Opportunity for press pass, but should I take it?

[Ingsy]

I'm fortunate enough to somehow get the opportunity to get a press pass for Castle Combe in a couple of weeks time. However, and this may well sound quite odd, I'm not sure I want it.

The reason is kit. Look at my sig, it's all basic beginner stuff. I'd feel a complete fraud having a white vest and being in front of the fence.

I guess I can hire something, but I've never shot at Combe before, so I've got no idea what to get, where to get it from (lenses for hire I guess - anyone used them?), or anything else - what's the etiquette? Stay out of everyone else's way even if it's to the detriment of me?

Or should I just stop worrying and make the most of it?

[neil_r]

Well I have just looked through some of your other posts and you have not done too bad a job from the wrong side of the fence with your current kit, so give it a go :-)

[GPFocussed]

I'd make the most of it and get the press pass. Experience is everything. Shots in your portfolio on the other side of the fence won't hurt and may help you build on securing future passes. Someone must have been really impressed with your shots to entrust you with a press pass. I wouldn't pass it up for anything because they are hard to get without the right connections in place. Good luck and remember to post pics!

[BEyslerPhotography]

Any opportunity you get....you take... go for it

Appropriate Excerpt from Joe McNally's the Moment it clicks:
http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780321552907/app04lev1sec7

"As a photographer, when asked such questions by an
editor, you should always say yes, even if the assignment
terrifes you. (Actually, especially if it terrifes you.) "

[WRCfan]

I agree with the posts above. Take full advantage of it, experience is everything. When a door opens step through.
I am not familiar with the track and shooting spots although at any track when you have the opportunity to be in front of the fence, being safe and aware of where you are shooting from is important.

Otherwise enjoy and have a great time. Look forward to pics if you decide to take the opportunity.

[fashioneyes]

Grab the opportunity with both hands !

I'm lucky enough to have some access to pitlane/grid for BSB this year and am making the most of getting some decent shots, although not from where the media vest allow you around the trackside. However I'm already supplying two teams and two sponsors with images from the rounds.

[Pete]

Having a press pass doesn't neccessarily mean that you only have to take photos of the action on the track. You'll find some great opportunities with your shorter lenses in the paddocks, places where most press guys won't look at that much.

It's also a great opportunity for you to get further progress. Talk to some of the drivers/teams, take some photos of them and pass your details on. You never know, you may well make some connections that will serve you well in the future.

[tfd888]

+1 to everything that has been said. One of my main connections for a lot of my work was made when I was offered to shoot a promo event for fun which put me in contact with a PR rep who loved the photos and the rest is history. If you have the opportunity, GO for it!

[photoPanda]

Take the opportunity! You'll learn tons and have a lot of fun no matter what happens.

[Ingsy]

Thanks for the replies. It's not for a major international event or anything but it's a start.

I guess I just didn't want to not do the opportunity justice due to lack of kit meaning I can't make the most of it. I think I'll go for it, and maybe use it as an excuse to rent a nice big fat lens :)

[Sports_Dude]

Why not rent some lenses since you will have really good access?

[andrewc]

Go for it! You see some guys with compacts out trackside occasionally.

[GSH]

Give it a whirl. Nothing ventured, nothing gained etc but be sure to check out the insurance situation first.

As Andrew has said, you see some truly bizarre sights at some fairly big meetings. Someone trackside with a P&S at a Brands Hatch BTCC meeting is one that sticks in my mind.

It's a shame you're a bit too far South or i'd be happy to lend you a lens or 2 to silence any potential gear snobs ;)

[Ingsy]

Heh, thanks for the offer Geoff :)

It's a Britcar meeting so nothing hugely international or anything, but there have been people at the previous rounds with serious kit.

I'm looking into the insurance situation now - that may be a stumbling block but hopefully will get it all sorted in time.

[BEyslerPhotography]

lensrentals.com I just sent a 135f2 back this morning

[Andrushka]

yeah just rent the gear for the duration of the event - no one will know the difference especially if you are already making some nice photos with basic gear!

[Naturalist]

Don't be intimidated by someone else's apparent wealth. This has no bearing on their ability to capture images. My grandma out cooks the best with her 1940's iron skillet.

[tfd888]

Word of advice. If you do rent, allow a bit of time before the event to allow yourself to become familiar with and test out the rented equipment so that you aren't learning new controls on a different body or getting used to a different lens during the event.

[brownbugger]

take it , gear has nothing to do with talent.

[Mike Hoyer]

Bear in mind if you do decide to go, you are now working and not doing it for fun. Does your client know that you have concerns? They may be expecting more than what you can produce!

