Wilson you were right

I was put in my place tonight. I probably won't be posting much sports anymore

unless I can find some frog jumping or turtle racing events. Media relation

people are very mean indeed.

can you post a link or quote what wilson said that you are referring to? It sounds like there's

a story here...don't get discouraged! we won't let you!

hi jairy, I was told I would be able to get a field pass to shoot track and field this weekend at WSU. When I showed up some woman told me in the most hateful way, "I'm not giving you a pass!". She first went with the excuse that photography was impossible in the WSU "bubble" She even said the staff photographer tried the night before and the pictures were grainy and the colors were bad. I must have a magic camera because:

 

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f158/mharris660/web6.jpg">

 

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f158/mharris660/web3.jpg">

 

When she could no longer flog that horse she went with the "NCAA compliance" gig. The problem there is she didn't know the rules, I did, the rule she needed to know is 12.5.2.2. If we used her definition of the rule photography would be banned for 20 mile radius around NCAA events. She actually said you can take photos from the stands but you can't show them to anyone via a portfolio. The NCAA actually ruled on that in 2006 when Susan Edson, Syracuse University?s athletic communication director tried to revoke the photography credentials issued to the school paper. Some of the photographers had used the images on their online portfolios. The NCAA ruled that the online portfolio constituted ?editorial use? and let the photographers keep the portfolios up.

 

What this whole thing really boils down to is a small person in a semi-important job. She got to wield a little power.

It seemed like something ridiculous as that.

 

Half of everything is acting like you know what you are doing--not making waves and

seeming like you belong there. That being said, I have always made an attempt to clear it

with appropriate individuals whenever I go on a sporting event-shoot....occasionally

parents have asked me to shoot their kids and when I checked, the policy was vague and

nonspecific ("You need a press pass. You DO have a press pass don't you?"--well sure).

 

I find it easier most times to get my credentials before the event because invariably I will

run into a similarly ill-informed and quasi-important person guarding the gate. This year,

I worked (for free!) for the local (twice weekly) newspaper and in lieu of payment I was

able to score a state Press Association pass, which essentially allows me easy entry to

most events, although for the big stuff, I still need additional credential prior to the game

(game day pass, name on "the list" etc. Luckily through my relationship with the paper's

sports editor, he basically gave me the ok to claim him as my reference when I needed to

get into a game. I didn't really shoot anything that he didn't send me on anyway.

 

I do, however, totally understand the need to keep control of who can and can't/should

and shouldn't go on the field in any sporting event, though, especially in high school and

under. I don't want some freakazoid shooting my kids without a good reason.

 

Those shots are great as far as the color and so on. Maybe you could send this lady a disc

with a nice note saying, "Gosh you were so right--impossible to shoot the bubble. I'll

know better next time." She probably heard some lesser photog say that (or worse, she

couldn't do it). If you could get something published in the media guide or on the athletic

website, then you might be able to score a permanent pass...?

jairy, here's the weird part, they are using my landscape photography for the Chamber of Commerce Palouse travel guide this year.

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=758745

 

Your advice is spot on, I knew I better have everything in order come track meet time so I started the process a week early. I don't think they ever intended to give me one, just an easy way to keep me quiet. I gave all of the photos of the track meet to the newspaper.

 

Today the schools photographer showed up for about 20 minutes, he was real busy:

 

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f158/mharris660/day2wweb.jpg">

"Hey man, does that camera take nice pitchers?"

 

Looks like that 70-200 f2.8L is doing a lot of good around his shoulder....

he did that for 20 minutes then left. He took one picture of someone and left.

Oh yeah and in reference to your quote that media relations people are mean, I think

they're just ignorant and in the case of a local college that I shoot, probably that semi-

important type....I offered my shots and services many times, and got either no response

or "we have people for that" which basically amounted to someone in the office's husband

who is more of an amateur than I am... (although of course I am biased). I basically ended

up going to the SID office at the end of the year and giving full-sized and web-sized discs

to him unsolicited. I mean the univeristy relations, alumni office, and football coach

wanted my shots, even made a 4 foot poster out of one, but the SID won't return my calls

or emails.

 

FYI (www.csubucs.com; and www.chucktownprepsports.com). Hopefully that's not against

the rules to post my website--I use a different one for sales.

Those are some wonderful shots, the locker room shot is outstanding. The csubucs site also contained some fantastic shots, my favorite is actually a non-contact one. It's the yelling coach.

