[Tobers]

Due to the kind nature of one Bristol Pete who couldn't make it to London, I had the opportunity to shoot Harlequins v Bristol Rugby today at the Stoop at Twickenham.

So here's the story of the day....

I borrowed Gordon's 5D to make sure I had a 2nd body to hand, and whizzed up the M3 with my 1D and 100-300 as the main camera for the day, with a 24-105 on the 5D for anything that came in too close. My mission was to shoot from a Bristol perspective, and my mentor had suggested this would involve having Bristol playing towards me. Good advice indeed.

Arrived at the ground and my name was on the gate. Nice one Pete!! Straight in to the "Media Centre" which was a little room with the most grumpy people I've ever encountered lurking within. Nobody had a nice word to say about the place, moaning and whingeing about it being too small etc. It looked OK to me with a fridge holding soft drinks, sarnies, WiFi and LAN cables, and programmes/team sheets etc. I sat to one side and didn't talk to anyone, maintaining an air of "been there done that" whilst fiddling with my laptop PC and getting onto the WiFi net.

#1 Media room

After picking up my "Photograper #27" yellow vest I wandered onto the pitch in the company of a seasoned pro who I'd asked to show me around. I found I would be allowed on 3 sides of the pitch but not the side opposite the TV cameras. Fair enough.

I checked the light. Quite bright, sunny & cloudy in equal measure. Of course the sun was from the wrong end in the 1st half being behind the Bristol boys. Didn't matter much though as all the play was at the other end as Bristol were getting hammered.

Oh, by the way I had a small folding stool (£3.99) to sit on and a monopod to hold the 1D + 100-300 up. I actually ended up wandering around quite a bit to catch as much action as possible.

I grabbed a few warm-up shots

#2

#3

#4

On to the action. The game started and I can tell you now this is a darned difficult game to photograph. Very tricky indeed. The players move really fast, change direction so quickly, and keep passing the ball just when you've figured out who is holding the darned thing. Add to that the fact that you need to sort your background out, get the light right, compose, focus, keep your other eye open to see what's unfolding around the play, and you have a bit of a nightmare on your hands. Oh yes, the substitutes then come down and run in front of you behind the goal. If ever you thought this was easy photography, think again!

All these shots pretty much straight from the camera as it's late and I'm knackered having just got back from a (paid) birthday party shoot.

I shot the rugby in JPEG by the way, writing to both cards simultaneously in the 1D just in case (great feature!!).

#5

#6

#7

#8 Blimey - Bristol score at last!

#9 Take that!!

#10 Oh dear it's not going his way. Bristol coach

#11 Sin-binned

#12 Winner

#13 Loser

Very energising stuff. The game was over almost before I knew it, though I did have the presence of mind to wander over towards the tunnel in time for the final whistle to get the celebrations & commiserations.

Great expereince. Need more. Need a 2.8 lens to blur the backgrounds better. Thanks Pete!!

Tobers

[mucca_D]

Awsome write up, thanks. If I had to pick, it would be #7

So, do it again?

[Ultima]

Not sure about needing to blur the backgrounds better at all, these are superb and oh soo sharp.

You have portrayed the energy of the game and the elation and desolation of winning and losing.

It's obvious from these and other posts you have made you have everything it takes to be a great sports tog.

Superb

Martin

[Tobers]

Originally Posted by mucca_D

Awsome write up, thanks. If I had to pick, it would be #7

So, do it again?

Thanks! My personal fave is #5 but #7 has lots of action & movement about it. Yes, I'd definitely do it again, though ask me after my first snow-bound floodlit event.

Originally Posted by Ultima

Not sure about needing to blur the backgrounds better at all, these are superb and oh soo sharp.

You have portrayed the energy of the game and the elation and desolation of winning and losing.

It's obvious from these and other posts you have made you have everything it takes to be a great sports tog.

Superb

Martin

Ta v. much indeed. So much to learn from this forum to be honest. I've only been photographing "properly" for just over 2 years now. And I just want a 2.8 lens anyway .

[Ultima]

Originally Posted by Tobers

Thanks! My personal fave is #5 but #7 has lots of action & movement about it. Yes, I'd definitely do it again, though ask me after my first snow-bound floodlit event.



Ta v. much indeed. So much to learn from this forum to be honest. I've only been photographing "properly" for just over 2 years now. And I just want a 2.8 lens anyway .

Treat yourself Tobers, you only live once

I've seem many of your posts over the last 2 years and you have always posted high quality work. Keep it up mate and the sky is the limit.