Gear is not everything, but it helps if you have the appropriate stuff! I know somebody will jump in and say "we all have to start somewhere!" but you need to approach this in the right way! Saying things like you've "somehow" got the oppurtunity doesn't sound right, you should know.

Anyway, if you have any questions, send me a PM and I will help you out!

I'm fortunate enough to somehow get the opportunity to get a press pass for Castle Combe in a couple of weeks time. However, and this may well sound quite odd, I'm not sure I want it.

The reason is kit. Look at my sig, it's all basic beginner stuff. I'd feel a complete fraud having a white vest and being in front of the fence.

I guess I can hire something, but I've never shot at Combe before, so I've got no idea what to get, where to get it from (lenses for hire I guess - anyone used them?), or anything else - what's the etiquette? Stay out of everyone else's way even if it's to the detriment of me?

Or should I just stop worrying and make the most of it?

[Ingsy]

Thanks for the comments everyone, certainly food for thought.

Mike, I can elaborate on the somehow. It's come about through me doing the write-ups on Britcar for Andrews website 'Racing Exposure'. After a couple of posts on the Piston Heads forum before the first race, a chap from Britcar got in touch with me about what I was doing, and offered help where he could.

Apparently MSV are more particular with photog passes than other circuit owners, and Combe are apparently a little more relaxed, so he is going to put me forward for a pass for the next round there in a couple of weeks.

As for the client. It's an odd one, as I'm not taking shots or doing the write-up for Britcar themselves, yet they are the ones getting the pass, and the write up that I put on Racing Exposure is purely on a voluntary basis.

As I've said earlier, I know that Britcar isn't F1 or anything, but I have to say that I've found myself in this situation almost without looking for it - hence the 'somehow' that I mentioned in the OP.

It seems as though the PL insurance is going to be about £100. I think that I'm going to go for the insurance to get trackside, and possibly hire a lens depending on funds. I figured that I'm getting acceptable shots with my current kit, so if I'm closer to the track then that can only help things.

[andrewc]

If you need any letters from me, let me know. I've been particularly impressed with your Britcar reporting!

I've not had to deal with Combe myself, last time I went I was starting out and was restricted to spectator areas, just not had an need to go back since. MSV and BARC are more stringent than some of the other circuits.

For smaller events, Silverstone hands over the accreditation side to the organising clubs, so for the Britcar24 you should have no problem - and I'm going myself.

[Ingsy]

Andrew, thanks for the vote of confidence!

Had planned on going to the 24Hr as well, perhaps it'd be an opportunity to meet up. Would be nice to put a face to a name.

[MMX]

Go there, but before you go there, borrow a telephoto and practice. Also read something about safety and when others try to shoot or walk, don´t stand in their way.

[racetek330]

As an ex racer i was asked by a friend to try to get a few pics of his new car. Next thing I know I am the track photographer and have been at it for 20 years. Never pass up an opportunityh. They may not come around again.

[canonnoob]

While I agree with "Never Pass Up an Opportunity", and that Gear is no reason to back down from this offer, I think we need to look at this from a separate point of view. Press passes/ credentials are meant for working professionals and media. Sure they get handed out to people who should not be there, but, that is what they are meant for. SO, if you are not working with some form of media, I would not take this opportunity. Here is the situation from a second perspective. Because you get a credential, someone who is actually working for media may not get to be on the track.

Wanting to be on the track just for a better view or better photos is no reason to accept this one chance. (not accusing you of doing so, just stating a fact.)

[GSH]

While I agree with "Never Pass Up an Opportunity", and that Gear is no reason to back down from this offer, I think we need to look at this from a separate point of view. Press passes/ credentials are meant for working professionals and media. Sure they get handed out to people who should not be there, but, that is what they are meant for. SO, if you are not working with some form of media, I would not take this opportunity. Here is the situation from a second perspective. Because you get a credential, someone who is actually working for media may not get to be on the track.

Wanting to be on the track just for a better view or better photos is no reason to accept this one chance. (not accusing you of doing so, just stating a fact.)

It's only a Britcar meeting so there won't be a mile-long line of Photographers waiting outside the Circuit office to sign on. The OP won't be denying anyone the opportunity to earn a crust and it might just be a foot in the door for him.

If you actually read post 21, he's been given the chance due to someone from britcar seeing the write ups he does for AndrewC's new website which is doing rather well, so as far as i'm concerned he fits the definition of "Working Media" a lot better than some photographers i could name.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

[andrewc]

Yes, Alex has been providing my Racing Exposure news site with Britcar stuff, both words and pictures.

