3 From Tonight Girls Game

[Sauk]

nothing special was asked to leave from the Principle because the flashes were bothering him. So I did. Then the assistant principle came up to me and talk to me further saying that it distracted players, I said I shot you guys before at another gym and had no issues from either coach. I said if you thought it was distracting to the players do you really believe the NBA and College would allow people to use them?

He then said well the coach said he didn't want them (in which I should have said no he didn't even talk to you because from the time I started shooting he never left the bench because he was talking on the mic introducing the Seniors on Senior night, But I didn't of course lol)

Frustrating to say the least. Senior night and no one to take good pictures for the parents, a damn shame.

Here are the three images:

1


2


3

[Travisj]

Wow, what a bummer. Still got some nice shots. I really like the 1st one, the B&W goes well.

[KIPAX]

Why not shoot without flash then ? I presume they would have been happy for you to do that?

[dmwierz]

Matthew,

I agree with Tony. You did the only thing you could do (not use the flash - at this point there's no point in arguing), but did he really throw you out or just tell you not to use flash?

[352McCoy]

You should be able to shoot hoops without the flash. The photos will not be
as good as the ones you have shown here, but slow moving and standing parents would
not have been an issue. I just use the Canon xti combined with the 70-200 f/2.8 L
in poor light and here are two examples of my shots, one action and one more standing.
Not perfect, but these players and their parents will be more than happy getting these photos. Good luck, I know it is frustrating not being able to use the flash!

[Zivnuska]

Bummer. Those strobes really add a lot.

[drandtus]

He was bothered by your bee's? That blows.

Really like the B+W, that shot would definately make a mom very happy.

[Sauk]

Originally Posted by dmwierz

Matthew,

I agree with Tony. You did the only thing you could do (not use the flash - at this point there's no point in arguing), but did he really throw you out or just tell you not to use flash?

I should not have phrased it that way. I was told to not use the flashes I said that I had to since I was shooting for maxpreps and wanted to cover the game. I was really there to cover the #1 team in the state, Lone Peak, to be honest. I wanted to get a few shots of them on file in case there ever was a story on them on maxpreps. I had a photo I took recently used for a story about the HS playoffs coming up in Utah so I would assume they would or could use some from the #1 team in the state lol

The lighting was not good enough for a 2.8 F stop.

Though I should have just stayed as it took me 3 hours to drive 19 miles back home thanks to a foot of snow that hit and of course jack knifed trucks and what not Fun evening lol

[Sauk]

I should add that the Lone Peak coach even talked to me before the game while I was shooting with the strobes and said nothing and as you can guess they were the side that started on my strobe side first. They had no issues with it (they were leading) lol

[namasste]

that's too bad Matt. Were you bouncing them? If so, I can't imagine how they were distracted. If the players were distracted by bounced lights, I'd challenge that they weren't in game focus mode at all.

Just a suggestion, but I'd drop the coach an email asking if he/she or the players were bothered. If not, maybe ask him/her to speak with the AD or principal on your behalf. Being the #1 team in the state, I assume you'd like to cover them from time to time and maybe you just caught the principal on a bad night.

[Sauk]

Yeah the team that was winning had no issue even though that was the side they were shooting on.

I tried for around 4 days and 3 calls to reach the Lehi coach to double check. I had already shot him early this year at another teams gym and no issues.

I had a parent purchase some images so I thought I would try at their place. Nice gym with a pretty high flat ceiling. I will say this, they were bounced, I didn't notice them as much as I do other gyms (like the one I shot at this week, Murray) but again you have people that have no idea making decisions. But as I said it is their school to run and even though I think it sucks, they make that decision and I have to live with it.

The assistant principle was really nice, while the principle was harsh. I really do believe when I was talking to the assistant that when I said something about the NBA and College he felt pressured and said well the coaches came to him. I felt bad because in all honesty I should have just said thank you for your time, instead I let the my feelings come out a little. (had that issue when playing as well lol)

Lessoned learned. I usually do contact all coaches I have never shot at before hand and I did try with this one, but I figured he would be fine with it since I have shot his team before.

I just wish one day the coach will come up to me instead of a principle making a decision on what he "thinks" happens when using flash.

The one thing I always find funny is they care about that, but they just let parents blast away from the stands with their flashes which are way worse then what mine are doing.

/end of rant

[namasste]

Originally Posted by AthleticsPhotog

The one thing I always find funny is they care about that, but they just let parents blast away from the stands with their flashes which are way worse then what mine are doing.

/end of rant

yeah, that's always interesting. Oddly, I can mount flash on camera and have never been asked about it except at a 5/6 girls rec. game but as soon as I put the same flash guns on super clamps and mount them up high, the questions start.

Either way, I'd still drop the coach an email nicely explaining what went down and ask if they'd be an advocate for you with the principal. As I said, the guy might have just been having a bad day.