Some more Football (sorry)... This week's FA Cup action...

[gmen]

Well, for those of you who think that shooting the so-called 'bigger' games is a glamorous affair, here's a tog's eye view of the hole in the ground I have to stand in when shooting at Portman Road, Ipswich.

This is, in fact, on of the 'nicer' holes in the ground and (on a quiet, dry night) can make for a nice, errrr, office...



The highly-rated Tom Huddlestone in action for Spurs against Cardiff on Wednesday...



A 'panoramic' view of an Ipswich free-kick against Chester City on Tuesday...



Spurs players and their fans celebrate a goal during their comfortable win over Cardiff...



Fabian Wilnis of Ipswich looks in 'determined' mood as he strives to repel a Chester attack...



'Get your hand off my thigh!"...



The FA Cup is all about the fans (so the media tells us), so here are a few Chester City fans enjoying the warm-up to their tie on Tuesday night...



The Cardiff City fans seemed a little less friendly the following evening and the riot police kept a close eye on them...



Many thanks for looking!

---- Gavin

[musicmate]

No need to be sorry m8 Superb work Gavin really like the Fabian Wilnis shot. what a life you must lead Ipswich one night White Hartlane the next, I cant imagine just how many miles a week you must do.

Steve.

[Big Hands]

Excellent series Gavin. I aways look forward to seeing your work.

Regards,
Jeff

[KIPAX]

Glad to see you stick a few fans shots in... I always add fans to my collections online.. if I didn't then no one would visit my site hehe and a group of finger pointers are always keepers.... action shots stunning as per

[crawford]

It doesn't matter the sport when the shots are this clean and sharp, nice work.
I think the Chester defender has that look of impending doom as Wilnis moves in.

Alan

[gmen]

Originally Posted by musicmate

No need to be sorry m8 Superb work Gavin really like the Fabian Wilnis shot. what a life you must lead Ipswich one night White Hartlane the next, I cant imagine just how many miles a week you must do.

Steve.

Thanks Steve...

Mileage not too bad for the midweek matches. Only about 150 miles in total for both round-trips from my base in Braintree. I do try to keep within a sensible radius unless the booking pays sufficiently well and/or includes expenses

---- Gavin

[DarrenL]

Really great images Gavin, I'd be more than happy with any of those.

Is it usual for stadiums to have 'traps' for the photographers?

Darren

[KIPAX]

It's a night match and the lighting is therefore constant. So how come all the different ISO? If different lenses for close up and far away (200 and 400) then possibly different.. but you seem to ahve used 800, 1250 and 1600.. Other than different lenses I dont get the change of ISO under the same lighting.

Again thinking while I type.. there could be dark areas down the touchlines.,.. but surely you dont change iso as quickly as the ball moves from one are to the other..

hence my puzzlement?

[PNE Mike]

Gavin, you should never apologise for posting football pictures.

I thought the first shot was from a very low position then I read you were in a hole!

Superb pics as usual and as Kipax said, its always good to see a few crowd shots.

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Absolutely right you should apologise - they're terrible.....................

....................Or not!!

Cracking work again there Gav, #5 is the stand out shot of the action ones for me!

You also have captured one of the rarest shots in football. Chester fans singing!!!

Sorry the enquiries with the Chester rags didn't pay off - was surprised that they sent someone down there in all honesty!!

[Tall_Paul_2000]

Oh and what is that on top of the laptop screen shade on the left hand side?

[tigerroar]

Great shots Gavin, always appreciate you showing them off. The Cardiff fans are animals, they tried to wreck our ground when we played them in the FA Cup in 1989.

[DarrenL]

Originally Posted by Tall_Paul_2000

Oh and what is that on top of the laptop screen shade on the left hand side?

It looks like a card reader to me Paul, although I may be wrong.

Darren

[gmen]

Originally Posted by DarrenL

Really great images Gavin, I'd be more than happy with any of those.

Is it usual for stadiums to have 'traps' for the photographers?

Darren

Cheers Darren... there are a few grounds that have photographer's pits... and they're generally not a pleasant experience. The standing pits at Ipswich aren't too bad... especially when compared to White Hart Lane where you have to sit in very cramped conditions while trying to juggle cameras and laptop. It's hard not to end up with a severe case of backache

---- Gavin

[gmen]

Originally Posted by DarrenL

It looks like a card reader to me Paul, although I may be wrong.

Darren

Good spot Darren... it is indeed a card reader thingmybob.

---- Gavin