When I started Racing Exposure six months ago, Britcar were one of the first high profile club series to get in touch with me, both Steve Wood who is their PR guy, and also James Tucker who is Mr. Britcar. Obviously they have been sufficiently impressed with Alex as well to offer him a media pass.

Alex's situation is slightly unusual. Normally the photographer applies to the circuit or the organising race series or club for a media pass - its somewhat rarer for the race series to make the offer to the photographer! This, coupled with it being Alex's first time trackside, is why he's a little unsure of himself.

Everyone needs their break - I myself have had a couple of lucky breaks, and I'm happy to give people a chance. Whilst writing or supplying pictures for a small website such as mine is not comparable to Autosport for example, it could lead onto bigger things.

I was at Anglesey for the CSCC meeting a few weeks ago, and the circuit commentator came up to me and asked how my site was going, which I was pleased about, because I hadn't told him about it.

My site is a little different to a lot of the others. I'm not covering Formula 1, GP2, F3 or the other series which are either professional or career series. These are well covered elsewhere. My site covers club motorsport which doesn't get much coverage at all. I cover from the typical 750MC type of meeting up to the hazy area where club motorsport and professional merge, the bar I've pitched at being at around the BTCC support race series where an amateur driver (of reasonable wealth) could compete alongside people who class themselves as professional drivers. The Porsche Carrera Cup being a prime example - they run classes for professionals and amateurs.

Now, if any other people wish to contribute in a small way, please get in touch!

[Ingsy]

Thanks for all the different points of view - it's certainly interesting reading other peoples opinions on this.

I've decided to go for it, and have sorted out the PL insurance. Not going to hire a lens though, so will have to make do with current kit.

Now, all I need is a circuit guide for the best places to shoot from, having never been there before. I'm sure there's bound to be one on here somewhere.

[sigma pi]

Thanks for all the different points of view - it's certainly interesting reading other peoples opinions on this.

I've decided to go for it, and have sorted out the PL insurance. Not going to hire a lens though, so will have to make do with current kit.

Now, all I need is a circuit guide for the best places to shoot from, having never been there before. I'm sure there's bound to be one on here somewhere.
Good for you!!! good luck and post up the pics afterward.

[EOS-100-10-1D]

Don't worry too much about the Gear! Here is a Photo I took form the Public Area at the British Superbike Championship Round at Cadwell Park recently of a P&S with a Press Vest:rolleyes:! I also took a photo of "Chippy" Wood, a Staff Photographer for Bike Magazine from the same event.

[TC1986]

Now, all I need is a circuit guide for the best places to shoot from, having never been there before. I'm sure there's bound to be one on here somewhere.

I've just found this thread but I will be at Castle Combe on the Saturday, and I will see if I can find you. I will be on the spectator side from lunchtime, with a 7D and camouflaged Sigma 150-500.

If you haven't seen it already this map might be of help.
http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/circuit/circuitmap.asp

As others have recommended in other threads, it is best to shot on the right hand side of the circuit (Quarry and Esses) in the morning and the left hand side in the afternoon (Bobbies and Camp) to avoid shadows.

Tim

[Ingsy]

Thanks TC, but I'll only be there on the sunday unfortunately - previous commitments.

Probably a silly question, but are there only certain areas on the press side of the fence I'll be allowed in? Or can I wander round the whole track? I guess I just go through by the marshalls posts or something?

As you can tell, this is all exceeding new to me :)

[andrewc]

Always keep a barrier between you and the track. Only cross the track between sessions and best to ask Marshals first. Providing there is a barrier you can move around the circuit until you reach the end of any barriers. Keep eyes and ears open. If you get a chance, talk with the guy at signing on, explain its your first time at Castle Combe and they should explain where you can and can't go.

[philwillmedia]

Ingsy,
Make yourself known in to the Media Co-ordinator/Manager or whatever title is bestowed upon him/her
Don't know what it's like in the UK, but in Australia you have to sign on every day and you must be given an induction - that could be via a photographers briefing at the start of each day, it could be just on the first day of the meeting or it could be individually as you sign on.
You should be given a map of the circuit with "no go" zones marked on it.
If you are unsure of where you are allowed to shoot, seek out other experienced photogs and ask them. Better still, check with the Clerk of the Course. If you are trackside, ask the trackies, specifically the Sector Marshalls. If you are in doubt about if you can do something either don't do it or ASK before you do.
As far as where to shoot, don't be lazy and ask other photogs "Where's the best place to shoot"
Nothing pi$$es me off more than someone asking me that question - I usually point to the track and tell them "Out there". Do some work yourself.
It's a different matter if the question is something like "I was thinking of going down to Turn 1 for this session. What's the light like down there this time of day or is it better to go to xxxx and go back to Turn 1 later in the day.
Get to the circuit early - I'm usually at the track by 7am - to talk with people etc or if it's a circuit I haven't been to before maybe earlier so I can walk the circuit and scope out angles and where I might be able to work from and basically familiarise myself with the place.
It's no good turning up 5 minutes before the first race. In my mind, if you are doing that you are late and you may as well not be there at all.

