I've shot the St. George Marathon a few times, and it pales in comparison to the marathon of shooting I've done over the last 3 days. The Region 9 basketball tournaments were in Cedar City, and I shot just about every game. A few things stuck out as something worth sharing on here.
The first thing is to show up on time to every shoot. And by "on time" I mean "early". I usually aim for 30 minutes early for local shoots. This gives you a buffer in case anything happens. And I assure you, it will happen. Parking was a nightmare, and combined with cutting my time too close, I ended up driving around the SUU campus looking for a parking spot that didn't require 4-wheel drive. Also, the people at the court-side desks, aren't the greatest people to ask to scoot down when you show up late. So get to shoots early, claim your territory, and get shooting.
Also, carry extra of everything. I usually go through a scenario in my head on the way to a shoot that involves everything I bring in suddenly not working. It's pretty close to the worst-case scenario. And I ask myself if I could still make the shoot happen with a quick trip to my car. The answer is usually. Extra lenses, an extra body if you have one, extra batteries for everything, extra cards.
It always boggles my mind that people with spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on camera gear, and then $10 on a small memory card and cripple their ability to shoot. The same goes for batteries. Always have extra. Always!
Not having extra expensive cameras makes sense. But a couple bucks worth of batteries? Why the hell not?
Finally, have a system, and know it well. I hardly had time to ditch footage between games, and certainly not enough time to edit video. But not only did extra cards save the day, but know how to prioritize tasks on the fly. A few times a game would be starting, and I was still waiting for the coach from the last game to get out of the locker room. Does anybody watch the first 5 minutes of the game? Not really. Players are still warming up, there are still a lot of time-outs on the board, no buzzer shots, and there is still plenty of time on the clock for stuff to happen. On the other hand, do people want to hear what a victorious coach has to say about how he beat the other team? most likely. It adds a personal touch to what people are watching.
Also, take the breaks you can. Just like a rest stop on a road trip when you "don't really need to go", you just don't know when the next chance will come along. Take them when you get them, and stock up on the free food these places usually provide. You won't know when you'll get a chance to go back, and you certainly can't predict how hungry other photogs and reporters get. The safe bet is "very".
TL;DR ?
Be prepared, have backups, have a system.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Coming back
My key to retention is writing things down, and new photo information has become an everyday thing lately. So, in an effort to remember, share, and (hopefully) reference these ideas, I'm back at the blogging efforts.
The ease of camera access has made everyone a self-proclaimed photographer, but there are a lot of small things I see my photog role models doing that sets them apart from the hobbyists.
The time spent away from a shoot is quite possibly more important than the time you spend shooting. Preparing is absolutely critical, and it goes beyond charging batteries and clearing cards. Being truly prepared for a shoot is doing your research, studying all you can about your subject, your gear, your technique, the market, what other photogs are doing, etc.
I keep a running list of things I want to study/learn. Sometimes items stay on the list for months, sometimes just until I get home that day. The important part is creating the buffer of topics, and using it as a guide when you have downtime.
I make wishlists. Sometimes I actually end up getting the funding for these items, but most of the time it shows me what I want to research. Before I purchase a product that will hopefully have a positive impact on my career I want to know that it is the absolute best option on the market. Not only do I have to research that particular product, but I end up researching all comparable products. It keeps me up-to-date on trends and gear, and it assures I make prudent purchases.
I recently watched "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", an amazing documentary about the dedication and discipline of a simple man with an amazing talent. The sushi is simply a medium. The true talent is the ability to master a craft through hard work and persistence. You have to live your passion, and never shy away from challenges.
Am I OCD? Just slightly. After every shoot, gear goes back exactly as it was. I wind cables the same way, I place lenses in the same pockets, I even put my camera on a specific setting before storing it. I'm sure it sounds slightly overboard, but guess what, it is there every time I go to shoot, and whenever a story breaks. In the world of photojournalist if you miss a story you don't get paid. So, every little thing I can do to master my ability to deliver a quality, timely story just adds to my job security, and puts me a few steps ahead of the competition.
They're somewhat scattered, but hopefully these thought help fellow photographers at some point. I plan to be more consistent. I need the outlet for my ideas. So for now this will be my photo journal.
The ease of camera access has made everyone a self-proclaimed photographer, but there are a lot of small things I see my photog role models doing that sets them apart from the hobbyists.
The time spent away from a shoot is quite possibly more important than the time you spend shooting. Preparing is absolutely critical, and it goes beyond charging batteries and clearing cards. Being truly prepared for a shoot is doing your research, studying all you can about your subject, your gear, your technique, the market, what other photogs are doing, etc.
I keep a running list of things I want to study/learn. Sometimes items stay on the list for months, sometimes just until I get home that day. The important part is creating the buffer of topics, and using it as a guide when you have downtime.
I make wishlists. Sometimes I actually end up getting the funding for these items, but most of the time it shows me what I want to research. Before I purchase a product that will hopefully have a positive impact on my career I want to know that it is the absolute best option on the market. Not only do I have to research that particular product, but I end up researching all comparable products. It keeps me up-to-date on trends and gear, and it assures I make prudent purchases.
I recently watched "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", an amazing documentary about the dedication and discipline of a simple man with an amazing talent. The sushi is simply a medium. The true talent is the ability to master a craft through hard work and persistence. You have to live your passion, and never shy away from challenges.
Am I OCD? Just slightly. After every shoot, gear goes back exactly as it was. I wind cables the same way, I place lenses in the same pockets, I even put my camera on a specific setting before storing it. I'm sure it sounds slightly overboard, but guess what, it is there every time I go to shoot, and whenever a story breaks. In the world of photojournalist if you miss a story you don't get paid. So, every little thing I can do to master my ability to deliver a quality, timely story just adds to my job security, and puts me a few steps ahead of the competition.
They're somewhat scattered, but hopefully these thought help fellow photographers at some point. I plan to be more consistent. I need the outlet for my ideas. So for now this will be my photo journal.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Think Tank Photo Bags
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/default.aspx
I came across this site recently and am putting some serious consideration into getting a belt setup for shooting sports. I want to find someone that has used one, or someone that had one, so I can see it in real life or get some feedback. For all the money one could spend on photography gear, this one seems pretty minimal. The burton pack gets pretty big, so something quick like this would be awesome.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Photo Links
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Camerapedia
Awesome site that has tons of info on every camera you can thing of.
This is a new firmware download that apparently unlocks tons of capabilities of high-end canon cameras. I have yet to try it out, but it sounds safe, more to come.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I'm Still Here!
Hey guys, I'm still in the business of photography, and plan on nothing but growth. Get following my blog, and get your friends to do the same! There is a lot more content on the way. This will be where you can see what we have going on, who's pictures we're shooting, and even some tips and tricks occasionally! Thanks for the support! Keep it up!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
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