Martin

[julian_fraser]

What a fantastic opportunity. Great shots, #9 and #11 for me.

Thanks for sharing the experience too.

[Bristol Pete]

Nice one Tobers and a job well done. Glad you enjoyed it and managed to convey in your words [and pictures] how quick the game is too shot, how dour some pro sports photographers/writers can be despite living the dream and how 80 minutes can offer you nothing. One thing to note is that eventually, you simply understand how to cover Rugby and one tip is to watch the backs and the scrum half as that is your radar. The shot of Sidoli at no.11 is top notch and no.1 is a top drawer action shot as well.

Mission accomplished however. See here

http://www.bristolsport.net/

Finally, pro football is in my opinion about 10 times harder due to the nature of the game, linesmen, subs and restricted seating. Will see what we can sort you !!!

[Garf]

What a great set - I'd probably pick #9 as my fave (ouch !) with #12 and 13 as well.

Looks like the Polo stuff has certainly stood you in good stead for shooting other sporting stuff, especially if this is your first crack at Rugby.

I remember you mentioned in one of my threads last year that you were keen to get into sports photography - looks like you have done so.

Question for you - now you're involved in this type of photography that can convey so much (as mentioned below, energy, movement, emotion of winning/losing etc) do you find other stuff (landscapes etc) a bit sedate now ? Do you still have enthusiasm for it ? (hopefully that makes sense )

[Tobers]

Originally Posted by Bristol Pete

Nice one Tobers and a job well done. Glad you enjoyed it and managed to convey in your words [and pictures] how quick the game is too shot, how dour some pro sports photographers/writers can be despite living the dream and how 80 minutes can offer you nothing. One thing to note is that eventually, you simply understand how to cover Rugby and one tip is to watch the backs and the scrum half as that is your radar. The shot of Sidoli at no.11 is top notch and no.1 is a top drawer action shot as well.

Mission accomplished however. See here

http://www.bristolsport.net/

Finally, pro football is in my opinion about 10 times harder due to the nature of the game, linesmen, subs and restricted seating. Will see what we can sort you !!!

Pete - nice one on bristolsport.net. I think Richard Hill's comment sums it up nicely. That shot conveys the story of the game really well.

I can see how football can be so much more difficult.

Originally Posted by Garf

Question for you - now you're involved in this type of photography that can convey so much (as mentioned below, energy, movement, emotion of winning/losing etc) do you find other stuff (landscapes etc) a bit sedate now ? Do you still have enthusiasm for it ? (hopefully that makes sense )

Ta for the comment Garf. Very good question. I do find landscapes really relaxing. There's a lack of pressure which is wonderful, but you dont realise isn't there until you try something like this. I'm not really into street photography any more though.

I did a combined 50th and 18th birthday party last night. £50/hour but I had to nail a whole bunch of shots that were essential for the host. A bit like a wedding but not nearly as nerve wracking. Anyway, I was knackered after the 3 hours I spent there. I did a load of posed stuff with remote flash lighting and a shoot-through umbrella, then loads of candids.

Thankfully I got a stack of good shots and I think they will be well pleased, but the pressure.....

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Well that wasn't your normal Saturday was it......hahaha...Looks oike you had fun anyway!

Nice series. It does look like it's hard work.

[Radiohead]

Good work there - you really can see why sports togs go for f2.8's can't you? Makes a huge difference to the backgrounds.

One comment is that they look a little flatter than I'm used to from Pete's - is this an exposure thing or my monitor?

I'm looking forward to your first wedding which will surely follow!

[vulkan75]

Congrats...a great looking set and a great experience by the sounds of it.

What with all this polo,rugby paid birthdays etc you'll be giving up your day job and turning pro

Glad to see you doing well

[denno75uk]

So this is why you owe Pete a favour is it?
Quality work Tobers. Another feather in your cap. Kudos for getting it used too. Looks absolutely pro on the website.
Interesting reading about the experience from a noob POV too.

[Tobers]

Originally Posted by Radiohead

One comment is that they look a little flatter than I'm used to from Pete's - is this an exposure thing or my monitor?

I think it's the f/2.8 v f/4 thing. A more blurred background will make the pic jump out more. Also, no pp on these apart from a crop here & there. A bit of contrast & saturation would work wonders. Or maybe his D3 is just magic!

Originally Posted by denno75uk

So this is why you owe Pete a favour is it?

Ummm....yes

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by Tobers

I can see how football can be so much more difficult.

Its not so much the shooting, which really does come from knowing the game.