Most importantly, ask questions - ASK, ASK, ASK....

[Ingsy]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm pretty much set now. Track map printed, notes made, paperwork sorted.

Just an early start and a 3 hour drive to go :)

[andrewc]

So, how did it go?

[Ingsy]

Pretty good thanks. Could have done with some more length in places - couldn't do some of the shots I wanted to take.

Got there for about 9am, and left after the Britcar race. So have some of the Mazdas & Toyotas to go through. Will hopefully get them sorted and the write-up done over the next few days.

Got some funny looks from some people too . Not sure if it was my gear, or the ginger hair though...

:)

[Ingsy]

Now I've had time to think about it more, a few thoughts:

It was nice to be able to shoot without having people, or fencing, in the way I have to say, and it is definitely somthing I could get used too... Being closer to the track you can get some better angles of stuff as well, which makes a difference.

I've realised that I need to improve also. I need to have more keepers. I'm still going to be getting rid of at least half my images, through being not sharp enough, or simply not getting the whole car in shot - something of a basic really!

I also need to get to learn how to get the image I want. A couple of times I had an idea for a shot, tried it, it didn't come out how I wanted it to, and then I gave up. Not really the right attitude. Whether it's not coming out how I want beacause of gear, or technique, or knowledge, I just don't know. I guess I have to remember that I've still done less than 10 motorsport shoots in total, and some people have been doing these for years.

I want to get to a point where the more bread & butter shots have a much high keeper rate, so I can get the basics in the bag early on, and then leave time to try out other stuff.

[philwillmedia]

...Got there for about 9am, and left after the Britcar race..
haha...were you working executive hours?

I'd love to be able to get to a race meeting that late and leave that early.

If I arrive any later than 7.30am and leave any earlier than 90 mins after the last session/race something's wrong.

[neil_r]

If I arrive any later than 7.30am and leave any earlier than 90 mins after the last session/race something's wrong.

If I arrive after 07:30 i don't get a chance to have a "Fat Boys Breakfast" :-)

[Ingsy]

:)

I do this for fun, and do have the length day you suggest, I'd have to have been up at 3am, and not home 'til midnight. Not something that sounds particularly fun. Maybe this isn't the right career path for me :)

In my defence, I was about the 3rd photog to sign on that morning, with some more arriving after me, and leaving before.

[philwillmedia]

:)
I do this for fun, and do have the length day you suggest, I'd have to have been up at 3am, and not home 'til midnight. Not something that sounds particularly fun. Maybe this isn't the right career path for me :)


Glad you had a taste of it and hope you learnt lots, but yep, that's exactly how it works a lot of the time.
Just as well it wasn't a two day meeting.
How do you reckon the photogs at LeMans were feeling after that.
Not only that they would have had deadlines to meet after the race has finished.

Here' a snippet from a post I've got on another forum

"...Also, there is a way, way, waaaaay more to it than just standing by the track/oval/court and taking photos. That’s actually the easy bit.
There are deadlines (sometimes very short, insanely short) to meet and as a rule I would suggest that for the same amount of time spent track/courtside there is at least 1/2 to 3/4 of that time and sometimes more, to be spent on editing, sending images etc when the day shooting has finished.
If you spend 8 hours taking pics, then you will usually spend another four to six hours, at least, once you have left the venue, on editing etc.
Often you may even have to file images on the fly – from the media centre/trackside/courtside/the boundary line.

A typical day at a motorsport event like the Clipsal 500/Bathurst etc goes something like this -
Arrive at the track around 6.30am but no later than 7am and leave at around 6pm – even later if I’m doing some night shots or the after race concerts then edit and send images, field the “How long before I see any photos” phone calls from pic editors, clients etc, prioritise who gets their pics first, decide which images to send and to whom, try and have something to eat at the same time and get to bed in the early hours of the morning often around 2am, sometimes later, then up at 5.30am to do it all again for the next 3 or four days – fortunately at Clipsal I get to sleep in my own bed.
At Bathurst in 2008, I actually had more sleep on the Sunday night after the race than the combined total from Wednesday to Saturday.
Adrenaline is a wonderful thing. Lots of coffee helps too.
Recently I shot the ANZ Championship Netball semi final at ETSA Park in Adelaide. Got home from the day job at 5 and was at the venue at 5.30 for a 6.30 start. Left the venue at around 8.30 edited and filed images and finally got to bed at around 2am – more time in front of the ‘puter than actually shooting..."

