F A RULES ON GETTING IN TO MATCHES

right lets get his post sorted and ended.

bristolpetes reply to my post

First of all, if you are aiming to go professional, try and use punctuation in your writing, as it makes it easier to read.

my reply i never said i was going pro so why assume i was and then say

bristolpetes reply to my post

You state that you are 'as good as a pro'. Well, to be honest, that is subjective as there are both good and bad pro's out there. However, in reality you are light years away from someone like Rich Pelham, the Sun's staff snapper and recent winner of pro if the year. With all due respect, so far I have seen many snappers better than you here and on other websites.


my reply
iv read my post and never said i was as good as a pro if i was i would be on here giving advice not asking for it


bristolpetes reply to my post
As for it being impossible. Not really. Like all industries, time served, experience and overall ability will yield results and I urge you not go go banging on doors claiming to be the photographic messiah as when people ask to see your 'folio and kit list, they may send you packing.

looked through my post and never said i was the next messiah but then again it is christmas

musicmate reply to my post
about the papers using a shot of the player scoring the winning goal being from a different game isnt that where stock photos come into it, im sure even games where there are a few photographers in attendence not every goal is captured.Our local paper is lucky if they get the players name right


my reply to this post
the player that was in the paper was not the player who scored the goal and the player in the photo was a defender heading the ball away from goal now do you see what im getting at the paper just put any photo in and hoped no one would notice.

im not moaning because im bored i just whant to get on with getting better
i hope this reply explains things better

in the end is it not better to get the facts than to assume things as a boss onc said to me too assume makes a ass of you and me get it.



thanks for your imput

chris

Umm, this discussion is getting a little heated, lets everyone calm down and get in to the xmas spirit.

Chris,

It is not easy gaining access to football leage matches, let alone Premiership games. I have been lucky in that I have a very good relationship with reading FC.

Local papers generally are quite stretched in terms or togs to cover events. It is similar with my local papers, when Ice Hockey, Basket Ball, Rugby and Football is taking place on a Saturday then there staff tog runs around like an idiot, spends maybe 30 mins at the football then down the road to the Rugby to take in a half.....Doesn't give the best coverage and often the main action points are missed. Staff togs may not always have an interest in sports and the results can be different week by week, event by event and certainly between papers.

I started a few years ago by approaching my local papers and started by covering away games (and getting paid for it) as there was no way they would send staff togs to away games. Once I proved myself they then used me for pretty covering my local non-legaue team week in week out home and away.

Local papers don't have a big budget so if you approach them expecting to be paid the doors may close pretty quickly. It then raises the debate about whether you offer to cover games free of charge for a period to build a relationship with the paper. Once you start supplying a local paper consider approaching an organisation like the non-legaue paper (league paper) or whatever the thing is called these days. And slowly work your way up through the leagues.

The one thing you need is experience and the only way to get that is by shooting lots of games. Non-league games can be pretty challenging in their own way, especially this time of year when the lighting is pretty poor and often restricts opportunities to the 1st half of games only. Master shooting football at this level with the technical difficulties and it will stand you in good stead as you move up the leagues.

As Digtial photogrpaher becomes more available to more people you will find it harder to get in to as the number of people with similar ambition also increases.

The league are strict on what counts towards the license. I have hundreds, if not thousands of images used and published by Reading FC each season yet non of them count towards me getting a license.

It's like many things, the hardest part is getting a foot on the ladder, once you are on it opportunities will present themselves if you prove yourself. Sometimes it is being in the right place at the right time in order to get that break.

Good luck with your pursuit of a license.

A few seasons ago I thought I was good and got good results, now I am shooting with the "big boys" each week I consider myself down towards the bottom of the pile, the stakes are higher, getting the shot each game is more important but it's still bloody good fun.

Stick at it, take the knocks and keep trying eventually things will work out.

I can not speak for anyone else that has replied in this post, But none of my comments were intended to be in anyway to be derisory, i was just trying to help with advice about maybe coming at things from a different direction, ie get well know for taking consistently good photos of what ever you turn your hand to, maybe then you will get noticed as a good photographer & in turn gain access to the better events . As you have now made clear u would like to shoot league football, but not as a pro but as an amateur which i can understand. as i think there will be lots of people out there in the same boat ( me for one ) but i have come to understand that with league & even conference teams neither being talented (not that i consider myself to be ) or just having the right gear is enough. I think tho you will find that it is the same in a lot of sports not just football, Motor sports is another prime example where you will need public liability insurance not just to cover yourself but also the people you are photographing, all things you must consider. I wish you the best of luck in what you want to achive.

