Paintball in Huntington Beach

PaintballPhotography.c​om wrote in post #5268892
If I had only known you were there I could have gotten you a pass. This year in addition to being a Media Partner and did a lot of consulting work with the NPPL so I am provided with additional passes. In fact I had two photo passes around my neck and additional photo pass vest in my pocket through the entire event, one of my photographers flaked out

The Nikon with the hit on it belongs to Sean, one of my photographers at the event (yea I know…hiring a Nikonioan). He got some really good shots so he seems to have overcome the crippling disadvantage of shooting a Nik

Most of the French Photographers use neoprene covers on their cameras and I really do not see the need for this. I personally use a Kata cover because it keeps my hands clean because they are inside of the bag.

I always use filters on my lenses, except for my 300 Prime, not for protection from the paintball impacts. I use filters because I am frequently cleaning the paint off the front of my lens is a very dirty gritty environment and I would rater scratch a filter then the front element on one of my expensive lenses.
Gary
www.paintballphotograp​hy.com

That figures. Maybe next year. I didn't go down there expecting to do much shooting, I was actually at the pier shooting surfers and walked down the check out the paint ball. I was only there for an hour.

IODebbie wrote in post #5269138
Nope. I had to use a roll of toilet paper to clean mine off!

I was in the area with the grandstands, but only for the 3 celebrity matches that were in the middle of the day on Sunday.

The photogs who were shooting in there with me were very nice and helpful after they found out it was my first time. I think the biggest challenge was shooting through the mask, which put your eye about 2 or 3 inches away from the viewfinder.

Ryant - you're in Lake Forest? So am I!

I love this forum. Counting you a know of 3 members within a few miles of me.

That's awesome! I live off of Trabuco near Lake Forest/Bake. Are you in this area? I also do all the varsity football and JV lacrosee photography for El Toro High. Small world!

I posted a few of my pictures from the paintball tournament here - and here is a link to all of my photos from the day - if you're interested.

IODebbie wrote in post #5269180
That's awesome! I live off of Trabuco near Lake Forest/Bake. Are you in this area? I also do all the varsity football and JV lacrosee photography for El Toro High. Small world!

I posted a few of my pictures from the paintball tournament here - and here is a link to all of my photos from the day - if you're interested.

Lake Forest between Trabuco & Rancho. Right by Pittsford Park.

You are within a stone's throw! We know lots of people over in that area from school and also from when we played Little League and Saddleback Valley Bears football!

PaintballPhotography.c​om wrote in post #5268892
If I had only known you were there I could have gotten you a pass. This year in addition to being a Media Partner and did a lot of consulting work with the NPPL so I am provided with additional passes. In fact I had two photo passes around my neck and additional photo pass vest in my pocket through the entire event, one of my photographers flaked out

The Nikon with the hit on it belongs to Sean, one of my photographers at the event (yea I know…hiring a Nikonioan). He got some really good shots so he seems to have overcome the crippling disadvantage of shooting a Nik

Most of the French Photographers use neoprene covers on their cameras and I really do not see the need for this. I personally use a Kata cover because it keeps my hands clean because they are inside of the bag.

I always use filters on my lenses, except for my 300 Prime, not for protection from the paintball impacts. I use filters because I am frequently cleaning the paint off the front of my lens is a very dirty gritty environment and I would rater scratch a filter then the front element on one of my expensive lenses.
Gary
www.paintballphotograp​hy.com

I dont use any cover on my camera body, lens has a sweatband around the part with the options for stuff like AF,MF, IS, etc. and then a UV filter of course. I really just block the body with my body normally. However, I was looking into the neoprene covers recently, but they look almost, i guess, restricting in a way. How has the Kata cover held up?

I'll hopefully be going to PSP Chi, and NEO with media passes, and then NPPL Houston with none, so shooting all outside the net/crowd only. Hope to meet some more of you then I already have.

sorry for the poor typing, i found out my thumb was broken and it's immobilized with my whole right hand making this pretty hard.