If you want to read the whole thing, click here http://catchfencephotos.net/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1869

Memo to mods: apols for the link to another forum, but (I feel) it is releveant.
Remove the link if it breaks any rules

[Ingsy]

Haven't had chance to read the link, but will do. What you've put in your post is quite an insight!

I guess the game changes completely when you've got people paying you for your images, and who want images of specific teams or drivers. I can completely see the necessity to get there early and find out the background info on anything and everything that can help you get 'that' photo. After the race is a good time for the behind the scenes type shot, which presumably are in demand as well as the in the race stuff.

One thing I am curious about though - how do you edit and sort that many shots in a fairly short space of time behind? Do you limit the editing you do down to just maybe a crop and a tweak of colour? I just can't see how you can get through the hundreds (if not thousands?) of shots you'd take in a day, if you spend more than a minute or two editing each one.

If you edit at the media centre as well during the day, then you're not out on track shooting - so I guess it's quite a balancing act to keep the most important customers happy.

[philwillmedia]

Just to quickly answer -
I don't edit and process every shot - you're right, it would take forever.
Usually the first images to get out are those to the mags - one of them has a deadline of 7.30 am Monday morning.
Sometimes I might have a newspaper that requires pics and if it's a daily, there d/l is as soon as possible.
I only ever do any pp to images that are being sent out to clients or publications and do each one individually I don't batch process.
After I've selected the images I'm sending out, it's generally something like this - adjust brightness/contrast, adjust curves, clone dust, adjust colour saturation, unsharp mask, crop, and resize to requirements.
Some pics may only take 30 secs, but some may take as long as two minutes.
It would need to be a pretty special pic for me to spend any more time on it than that as I simply don't have the time.
Also I only shoot jpeg and that's an argument I'm not going to get into, suffice to say it works for me and it's each to his own on that one.

I work on a "keeper rate" of 85% as being acceptable but I expect it to be higher. Any less than that and I've had a bad day. I'll explain that.
It means that 85% of my images must be able to be used if they need to be. It doesn't mean that they will be, but that they CAN be.

I'll come back and answer the other questions in more detail later - just got a bit on my plate right now

[philwillmedia]

I'm back...

And to your other questions.

It's really easy to get caught in the "the cars are on the track - I need to get out there" mentality and it's been a pit fall of mine for a while. Stuff happens in the pits too, not just on the track.
I've started devoting time to specifically doing pit and atmosphere shots. Most of the categories are going to have more than one session plus races so there's not a lot you'll miss on the track if you only miss a session or two.
A really good time to do some of the pit stuff is first thing in the morning when they're setting up and theres nothing on track, hence the reason for being there early or even late in the day as they pack up (or if they are still working on the car on the Saturday night). It's all about keeping an eye open for the opportunity to grab a shot.

Editing during the day can be done when there's a category where I don't need a lot of or I'm only shooting for a few teams/drivers. Again they'll probably be on track enough to get you what you need. Sometimes I might only shoot one practice session and one race of a category because I only need a few safe shots.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and say "well I've got a bit of work to do and XXXXX need their photos before XXXXX" so you have to make that call and not shoot a particular race/session. It's a case of being able to balance your time.
Being at the track over the two days makes the job of satisfying everyone easier.

My belief is that by the time the racing starts for each category you should essentially have all your safe "stock" shots done.
Once racing starts all you should "need" is a start shot, a finish shot and any group shots, especially if there are any battles and if you are lucky, be in the right place at the right time when the leader gets punted into the wall by a back marker he was lapping.
All your single car shots really should be done and you shouldn 't need "safe".

You would be amazed at the number of images from practice sessions that get used in reports - but have you ever been able to tell that they weren't taken during the race?

[Ingsy]

Phil, all good information and thank you very much for spending the time to share it with me. It's certainly a good insight to what doing this for a living is actually like!

Anyway, after a slighty delay due to domestic issues (I won't bore everyone with the details - suffice to say I'll never get a job as a plumber!) I've done the race report, which is what I was there to do in the first place.

I know that I need to get more quotes, which will involve going around and sticking my nose in places perhaps it shouldn't be, but this is all a learning curve. A fun learning curve, but hard work also (not that it looks like it, comparing my 9-3 day with your 7-7! :) )

http://www.racingexposure.com/blog/2010/06/britcar-round-4-castle-combe/