In Harms Way...

The previous post made me think about potentially dangerous shooting

conditions we sometimes get into to get the shot we want. A couple

of weeks ago at the USCF National Championship races in Downers Grove

(Chicagoland), IL, I was shooting the Elite Men's race and got <a

href="http://www.cyclingphotonews.com/DnrsGrove/DNG%202004/MNAT/PAGE%

201/pages/DNG04MNAT_DSC_0733.htm">this shot</a>. Just after the

shot, I heard bikes on the pavement sliding toward me and I am

sitting on the road, backed up against the barriers with nowhere to

go! Both riders ended up beside me to my left and were just scraped

up. They got back in the race. I've shot a lot of cycling, but that

is as close as I have come to getting hit. Anyone else have

any "close call" shots???

Steve Daggs

Steve,

I know what you are talking about. I had a similar experience shooting an F1 race in Montreal. I was totally caught by surprise. I had my shutter speed set very slow to pan cars which were on my left when I heard the Sauber of Felipe Massa lock up his brakes. Needless to say the image is anything but sharp... but I kept the image because of the chaotic action that it captures as well as the fact that it shows what the FIA could not confirm.... That the left rear suspension failed BEFORE the head-on impact with the safety barrier causing the un-teatherd tire and components to be vaulted over the fense and into the stands. I never budged. I later found out that the tire and suspension bounced over the safety barrier, hit the walkway and landed about 10 feet to my right. All I was concerned about was that the driver got up and out. Lucky shot I guess all things considered.

Link: http://www.photo.net/photo/2510255

-NP

Yep, quite a few - all in a day's work as a motorsport photographer I'm afraid... At least I am working behind a wall / fence / tyre barrier but even so, having an escaped racing car coming towards you is a pretty freaky experience. You can only shoot so may frames before self preservation kicks in and you have to dive for cover / run away...

Most of what I shoot is ASCAR Days of Thunder which is the UK equivalent to Nextel Cup I suppose - though we use ASA-spec cars. When one of these cars gets out of shape, the accident is never small. I have experienced one wreck up close and personal this year (about 6 feet away and behind a wire fence) in which I shot a five frame sequence before ducking behind the retaining wall. I have been slightly less close to two more big shunts this year, but given the size and severity, I am glad I wasn't in firing range...

One was a five car pile-up in which one of the cars was pitched into a barrel roll on the grass apron. The second was where a glassfibre body panel failed at the front of a car, lifting the entire bodywork off the chassis and roll cage and into the air. The dash was blown into the driver's face so he couldn't see where he was going.

Two of my colleagues have also had close calls this season - one of them is still apparently removing bits of glass fibre from his camera bag! ;-)

For every pass that I get, I have to sign an indemnity to the effect that is something goes wrong, it is my fault for being there. There are safety guidelines as to where I can and can't shoot from though in most cases, it is just pure common sense as you want to keep some kind of barrier between you and the cars on track. Basically, if I don't feel safe, I won't shoot.

Here's my close-ish call from this weekend, doubly trying because it was a close friend of mine...<div></div>

Steve,

I've had a foul ball hit my lens hood while shooting from the dugout. I had not time get out of the way.

There have been a few basketball players land on me and both of us spiral backwards, although I think they've taken the worst of it.

And, just last week I was hit from behind at a high school football game which snapped my neck forward to hit my camera and give me a bloody nose. I just got check out by a doc and it turns out I have a concussion from little incident. no lie.

be safe,

rg

Photographing Interprovincal rugby from the sidelines can be interesting when the action gets close and fast. You have to be aware of just how far away those 16 stone plus players are from you.

No I have never been trampled to date, but did trip over a speaker box while running backwards to get out of the way of several players that careened of the feild towards me.

You where a naughty boy putting yourself in the line of those cyclists with no escape route and sitting down as well.

Experience is the best teacher if we survive the lesson!

If you shoot enough sports there will be close calls. Some are luckier than others and many times luck is all it is. I've dodged more football players than I can count but was chatting with a friend of mine once while shooting a basketball game when Charles Barkley landed on top of her. As she was only about 90 pounds soaking wet the medics had to carry her to the locker room. She was back at work a couple of days later.

Rick H.