First Time D1 Football Advice

[packpe89]

Just got informed my credentials were approved. I shoot a lot of HS and small college sports for a small town paper when they need help, or when my kids are playing. I will be traveling to Birmingham to the Papajohns.com Bowl. In the college games I've shot, I've had no limitations and could go anywhere I wanted on the sidelines. I assume, at this level things will be different.

So, what advice and what should I expect?

What combo's should I pland to use. I have a 40D and 1dmk2, 300F4, 70-200/2.8IS and 24-70 I plan to use. Flash? Daytime game. I am thinking the 40D & 300F4 and the 1dmk2 and 70-200 most of the time and switch to the 24-70 on occasion.

Will there likely be a secure area for a laptop, or should I plan to send pictures fro the hotel?

Thanks,

Joe

[Big K]

I am sure there will be lots of abnormal restrictions for a bowl game. Get there as early as you possibly can and ask lots of questions to clarify what you can and can't do and more importantly where you can and can't shoot from. Most of the people who will yell at you if you do something wrong will kindly to take the time to explain things if you ask up front, especially if you do it early before they get busy or frustrated from yelling at the photographers not following the rules.

Find the spot you think would be the best single location if you were not able to move around and take it as soon as you can. If you are able to move, you can do that when the game starts and if not, you will at least have the best possible spot.

I would not take the flash. Just one extra thing to carry and at most you will get to use it after the game, assuming you get to go onto the field and shoot post game shots. Even then, I personally would probably still shoot ambient and not with a flash.

I think your lens/camera combo plans are just fine.

Unless you have a crazy tight submission requirement I would leave the laptop behind and transmit when you return to the hotel. If you have to take your laptop be sure you have a good locking device for it.

Hope that helps. Have fun.

[namasste]

I agree on transmitting from the hotel but disagree on the lens setup. I'd put the 300 on the 1D as I think you'll shoot that combo more and therefore I'd take advantage of the better AF on the 1D. If its daytime, f4 will be no problem. At a bowl game, you'll probably have fairly limited mobility so get there early and talk to some other shooters about "reserved" shooting locations. Pay tons of attention to where the video guys setup as they can ruin your day if you don't. If you can get an endzone spot, I'd take that as first option but that's really my opinion so I'll let others weigh in.

Have fun!

[Big K]

I agree on transmitting from the hotel but disagree on the lens setup. I'd put the 300 on the 1D as I think you'll shoot that combo more and therefore I'd take advantage of the better AF on the 1D. If its daytime, f4 will be no problem. At a bowl game, you'll probably have fairly limited mobility so get there early and talk to some other shooters about "reserved" shooting locations. Pay tons of attention to where the video guys setup as they can ruin your day if you don't. If you can get an endzone spot, I'd take that as first option but that's really my opinion so I'll let others weigh in.

Have fun!

I misread it earlier. I would agree 300 on the 1D. Also a very good point about the video guys. You think refs wreck shots.

Also, try and keep track of how many times you say I wish the guy with the sound dish would move.

[danaitch]

Best advice I can give is to try and ensure you move around enough to give yourself as unrestricted a view as possible. Better to be thirty yards from the line of scrimmage and get a great shot you can crop down, than take a chance that the officials won't cross in front of you and get a frame-filling shot of a zebra's butt! :lol:

[gromeo]

Joe, this was on the media information that was part of the approval form I got from the Capital One and Champs Bowl

Photography Regulations
Photo passes will be issued only to accredited photographers and videographers on assignment and photographers authorized by Florida Citrus Sports. No freelance photographers will be granted credentials. Photo passes grant access to the press box. Under NCAA rules, photographers are not allowed between the 25-yard lines and must remain outside the restraining lines surrounding the playing field. ARM BANDS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOOT PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE FIELD. Arm bands can be obtained in the press box prior to kick off.

Also we were not allowed to stand behind the benches to take pics, but you were allowed to snap some on the way to the other side of the field. I like kneeling on the ground so good knee pads is a must. Enjoy and have fun.

[TheSportsGuy]

Good luck with the shoot pack.

And make sure you bring some photos here for the couple of Pack fans who can not make the trip to Bama. :)

GO PACK! BEAT RUTGERS!