Sports Photography Courteousness Rant

[sierramister]

I was shooting a high school basketball game for my local paper tonight and of course there somebody there who thought their assignment was more important than anyone else's. I previously shot basketball and football for news channels (video), and the same rules apply. I've never experienced somebody whose broken every rule of courteousness in a single game.

1) If a photographer is standing a foot or two behind the line, it's probably to let people walk through since your in a traffic lane. It is not an invitation to stand in front of them.
2) Any amount of feet in the court could get us all kicked out.
3) Sure, we are both shooting the same team, and we're both lined up on the same side. If the play starts with us standing side-by-side, and ends with me having a full frame of your backside, you're not shooting right.
4) Videographers can't run around and unbalance their shot like we can. If you're going to stand in front of me, at least have the decency to not stand in front of the local news video cameras.
5) If you go and complain to the AD, you're going to get us both kicked out, because AD's love power-trips. They would love to kick us out. And considering we never said a word to each other, I'm a little unsure of what you told on me for.
6) During the big announcements (like homecoming candidates tonight), if you're not giving your photos out, you don't have to stand 5 feet from the kids and take shots. A lot of parents were not able to get good shots of their kids because you literally would have been blocking every possible shot from the stands. That is why God created telephoto lenses. Sure, you're job is to get photos, but this isn't the president of the USA, let the parents get some shots of their kids.

Sorry, I just had to rant a little bit, and hopefully this will help some people out as they go shoot high school sports. We're all there for the same reason, and a little bit of courtesy goes a long way.

 

[JDaves]

I was shooting at the local high school that I have been contracted with last week and a local "photographer" or "mom with a rebel" was standing under the basket (against the wall) shooting with an on camera flash and with three small children standing with her. And she had her 70-200 on her trusted mono.

The announcer had just got finished reading the state rules that prohibit anyone from being on the court without permission.

I get written permission from the Ad to be on the court, use my strobes mounted in the ceiling, showing proof of insurance and this lady just camps out where ever she wants.

 

[sierramister]

The way I see it, it doesn't take much to tick some of these AD's off. I want to do everything in my power to make sure no one complains about me.

Even if it means biting my tongue for another photog without any decency.

 

[Rekd]

I was shooting a high school basketball game for my local paper tonight and of course there somebody there who thought their assignment was more important than anyone else's.

Next time just come up and ask me to move. I'm pretty easy going. :er:

 

[KmH]

Shouting, "Hey, ****head. Move!" usually works pretty good.

You have to immediately say something to people like that. If you don't, you're part of the problem.

 

[table1349]

I don't know what it is like in Tennessee, but here in the Midwest I shoot NCAA Division I and II schools along with NAIA. Almost every AD I have ever worked with has been great. And they have been great when situations arise. AD's like exposure for their program. Photos give their program exposure.

Next time there is an issue, I would talk to the AD about the situation and let them deal with it. You might be surprised how much help you will actually get.

 

[Rekd]

Shouting, "Hey, ****head. Move!" usually works pretty good.

You have to immediately say something to people like that. If you don't, you're part of the problem.

Yeah, that works on the timid ones.

But it's like flipping off an a-hole that just cut you off on the road; they always come back and are often willing to risk death just to **** with you...

 

[sierramister]

I don't know what it is like in Tennessee, but here in the Midwest I shoot NCAA Division I and II schools along with NAIA. Almost every AD I have ever worked with has been great. And they have been great when situations arise. AD's like exposure for their program. Photos give their program exposure.

Next time there is an issue, I would talk to the AD about the situation and let them deal with it. You might be surprised how much help you will actually get.

Not speaking from Tennessee, but I've experienced a lot hostility in DII, especially in PA. When a school is in the upper echelon of DII, the power can go to a SID or AD real quick.

My feeling is that this shooter was with a 'pro' studio shooting yearbook photos (it was homecoming night). Considering she only took 15 photos at most while standing in my way for 3 hours, I wasn't really sure what was going on there.

Plus, I just started a new freelance gig with a newspaper, the last thing the editor needs to get is a phone call about me muddying the waters :greenpbl:.

 

[Sam6644]

ESPN was at a handful of the games I covered this past football season.

Nightmare. I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Formatted]

If you guys want to hear Sports Photographers rant you just have to read some of the threads over at SportsShooter.com - Message Board

I'm a big fan of one thread where some young spark asked how he could shoot the NFL, they went mental... Think the thread has now been deleted.

 

[sierramister]

If you guys want to hear Sports Photographers rant you just have to read some of the threads over at SportsShooter.com - Message Board

I'm a big fan of one thread where some young spark asked how he could shoot the NFL, they went mental... Think the thread has now been deleted.

I've seen them over at sport shooter, "How do I get a press pass to the NFL" lol. It's the equivalent of asking "What lenses or flashes should I buy for a wedding I just booked?" over here.