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View Full Version : How to Sneak into a Sporting Event Without Even Trying


rick barclay
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 14:36
Just show 'em your warez. Today's adventure took me to Monmouth Park in
Oceanport, N.J., where I had every intention of shooting ponies but no intention of paying for the pleasure. So, I'm walking near the grandstand entrance looking for a way to sneak in when I pass a security guard who
scopes out my Mark II, telephoto lens, and monopod, and tells me, "Oh,
hey! We can't let you in. If you want to take pictures you have to clear it
with our security office first." Well, just for the heck of it, I asked him
where the security office is and how I would go about getting permission,
since I am here representing the media. Well, this nice gentleman then
made three calls on his cell phone and then personally escorted me to
the security office, where I introduced myself as Rick Barclay, representing
Flash Web Media Publishing, and could I please have a press pass so I
could take my pictures, which will be appearing on Flash Web Media's website.
No problemo. The nice lady made out my pass and I was then directed to
go to a back room where the track photographers were working, and they
would orient me as to where the best places might be to set myself up.
This is unbelieveable, I thought, entering into the photographers workshop.
And I swear, the first thing that caught my eye was a Canon 1D Mark II
with a lens just like mine lying on a table. There were two guys back
there and I introduced myself and told them why I was there. Again I
was asked who I worked for, and when I told them, one guy asks, "What's
the name of your website." So, I told them, flashdaddee.com, and they both laughed like hell and told me all sorts of stuff about where the
starting gate would be set up during which race and blah, blah, blah.
Ok, thanks. I think I can take it from here, and I went out onto the premesis feeling just so happy and important with that "Working Press'
tag hanging around my neck. Sorry for the verbosity, bit I thought it was funny. A pic to top it all off:


http://flashdaddee.com/presspass.jpg

Persian-Rice
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 14:54
Most photographers frown on this quite severely.

Either way, you got really lucky, most media offices will require you to have a letter of reference from your assignment company, and even then it's possible that they deny you access.

Good story and nice picture BTW.

rick barclay
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 15:40
Well, I didn't do it intentionally. It's just the way things played out.
Actually, since I have my own website, and I would eventually like to
do a little professional shooting, I'm thinking of registering Flash Web
Media Publishing as a domain and linking it to my present site.

I'm glad you like the picture. The resolution I used to post it is 240, which
I think I now realize is a bit too low. To date, most of the pics I've posted
here have had focus or sharpness issues. They were all done at 240 px. I
posted one in the critique area that I shot at 800mm processed at 400 px,
and I think it looks much better than what's come before. But I don't know yet.

IndyJeff
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 15:43
P-R is right, most photographers do frown upon this kind of activity. Several reasons

1. It makes it harder for the guys working to get credentials by having to jump thru more hoops for the access they need.

2. Guys sneaking in sometimes get in the way and keep a guy from doing his job.

3. Guys sneaking in aren't familiar with rules which must be followed and do something which can make that access for all photographers no longer available.

4. Guys sneaking in get a shot, from a similar angle a working media rep does, and offers it up for publication. Thing is he wants to see his photo credit and isn't looking for money, or a fraction of what a freelancer would charge. The publication may take his similar shot for $50 instead of paying the freelance guy $150.

At Indy, if you sneak into turn 3, somebody will point you out. The yellow shirts ask upon occasion if anyone we know of is out there that shouldn' t be. If they are then chances are someone will point them out.

Rick just a word of advice, if you make this a regular habit, you will get caught one day and when you do, access from that point on may be denied even if you have a legitimate source your shooting for.

spaceman
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 15:46
How does one get into events if they are a freelance photographer, and not working for any particular publisher/organization?

IndyJeff
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 15:51
How does one get into events if they are a freelance photographer, and not working for any particular publisher/organization?

Generally they don't. In some instances the freelancer will have a list of publications that he submits too and the sanctioning body will grant access based upon past sales of images from other events to media outlets.


Rick if you want to do that, send a query to some mags that might be interested in the kind of shooting you are doing. Some may want to have a look at a gallery where you post the images. Who knows you might even find someone who needs you to cover events regularly. Good luck with it.

rick barclay
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 16:48
Thanks IJeff. I'm in the process of making up a Flash gallery. I'm going to up
it to my site shortly. The photos are crap, but I expect to substitute good
ones as they become available.

Oh, and I won't repeat today's saga. As I said, it was totally unintentional
and unexpected.

Yeager
22nd of July 2004 (Thu), 19:44
Congrats on the victory Rick! Musta been kinda cool.