Steve.

sorry to all of you who have posted replys to my post for getting a bit shirty its just that bristolpetes post i thought were in parts was a bit harsh i have no problem with advice from people on this site good for me or bad thats how you get better at what you do.

i think what ill do next is as said in one or two of my replys to my post is try to get in to print by targeting some other sports iv allready had a go at athletics and i found that fun to do and im on the look out for some rugby games as i write this post if i keep tying i could in time get some where .

may i take this oppertunity to wish you one and all a great christmas and new year and lots of luck in you photography over the hollidays

ill post a pic bellow and for a bit of fun lets see who can cume up with the best caption.

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csjonesv1 wrote in post #2428949
ive tryed the local paper but all i get of them is they use there own photographer who i know in person and have said to me that they have to cover up to 4 matches on a sunday leaving just about 15 minutes to get the photos required from each game to me this is just mad as im sitting at some games for 90 minutes and could help out with the od photo now and then my photos are just as good as the photographer from the papers so its got nothing to do with quality its just doing my head in you see pics in the press that are rubish but its still imposable to get your foot in the door.

Dear god use some puntuation.

csjonesv1 wrote in post #2434203
i do photography because i love it not to try and make a living from it all i want to do is be as good as i can at what i do and i cant see whats wrong with that thats why i came on here for c&c and advice this licence thing just gets under my skin for some reason thanks again for your advice.

I doubt that there are any photographers shooting for fun at League matches. They are there earning a living from it.

Dave_G wrote in post #2444169
I doubt that there are any photographers shooting for fun at League matches. They are there earning a living from it.

oh theres definitely one for sure

KIPAX wrote in post #2444236
oh theres definitely one for sure

Tony, after looking at your website, I know you do it for the love of Accy Stanley. It was a shame Bury got that equaliser. That said, I have a little affection for Bury. Gutted at Prestons result.

PNE Mike wrote in post #2447414
It was a shame Bury got that equaliser.

Oi!!! Hurry up and get Nuge and Si sold will you??

Sir Vic Alsmear wrote in post #2447602
Oi!!! Hurry up and get Nuge and Si sold will you??

Martin, you should know of my affection for Bury even if I do also want to see Accy Stanley do well. I am always getting a hard time off Bury fans regarding Nuge. If it was up to me, Bury would get some sort of interrim payment off Preston now to help out you guys.

I got a load of pics of Nuge when he was special guest at a recent supporters meeting. I will post some pics on the Bury site when get the chance.

I had to go to the pne club shop to get a yellow away shirt with his name on the back as a crimbo prezzie for me 19 yo daughter

oops thats given the game away... they think i am 19 eh sir vic

KIPAX wrote in post #2448117
I had to go to the pne club shop to get a yellow away shirt with his name on the back as a crimbo prezzie for me 19 yo daughter

oops thats given the game away... they think i am 19 eh sir vic

At least your daughter has good taste in footy teams mate.

I have just realised how off topic this thread has gone. To get back to the original post, I am also keen on football photgraphy. Sadly the rules are strict on access for this. Thats why I recently started shooting iFA league games where there is no licence issues. I think its a great place to start and the team I shoot for appreciate it.

On Saturday I will be shooting the Darlington v Preston iFA game. I will post a ccouple of pics after the game to get some opinions from the pros on this site.

The game Im looking forward to most is Bury v Preston in what I understand is an iFA Cup game.

I photograph the www.nfsl.co.uk games which are simmilar.. per your exaple shots..you dont need 2.8 in them conditions as the background is so far away (positioned correctly) that the dof takes care of itself

KIPAX wrote in post #2450691
I photograph the www.nfsl.co.uk games which are simmilar.. per your exaple shots..you dont need 2.8 in them conditions as the background is so far away (positioned correctly) that the dof takes care of itself

Thanks for the link mate, I hadnt heard of the NFSL.

As for 2.8, I could do with it for other types of photography as well. Too much DOF is a problem at some grounds as the background is too distracting to the subject. Furthermore, it would be handy for bad light stuations. It will take up time to build up more gear.

Mike why dont you do Preston Ladies on a sunday... gets your foot in the door as official pne website will use the pics and on occasion the club program will.. I have done it for them a few times and they will even make you a brew... I have the contact details for the women in charge (or at leats who deals with this) at pne ladies... I can set you up if you wanna do it seriously.. and you would need to offer her a free set of images on cd... they play there home games at bamber bridge.. Like I say.. gets your foot in the door and is one step up from the fans team IMHO


ADDY ON BIT: Or pop along next time I am doing them at home and I can introduce you and get ya setup.. I do quite a few of the NW ladies teams so losing one wont make a diff to me ..