PaintballPhotography.c​om wrote in post #5268892
If I had only known you were there I could have gotten you a pass. This year in addition to being a Media Partner and did a lot of consulting work with the NPPL so I am provided with additional passes. In fact I had two photo passes around my neck and additional photo pass vest in my pocket through the entire event, one of my photographers flaked out

The Nikon with the hit on it belongs to Sean, one of my photographers at the event (yea I know…hiring a Nikonioan). He got some really good shots so he seems to have overcome the crippling disadvantage of shooting a Nik

Most of the French Photographers use neoprene covers on their cameras and I really do not see the need for this. I personally use a Kata cover because it keeps my hands clean because they are inside of the bag.

I always use filters on my lenses, except for my 300 Prime, not for protection from the paintball impacts. I use filters because I am frequently cleaning the paint off the front of my lens is a very dirty gritty environment and I would rater scratch a filter then the front element on one of my expensive lenses.
Gary
www.paintballphotograp​hy.com

Dang. I knew I should've come over to the booth when i saw you
Man.. I would be the happiest little boy if i ever got to shoot in the net.

you guys are brave. I don't like cleaning the paint out of my paintball marker (gun). I would NEVER take my camera anywhere near that unless I was elevated above the field with a really long lens. Not knocking, just saying I can't imagine the clean up job with all the little places the paint could go.

I have been using the same Kata 702 Bag for almost 4 years now and it is begging to show its age, but I go to events almost every weekend all over North America, Mexico and Europe so they get a lot of use. I wash them out every night in my hotel room and generally good care of them.

I cut a small hole in the back of the Kata bag and us an Aqua Tech eye piece so I do not have to look through the plastic

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Gary has the cool sequence But the shot through paint isn't really that pleasing to the eye

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I only use camera armor and have only had camera damage twice in all the years I have been shooting paintball. Once I took a filter shot on a brand new 70-200 2.8 that smashed the filter into my glass that scrathed the coating on the front element (now I hardly ever use a filter) and once my strap broke destroying my lens and camera (I think the total repair bill for that was around $1200).

I can still remember the days of shooting through the net (I think we all started there) but once you get on the field there is no other sport that I have more fun shooting. Heck I think Gary and I are now considered old timers at this point. But I would have to say Gary is the king of taking a hit for getting a shot off hands down.

PBPhotography,
Where are all the pictures of Blackcell
I would have loved to have had a pass for that event. It was gorgeous and what a turnout! As always love your pics! See ya in Jacksonville.

chrono300 wrote in post #5277202
I only use camera armor and have only had camera damage twice in all the years I have been shooting paintball. Once I took a filter shot on a brand new 70-200 2.8 that smashed the filter into my glass that scrathed the coating on the front element (now I hardly ever use a filter) and once my strap broke destroying my lens and camera (I think the total repair bill for that was around $1200).

I can still remember the days of shooting through the net (I think we all started there) but once you get on the field there is no other sport that I have more fun shooting. Heck I think Gary and I are now considered old timers at this point. But I would have to say Gary is the king of taking a hit for getting a shot off hands down.

You guys and Miguel Cruz(who I hear is quitting)are like the Original Gangsters of paintball photography. I've always looked up to you guys as photographers. I remember playing these events always thinking how cool it would be to be a photographer.

Miguel was in it way before I was, he was one of the photographers that I aspired to be like when I started. I sad part of Miguel retiring from shooting paintball is that we are just way under paid. There are very few paintball photographers that even break even at the end of the year (myself not included).

I know every time that I walk out onto the field that it could be my last time if I loose a camera or lens because I can not afford to just drop a wad of cash for a new one. Gary does very well for himself shooting paintball but again it is not his bread and butter that pays the bills.

I do this because I love the sport and if I keep taking pictures I will keep getting the best seat in the house at each and every event. Getting a great shot in the magaize or hearing comments like "I have always looked up to you guys as photographers" is why I don't mind spending 12 hours a day on the field for less than a dollar an hour. Maybe in time the money will be there like in other sports but I will not hold my breath.

ryant35, why not try to give your pictures a surreal look, use the net to your advantage.