Monster World Supercross @ San Diego

[jdilldesigns]

I got a media pass to go to Monster World Supercross @ San Diego this past weekend. They only gave me a pass to go around the stadium, pits, backstage, in the racers tents, and some field access.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1162.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1181.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1185.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1276.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1374.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1371.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k73/donimaging/IMG_1535.jpg

[yzaddict106]

Cool! How did you get a media pass?

[Jason@MS]

attached nipple tassles and danced teh can can:evil::eek:

[mxav8r]

Not to be rude but... How did you get a media pass when not one of your shots is in focus!? I think there might be something wrong with your camera/lens. The shots you posted are very "soft"

[cedew]

Having a press pass doesn't give us any information about the photographer. Here is a shot(yes blurry) I took of some guy who had a press pass and was on the track taking photos at Hangtown last year...
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w57/corndography/re1.jpg

If you look at the exif, the camera is a 20D, f/8 @ 300mm. Now if that's a 70-300 non-is, it might be tough getting a sharp image especially at the long end. After using the 70-200/2.8 and the 300/2.8, I look back at all of my Hangtown shots last year taken with the Bigma, and boy are they soft by comparison. One of the reasons I sold my 30D, was because the AF speed isn't that great for really fast moving sports.

He also didn't make any claims about being pro this or that, there's another thread he started asking for tips before this race. I think he did fine, and probably had a TON of fun out there shooting. I would be happy to be out there with a Polaroid if I could shoot from the dirt!

And I think I can answer the questions about how he had a press pass, he has a friend in the biz. If you are into moto, you know how buddy oriented it is, and we help each other out. Go to as many races as you can, start working with local pubs, submit good work, make good friends(not fake style), and someday when you need to pull a string...you might have a string to pull.

[SeanH]

Yea no offense to the OP but in response to a couple of posts I think it's just irritating to those of us that have the potential to produce quality shots but for the life of us we can't get on the track. Then you see someone like in that picture that isn't even a photographer that is walking around the track. I have been shooting these for the last 3 years, been published 5 times, but still can't get a pass. Starting to realize, just like anything else, it's not who you know, but who you bl....

.....or is it just me? Here's my shots from the last few years:

http://www.pbase.com/blue622/a1_2006&page=all

http://www.pbase.com/blue622/san_diego_supercross&page=all

http://www.pbase.com/blue622/a12007&page=all

http://www.pbase.com/blue622/a3_2008&page=all

http://www.pbase.com/blue622/san_diego_sx_08
Give this one a few Min, still loading it right now.

I think that's a decent resume to get on the track.....maybe I'm wrong?

[DWimages]

From the looks of things it looks like he shot from the stands in the first row during practice and quailfying. I know a fair amount of up and coming photographers who shoot with the 30D camera and shoot Motorsports with it. If you spend time practicing with your equiptment and getting comfortable than you should be able to get good quality images from it. Remember it is 80% the photographer and 20% the equiptment. The guy in the photo probably works for the county and that is the camera he was issued. I have been doing this for 20 years and it is damn near impossible to get a credential to shoot Supercross. I was shooting for a paper in Nor Cal a few years ago and we had ads promoting the SF Supercross and I still could not get a credential so I had to call a friend who works for Live Nation to get my cred. This is something I do not like to do unless I have to. Unless you shoot for one of the major mx mags you generally are SOL for a SX credential. One of my biggest pet peeves is that you work your but off to get that credential and you show up with thousands of dollars worth of equiptment and some bozo shows up on course with a better credential than you have and he is using a point&shoot camera and then walks up to you and proclaims that he can get better photos with his camera than you can.

Mike
D&W Images

[cedew]

Sean, your gallery is very respectable. You are probably good enough to shoot for anyone, but you know relationships are everything in this business. You could be the most amazing photographer in history, but with a bad personality and reputation, you get nowhere. It's almost nothing to do with skill anymore, almost.

Mike, I feel your frustration. I am working towards getting on the track at Hangtown this year, and what am I doing over the next few months? Building relationships. Not working on my portfolio, not working on buying gear, not working on developing my style, not working on anything to do with photography, just building relationships. I'm lucky in one respect, I never want to make one cent on photos, I just want to get on a track once. For those that shoot for a living, MX is one tough egg to crack.

[MX962]

Sean, your gallery is very respectable. You are probably good enough to shoot for anyone, but you know relationships are everything in this business. You could be the most amazing photographer in history, but with a bad personality and reputation, you get nowhere. It's almost nothing to do with skill anymore, almost.

Mike, I feel your frustration. I am working towards getting on the track at Hangtown this year, and what am I doing over the next few months? Building relationships. Not working on my portfolio, not working on buying gear, not working on developing my style, not working on anything to do with photography, just building relationships. I'm lucky in one respect, I never want to make one cent on photos, I just want to get on a track once. For those that shoot for a living, MX is one tough egg to crack.