Its the getting the shots out that counts, I was at Anfield yesterday with a BBC producer in my ear wanting the shots to match their text alerts, not easy.

However nice shots Tobers, hope it gave you a taster

[Biscuit761]

Great shots Tobers, going to contact the local rugby club to see if they are OK with me going down there.

Bill

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by Biscuit761

Great shots Tobers, going to contact the local rugby club to see if they are OK with me going down there.

Bill

Thats the way to progress, get a pf together and then ring an agency, or pm me

[Bristol Pete]

Originally Posted by milkmanchris

Its not so much the shooting, which really does come from knowing the game.

Its the getting the shots out that counts, I was at Anfield yesterday with a BBC producer in my ear wanting the shots to match their text alerts, not easy.

However nice shots Tobers, hope it gave you a taster

Sure, but lets keep this in perspective. This was Tober's first game and I told him it was a non paying gig that would be good for him and his folio. There was little point in asking for shoot live situation as he had enough to deal with. Overall I am glad it has opened his eyes to another area of what being a pro is about.

As for 2.8 yeah, it does render a lovely back ground, but as Tober's said, when you are shooting under floods at 6400 ISO in the middle of winter and you need to freeze the action for clients, then it really is 2.8 or nothing.

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by Bristol Pete

when you are shooting under floods at 6400 ISO in the middle of winter and you need to freeze the action for clients, then it really is 2.8 or nothing.

Not always Pete, my 200 f2 has paid me a few quid too.

Seriously I have never shot 6400, even at Macc town on a FA cup Tuesday night, yet alone indoor for hockey or basketball (searches the D3 menus for confirmation that 6400 is actually an option)

[Holowlegs]

A great read, and well done Andy for giving this a go.

Very nice set of shots as well.

[Tobers]

Of course a 200 1.8 or 200 2.0 would be very desirable but I think Pete is saying 2.8 is the minimum as a guide. I still dont know why Canon doesn't have a big aperture zoom like the Sigma 120-300 - there must be a big market for it.

I think my 4.0 would be relatively pants in a low-light situation though the 1D can do wonders.

[Radiohead]

Originally Posted by milkmanchris

Not always Pete, my 200 f2 has paid me a few quid too.

Seriously I have never shot 6400, even at Macc town on a FA cup Tuesday night, yet alone indoor for hockey or basketball (searches the D3 menus for confirmation that 6400 is actually an option)

It's not even an option, it's part of the standard range.

[paulwIre]

Some really great shots there and a good story to go with it.

The first game is always a big challenge.

At this stage, I've been lucky enough to cover many sports, at different levels, and to me, it's always a thrill and a challenge.

With some light, f/4 is fine and can give decent background blur. But, for those really dark nights, high ISO and f/2.8 can be a vital thing. Those dark winter nights can be horrible.

Keep up the great work.

[michael.redfern]

Am I the only one who prefers number 3? Ah well, each to their own

[ies]

Nice stuff there Tobers, good insight aswell. Nice to see the different angles and perspectives
Were the other togs friendly beasts?
Just wondering as I've just got an agency gig for some Premiership footy, its a step up for me. Not sure its going to be live shooting to begin with whilst I get to grips. Just getting the workflow down to a tee so any help anyone can pass on please PM me. Worried my 300 2.8 maybe a big short.

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by ies

Nice stuff there Tobers, good insight aswell. Nice to see the different angles and perspectives
Were the other togs friendly beasts?
Just wondering as I've just got an agency gig for some Premiership footy, its a step up for me. Not sure its going to be live shooting to begin with whilst I get to grips. Just getting the workflow down to a tee so any help anyone can pass on please PM me. Worried my 300 2.8 maybe a big short.

If your gigging for an agency there is no workflow

Shoot, upload to agency server, repeat to end of game.

Hopefully a month or so later bank the cheque.

All the PP is done by the experts at their end.

PS your 300 will be plenty long enough

[Tobers]

Originally Posted by michael.redfern

Am I the only one who prefers number 3? Ah well, each to their own

Looks like it . It's more a nice detail shot than a story of the game.

Originally Posted by ies

Were the other togs friendly beasts?

The older & experienced ones were happy chappies including the Getty guy who I had a nice chat to. His shots are here for comparison. I was covering Bristol so at the end they were attacking towards, but unfortunately they seldom did so!! He was mostly at the other end getting the Harlequins guys running their tries through the porous Bristol defence. The younger guys were pretty stand-offish and grumpy.

[stevegreen]

Excellent stuff Tobers! I don't think i would be able to get anywhere near this quality at a sports match, i'd get too stressed!!