 

These are some of my WSU football shots so far, I don't have any kind of pass so I have to shoot from the stands:

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=772145

Some venues/events won't credential freelancers. I tried to get in to photograph a boxing match this past weekend and the venue simply doesn't credential freelancers. Find a local paper or small media outlet and see if they'll let you use their name on an application if you need it. Cut a deal with them that you'll give them first crack at pics if they want them or that you'll cover the odd event for them if they need it.

 

Starting the process a week before may not be soon enough either. Places often stop taking accreditation apps. more than a week before an event. A recent hockey tournament I did stopped taking apps. a month before the event began. The boxing match I referred to stopped taking apps. about 10 days or so before the event.

Hi Michael,

 

You need to make it easier for them to give you the pass than to not give you one. One thing I do is give a few prints every season to the coaches - often the same shots I post in the "What did you shoot.." threads. The coaches love them. I haven't had to call on them for support, but if I did, at least some of them would be there for me.

 

I also send pictures to the guy who puts stories up on the official web site. He uses them frequently. So I'm part of the system. Also around here, you only need to get two passes a year - one for football, and one for everything else. See if you can fiond one sympathetic person, and work through that person. I'm sure I would run into trouble if I had to get credentialed for every event.

Alex thanks, I do that all the time. The local paper has used many of my shots of not just sports but other breaking news stories. Last year we had a sniper shoot up the police in Moscow, Id. I was able to "find a way" closer to the stand-off. TV and print used all of my shots.

 

I always send the coaches the best picture from every event, they always thank me. I think in my case and WSU I've run into a wall, that wall is a controlling SID assistant.

 

One of the things I sort of pride myself on is I will never lie, I certainly wouldn't lie to bolster my position. The Assistant SID for WSU did that when she told me photography in the "Bubble" was not possible. She went on to say their photographer was able to do it even using a flash. As my photos have shown photography there is possible unless they were using a Brownie.

 

I had two choices, suck up and walk away or stand on whatever ability I think I have. I didn't choose wisely, anyone have any cats they need photographed?

that should read "She went on to say their photographer was unable to do it even using a flash."

Oh, I see. You burnt a bridge? OK, but each asst. SID must only be in charge of a few sports. Shoot the other ones. And the good news is, that position tends to have a high turnover.

 

By the way, I don't know what the bubbles at WSU are like, but the tennis bubbles at Boise State are translucent. It makes a huge difference whether you are shooting during the day or at night. Look at my nighttime shots in the What did you shoot... thread. Terrible. Anyway, they are different from most other indoor venues in that they let in a lot of sunlight, so the lighting is variable.

Yes Alex you're right, she is only in charge of track and field and women's volleyball. If my "confrontation" does spill over to the other sports I may be OK.

Michael those are great considering they are from the stands. I got one pic in a media

guide from the sidelines one year, but it wasn't credited. I sometimes think there are SIDs

who are frustrated amateur photogs themselves and can't be objective if they don't like

you....that's been my experience. I'll probably get killed for that comment.

 

I had a hard time getting anywhere with my own I-AA alma mater (Furman), though I

could've used my SC Press Ass'n pass if I took a notion. I'd say that's about as close as

you'll get to WSU or UCLA without serious "ins" from the inside.

 

Coaches are a good way in. Parents are a good way, even players but be careful not to

give them anything because if you are considered a booster or even a supporter, it could

be construed as a violation. Cheerleaders and parents? Band/parents? Alumni association?

Public relations? Annual? I even worked one angle by shooting for a local small-town

paper who wanted shots of a hometown kid who got a scholarship to one of the big

schools. I sold a book to the star HS QB's parents...he has a full-ride to South Carolina

next year, so maybe they will want shots....and USC (our USC) plays some big 'uns....

 

Thanks for your comments. Those sideline shots are usually with a second body--5D (that

sounds funny) and 24-70mm f2.8L. I find it to be good at telling stories if you know what

I mean.

jairy you're right about the SID here, he's part-time now and tries to do most of the photography. I heard a story last week that he had put a bunch of flashes above the men's basketball game and shot the game. About 10 minutes into the game the rest of the photographers were up in arms, they were getting random over-exposed shots.

Forgot to mention I'm not the giving up type but I think you're right. I'm probably not going to get any closer. From where I sit, using the equipment I have I'm proud of my work. That's whats important right?

Re: the flashes - Yeah, that'll happen. If someone's got the place set up for flash then other photogs are going to be SOL. But lighting an arena isn't an uncommon practice.