I second that No joken there

[MX962]

Sean, your gallery is very respectable. You are probably good enough to shoot for anyone, but you know relationships are everything in this business. You could be the most amazing photographer in history, but with a bad personality and reputation, you get nowhere. It's almost nothing to do with skill anymore, almost.

Mike, I feel your frustration. I am working towards getting on the track at Hangtown this year, and what am I doing over the next few months? Building relationships. Not working on my portfolio, not working on buying gear, not working on developing my style, not working on anything to do with photography, just building relationships. I'm lucky in one respect, I never want to make one cent on photos, I just want to get on a track once. For those that shoot for a living, MX is one tough egg to crack.

Will agree with you there too, not real sure how it is for the bigger nationals but at the local level for me and local nationals sanctioned races "AMA" getting to know these people on a personal level camping out with them at tracks going to there meetings and so on has been the biggest door opener by far for me

[SeanH]

Sean, your gallery is very respectable. You are probably good enough to shoot for anyone, but you know relationships are everything in this business. You could be the most amazing photographer in history, but with a bad personality and reputation, you get nowhere. It's almost nothing to do with skill anymore, almost.

Mike, I feel your frustration. I am working towards getting on the track at Hangtown this year, and what am I doing over the next few months? Building relationships. Not working on my portfolio, not working on buying gear, not working on developing my style, not working on anything to do with photography, just building relationships. I'm lucky in one respect, I never want to make one cent on photos, I just want to get on a track once. For those that shoot for a living, MX is one tough egg to crack.

Yea your probably right, I kiss butt at my regular job (outside sales rep) so I guess when I'm off work I just can't do it.......LOL. That will be my last race to shoot, just to much work for no reason......not to mention producing better shots than 25% of the guys on the track gets old / irritating. Because I don't want to be rude I never try to shoot the actual race from the stands. I know I wouldn't want some dude standing in front of me, so I don't do it to others.

=.....I'm over it.

[downhillnews]

Yea your probably right, I kiss butt at my regular job (outside sales rep) so I guess when I'm off work I just can't do it.......LOL. That will be my last race to shoot, just to much work for no reason......not to mention producing better shots than 25% of the guys on the track gets old / irritating. Because I don't want to be rude I never try to shoot the actual race from the stands. I know I wouldn't want some dude standing in front of me, so I don't do it to others.

=.....I'm over it.

There are other ways to get a media pass, and get $$$ up front for shooting just need to find the right company who wants a good pic of their latest stuff. Just a suggestion you have nice shots BTW...

[cedew]

Sean your predicament reminds me of my coworkers. He wants to take a "lead" role, but doesn't like what a lead has to do. I remind him that it's all in his mind, and it's his perception of the requirements that make all the difference as to whether or not it's fun, or horse$h!t. If you can stay focused, and make it a fun game, I believe you will have success. It may sound Tony Robbins'ish, but I find it to be true.

The fact that you wont ruin the entertainment of others for your own gain, I find honorable. At the root of motocross, is honor. The recent nonsense you see in the pits nowadays is a joke, eventually the sport will come full circle to its core element, what we all fell in love with years ago. If you go golfing by yourself, do you take mulligans? I bet you don't, that same pride and self respect will make others respect you.

Anyway, I'm out, happy shooting folks.

[jdilldesigns]

Just cause I got a pass doesn't mean I was able to go on the field. I was never able to shoot on the feild, everything had to be done in the stands. first time shooting motocross, I would love to learn more and such. It was also my frist time using my new gear too.. really dont know how to use it that well.. 70-200 and 300 IS.. so any tips would be great!

[klippe]

Just cause I got a pass doesn't mean I was able to go on the field. I was never able to shoot on the feild, everything had to be done in the stands. first time shooting motocross, I would love to learn more and such. It was also my frist time using my new gear too.. really dont know how to use it that well.. 70-200 and 300 IS.. so any tips would be great!

Well done for first time. Don't worry about the tall poppy thing. Good on you for getting a pass.

The shots do seem a little soft (as has been so um, less than eloquently said above), but it's easy to work on that. It's normally a shutter speed or panning technique thing. Since none of your shots seem to be panning shots, perhaps try a faster shutter speed next time to get the images a little sharper. Could also be a focus issue with your camera or lenses - but it's very easy to jump to that conclusion before really testing things thoroughly.

Practice makes perfect as they say.

Well done, and keep at it.

Cliff

[camjet22@mac.com]

They will only allow people who should be shooting on the floor. Are you on assignment from anyone that is going to promote the series? If not, they dont care what kind of skills you have. And with Live Nation (Clear Channel), they dont care about new shooters cause 90% of the guys covering the events are full time shooters, specializing in moto. It took me years to finally break through to that group. And unfortunately, my photos look a little different than those?

