Shooting High School and College Baseball

[JimTx]

I will be shooting both levels this year and am wondering where most photographers shoot from. I can shoot from the dugouts but they have fences and no photographers pits. Any ideas appreciated.

[gromeo]

I don't about your area, in my area the high schools are a tough, most have high fence and the governing body for HS sports does not allow us to be in the dug outs, the 2 HS schools I cover have low fences on 1st and 3rd bases side but all the rest have to shoot thru fence. You did not specify what level of college you are shooting and if you will have credentials. Most D1 & D2 will have photo wells or designated photo pits.

[JimTx]

I have credentials and will be shooting at Jr. Colleges .... some may have pits .. not sure at this point. Same goes for the High School fields. Just haven't been to enough of them yet. Still covering end of basketball.

[Sledhed]

Usually down the first or third base line. If there is a short fence I'll stand outside of it, if the fence is taller I kneel down along side of it on the inside. I always talk with the umpires first to make sure it is cool with them. I usually stay out of the dugouts unless there is a photo well at the end.

[gromeo]

I would check with both schools and talk with the officials that day, and follow there instructions, also there was some discussions last year with HS that if you were on the field you would need protective head gear, I only shoot 1-2 games for a JC and the field is not much different then a HS field. All others are all nice D1 schools, so they have photo areas. Hope that helps and keep your eyes open.

[tstowe]

I shoot high school baseball and softball. I always stand inside the fence. I've never had an ump or coach say anything to me. No protective gear either.

What is supposed to happen is they designate an area for a photographer to stand. No one ever does...at least I haven't seen it yet. So I stand behind and right of first base (and behind and left of for the third base). I sit outside the fence behind home and shoot through the fence to get shots of the pitcher.

[JimTx]

I was shooting High School soccer this past Saturday and saw the soccer ball coming right at me through my viewfinder .... it ran out of steam and dropped at my feet but that was a wakeup call ... ball sure looked big coming at me!!!

[tstowe]

I was shooting High School soccer this past Saturday and saw the soccer ball coming right at me through my viewfinder .... it ran out of steam and dropped at my feet but that was a wakeup call ... ball sure looked big coming at me!!!

yeah...looking through a zoom lens at something coming at your head will mess you up. I've jumped out of the way at football games a few times when they were 10 yards away.

[Sledhed]

What is supposed to happen is they designate an area for a photographer to stand. No one ever does...at least I haven't seen it yet.

I was shooting some of the IHSA softball playoffs last year for a local paper. I got to the game, introduced myself to the head umpire and he asked me where I want to stand. I showed him and he took a can of marking paint and marked off the areas. He then told both coaches that area is considered out of play. That was the first time I've ever had that happen.

[tstowe]

I was shooting some of the IHSA softball playoffs last year for a local paper. I got to the game, introduced myself to the head umpire and he asked me where I want to stand. I showed him and he took a can of marking paint and marked off the areas. He then told both coaches that area is considered out of play. That was the first time I've ever had that happen.

That's for the most part what's supposed to happen. I've read the rules and they (the school) can mark off an are for a photographer and it's an out of play area. I've just never seen it. Not complaining, because I've never had an ump make me move either.

I think it's like most things. If you stay out of the way and look like you belong there, they leave you alone.

Just watch out for your head. :)

[gromeo]

I was shooting some of the IHSA softball playoffs last year for a local paper. I got to the game, introduced myself to the head umpire and he asked me where I want to stand. I showed him and he took a can of marking paint and marked off the areas. He then told both coaches that area is considered out of play. That was the first time I've ever had that happen.

The schools I cover here in the Orlando area has required this for the last couple of years, anytime I have to cover a school I call the coach ahead of time and they draw the box on 1st base and 3rd base side for me. If we don't call ahead of time the officials will not let the us draw the boxes.

[lauderdalems]

They have offered to mark an area for me on the field (NCAA Div II), but I stay just outside the short fence next to the dugout - for safety reasons. Otherwise I shoot from inside the dugout.

[Kenya]

Last year, I shot just next to the dugout and had two close calls with foul balls. Towards the end of the season, I shot a bit from the home team bullpen just to get better shots of the outfield. It worked out much better than expected even for infield shots.