Two camera bodies... various lens combos... football action frenzy

[gmen]

OK... just to give an idea of the results shooting two bodies side by side, here's a selection of pics from today - also showing some variation of lenses/extenders...

EOS 1D + 70-200mm f/2.8L

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq001.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq002.jpg

EOS 1D MkII + 300mm f/2.8L + 1.4x extender

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq003.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq004.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq005.jpg

EOS 1D MkII + 300mm f/2.8L + 2x extender

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq006.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq007.jpg

http://www.tgsphoto.co.uk/forum_images/aq009.jpg

[tigerroar]

Could it be that you'd can never get paid enough money for what are some truly awesome photographs?

I know that you have work in the non-league paper but do you ever read it? I was at the Forest Green v's Barnet game on Good Friday and took my camera along and took a few pictures (http://www.tigerimages.co.uk/thumbnails.php?album=20) near to the official FGR photographer Bruce Fenn. If you look in Sundays' edition you'll see the two that he's submitted, apparently they pay £40 for each of them. His first is totally out of focus and the second has a player in the foreground totally ruining the shot.

And then you have yours. Sheer quality. I always enjoy looking at them.

[fslshooter]

As with all your stuff these are great. IMO #s2 and 5 are absolutely outstanding -- the best of the best! Will you please do a similar set of comparisons someday using the 300mm with and without a 1.4x on the 1D MkII? Almost everything I'll be shooting will be from distances between 60 and 120 feet and I'd like to get an idea of what I can expect if I add a 1.4x to my kit.

[gmen]

As with all your stuff these are great. IMO #s2 and 5 are absolutely outstanding -- the best of the best! Will you please do a similar set of comparisons someday using the 300mm with and without a 1.4x on the 1D MkII? Almost everything I'll be shooting will be from distances between 60 and 120 feet and I'd like to get an idea of what I can expect if I add a 1.4x to my kit.

Thanks fslshooter... I really appreciate your comments. I think most of us that post here are passionate about the sports that we are shooting. I'm always trying to make pictures that show the intensity of the game and using longer glass certainly suits my 'style'... and I will make of point of posting some side-by-side pics of the 300mm with and without the 1.4x extender in the near future.

As a preliminary statement, I'd say that you wouldn't be disappointed if you were to invest in one! :cool:

[gmen]

Could it be that you'd can never get paid enough money for what are some truly awesome photographs?

I know that you have work in the non-league paper but do you ever read it? I was at the Forest Green v's Barnet game on Good Friday and took my camera along and took a few pictures (http://www.tigerimages.co.uk/thumbnails.php?album=20) near to the official FGR photographer Bruce Fenn. If you look in Sundays' edition you'll see the two that he's submitted, apparently they pay £40 for each of them. His first is totally out of focus and the second has a player in the foreground totally ruining the shot.

And then you have yours. Sheer quality. I always enjoy looking at them.

Thanks tigerroar... I'm really flattered by your comments.

In an attempt to remain politically correct, all I will say on the subject of the official FGR photographer is that sometimes a 'newsworthy' picture isn't always technically the 'best' picture...

Having said that, I did see Sunday's NLP - but I didn't notice the pics in question...

From the point of view of submissions, I personally don't send in images that are 'out of focus' or where the composition is 'questionable'...

[Mills]

They are simply fantastic. I assume that it is sweat spray we see in some of the shots.

[bigrob]

Great pics as usual Gmen.


On the other subject, our local paper recently had a picture of a Blackheath rugby player. I know I'm not a great photographer myself and am learning, but I was shocked at how blury the pic was and not really newsworthy either.

I know I can take better pictures. How do you approach the local papers with pics & are they likely to pay?

[PhotosGuy]

Excellent shots!
How do you approach the local papers with pics & are they likely to pay? Why not ring him up & offer to email him a link to your pics online. Then ask him what they would pay for current, newsworthy shots?

[bigrob]

Excellent idea Photosguy. Will try that - thanks.

[gmen]

Great pics as usual Gmen.
On the other subject, our local paper recently had a picture of a Blackheath rugby player. I know I'm not a great photographer myself and am learning, but I was shocked at how blury the pic was and not really newsworthy either.
I know I can take better pictures. How do you approach the local papers with pics & are they likely to pay?

Thanks bigrob!

PhotosGuy certainly suggests the right approach if you are going to contact a local paper with a view to selling them somes pics. It's always a good idea to pick up the phone and speak to the sports' editor - and subsequently e-mailing a link to a (small) gallery of samples will help your cause.

One key thing: Don't forget to add FULL captions to your gallery. Taking the pics is not enough, remember to i.d. the participants as well as adding any other relevant information.

Many local papers will pay freelancers. Most have a budget for this. In fact, because the main sporting events are at weekends, a significant proportion of the pics are taken by freelancers since the staffers like to get their Saturday & Sundays off! This won't be true of every paper but it's certainly the case in my area.

The rates will vary, primarily dependent on circulation. http://www.newspapersoc.org.uk/ will give you a feel for the different circulations of all the regional and local papers.

Then there will be some variations in rates due to actual usage - i.e. a big colour pic on the back page of the paper may fetch more than a small black & white pic used inside.

There are various arrangements you can enter into, for example...

(i) You could charge per image published. Every single time the paper uses one of the pics you've submitted, you add it to your invoice.

(ii) You could charge per 'job'. You submit, say, 6 images from an event and that gives the paper full use of those six images for a flat rate.

Swings and roundabouts really.

Obviously ensure you agree any terms before your first submission. As a freelancer you will be able to retain copyright of your images and also ensure that all requests for reprints are directed to you.

Remember to check the paper's deadlines and ALWAYS meet them.

Don't forget stock photos - e.g. individual player shots - that can be used to illustrate a story when no photographer was actually present. Submit these during a lull in the proceedings - editors love to get them but just not around deadline time!

Be proactive, let them know early in the week what events you are able to cover. This will increase your profile.

Good luck. Just remember that word 'budget' - most locals won't want you to be invoicing them for too much every month. So it's a good idea to have 'arrangements' with 2-3 papers to spread the 'load' and to maximise your own return.

Hope that helps a little!

---- Gavin

[bigrob]

Gavin

Thanks for taking the time to write such a comprehensive reply. I'll get in touch with them I'll update if I manage to get anything published.

I know I need to work at lot harder on technique, but no pain no gain as they say.

Robin

[sGu]

Luvlee jublee :D

Fantastic work, Gavin! Thanks for sharing once again, now your shots make me wanna shoot some footie sooooooo bad ... in 3 hours, I will have a 400mm 2.8 IS to my arsenal! :D

Can't wait!