[MX962]

They will only allow people who should be shooting on the floor. Are you on assignment from anyone that is going to promote the series? If not, they dont care what kind of skills you have. And with Live Nation (Clear Channel), they dont care about new shooters cause 90% of the guys covering the events are full time shooters, specializing in moto. It took me years to finally break through to that group. And unfortunately, my photos look a little different than those?

Maybe you could post a couple examples for us ?

[bryno74]

I was one of the guys down on the track at this race with a media pass.
There was a guy down there with a 20d and kit lens. Thats just hard to
understand after all I go through to get a floor pass.

[bryno74]

Here is some from the race. (All shot with Mark III ISO3200)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0924.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0808.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0695.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0627.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0534.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h60/bryno74/Feb092008_0520.jpg

[downhillnews]

NICE...
1st and 4th do it for me.

[hooookup]

After covering a few of these it seems like they will credential just about anyone with a camera and an "assignment." It makes things tough on those of us who actually are on assignment from a major wire service, daily or periodical to get through our shot list.

[klippe]

After covering a few of these it seems like they will credential just about anyone with a camera and an "assignment." It makes things tough on those of us who actually are on assignment from a major wire service, daily or periodical to get through our shot list.

Dude, no offence, but if you're a professional about all this, other photographers would be the least of your worries wouldn't they?

Cliff

[klippe]

I am little amazed at the reaction here about who should or shouldn't be given a pass. Each person is responsible for their own success or failure, the fact that someone else gets a pass or not is entirely up to how they go about getting things done. Sure, if there'sa 'who you know' thing involved we have to get over it and get on with it (and I am NOT saying there is cause I don't know JDillDesigns).

I am sure JDillDesigns posted this not to taunt anyone, but just to share.

Suddenly it's turn into some pi**ing contest over "I'm better than you and I don't get a pass". I mean really. c'mon people, get over yourselves......

If you want a pass, do everything you can think of to get one. Being negative about someone elses work ain't going to help you. I know it's easier to play the victim and pretend like it's too hard to succeed. But it is not so hard that it can't be done - there are people there doing it, so it can't be 'too hard' can it? Effort, effort, effort.

Me? I'm happy for JDillDesigns for getting a pass.

Cliff

[camjet22@mac.com]

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1245/a20052za9.jpg
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/322/a20108mk1.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1998/a20122hd6.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2008/a30068yd1.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/73/a30058dl7.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8567/a30026wy3.jpg

[SeanH]

Nice Cameron......very nice. Some of the best I have ever seen.

.....now THAT my friends is Moto photgraphy!

You a S.D. guy? I know a local kid that has got the same look as your stuff, maybe you guys hang out.

[MX962]

Now those are excelent Cameron ! I like your style

[bryno74]

Nice work Cameron:)

[DWimages]

Very nice work these images remind me of the images shot by my friend Joe Bonnello. Keep up the good work Cam.

Mike
D&W Images

[camjet22@mac.com]

Whats the locals name?

[camjet22@mac.com]

And in my original post, I wasnt claiming to be all that by saying my photos were different, but to the original poster who wanted a field pass, there is a serious difference in photos. Which is why he didnt have one. No offense.

[ZipDude66]

A very interesting read here. I can say from experience that some so called “pros” are in fact not so professional. Not implying about anyone here, just generally speaking.

[BrownDogWilson]

Last year I shot Hangtown and Glen Helen on the track which was awesome, it is just to crowded at those races otherwise. Supercross is very difficult to get track access to that is for sure. A regular media pass isn't much more than a free ticket. Knowing a lot of the riders or team people has always helped me as far as the pits go..But for San Diego last week, a lot of the guys were coming into the stands to shoot because there were only two spots on the track to shoot, and most of their shots had tuff blocks impairing the view. For SX I really don't think track access is that big of a deal. I have had several shots published from the stands,,,Just my 2 cents...Here are a few from SD that I took...

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3371/img8362sua6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5246/img8373dgf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/228/img8601dpd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3248/img8604dsc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9264/img8607dky4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1337/img8627dgq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4886/img8630dzq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6351/img8739dmq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[BrownDogWilson]

This is what you get with track access,,

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/170/img9012ve9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[camjet22@mac.com]

Very true, and then you have guys like Stephane Roncada, an ex racer, who has absolutely no business being down there, standing to the left of the guy in the 15 jacket. He doesnt even have a camera but sure does know a few of the big wigs at clear channel. Its totally about who you know in this industry. ANd with the way that clear channel (live nation) limits access these days, not much better being on the field.

[BrownDogWilson]

Roncada actually got down there as part of MotoVerde, a French moto mag...It is a joke sometimes how guys get down there with point and shoots:evil:

[downhillnews]

Roncada actually got down there as part of MotoVerde, a French moto mag...It is a joke sometimes how guys get down there with point and shoots:evil:

THAT KTM and 1st YZ image are SICK!

[BrownDogWilson]

THAT KTM and 1st YZ image are SICK!


THANKS!:)