same page. You can pretty much shoot anywhere at the DECC that seems good to you. I'll have a map to point put a few places. |
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Stephen Maturen, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Minneapolis | MN | United States | Posted: 3:21 PM on 03.17.08 |
| ->> Go to Pizza Luce and eat The Bear. Hang out at Electric Fetus. Look around Grandma' Marathon finish line. |
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Amanda Odeski, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 3:38 PM on 03.19.08 |
| ->> Justin, Clint and Derek covered it. The only thing I would add is that for breakfast I totally recommend Amazing Grace Cafe near the Aerial Lift Bridge in the DeWitt Seitz building. Also, and this is important, the Starbucks is across the highway on Superior Street and Fourth Avenue East. Enjoy Duluth! |
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Tom Dahlin, Photographer
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St. Louis Park | MN | USA | Posted: 4:51 PM on 03.23.08 |
->> I'd like to toss a shout out for the great job Brett Groehler did as Photo Marshall at the recent NCAA Women's Frozen Four. He and the entire UMD and DECC staff were extremely helpful and friendly, much more so then at most venues. Early Saturday, Brett took the time to walk me through the arena giving me a guided tour of shooting positions and helpful building shortcuts to use during the game.
It's often a thankless job. I just wanted him to know I appreciated his help. |
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Josh Gibney, Photographer
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Somerswowrth | NH | USA | Posted: 2:00 PM on 03.26.08 |
->> Seconded Tom. Brett and Derek it was great to meet you both and chat with you, albeit briefly. Clint thank you for the suggestions via email and here. Congrats to the UMD ladies on their championship (at our expense, no less)
Thanks guys for all of the suggestions, had an enjoyable stay in the area, and things worked out well (even though we couldn't find a place to watch our game Friday;))!
have a great day!
-gib |
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