NCAA Football: Illinois 20, Lousiana-Lafayette 17

dmwierz wrote in post #6333533
OK, let's assume you're going: when is the game? So, you don't currently own either of these lenses, so even if you wanted to you couldn't practice at a few local High School games beforehand? What equipment do you own? Have you shot football (or any sports) at all? Where are they playing? Where are your credentials coming from? Let's start there and work our way up.

After all your comments. You made it sound very scary situation. To answer the question in order. I will be shooting with a 30D and XT. 30 mounted with 300mm and XT will 70 or 17-55 for locker room shots. No I haven't shot any sports I mostly do concerts. It will be a home game for the Chiefs. My credentials will be giving by the Chiefs, because I freelance for a local weekly paper.

Now from reading other post. Jumping in feet first is usually how I have got work before. My first thought was to watch the action on the field of the other photog then find my place. I don't want to get in anyones way. The paper I shoot for know that this is my first time. So if I land that one good shot that headlines they are happy. We both know going it to this the possible outcome.

extrememc wrote in post #6346819
After all your comments. You made it sound very scary situation. To answer the question in order. I will be shooting with a 30D and XT. 30 mounted with 300mm and XT will 70 or 17-55 for locker room shots. No I haven't shot any sports I mostly do concerts. It will be a home game for the Chiefs. My credentials will be giving by the Chiefs, because I freelance for a local weekly paper.

Now from reading other post. Jumping in feet first is usually how I have got work before. My first thought was to watch the action on the field of the other photog then find my place. I don't want to get in anyones way. The paper I shoot for know that this is my first time. So if I land that one good shot that headlines they are happy. We both know going it to this the possible outcome.

You have locker room access? That's pretty odd.

Well, I think going into this with BOTH EYES wide open is a good thing, and more than little "fear" isn't bad. Like we've tried to say, things happen incredibly fast, the players are super-humanly large, and if you get in the way don't be surprised if someone knocks you down, probably just to get out of their way.

Again, read my post about racing cars, and finding yourself in a NASCAR race during driver's ed. Something you're not hearing is, not only can it be dangerous on the sidelines of an NFL game, but you may likely come way with nothing worthwhile unless you tune up on something more "entry level" beforehand.

One question you didn't answer is how long until the game? I strongly recommend practicing on HS games as much as you can until then. Don't even worry about exposure as much as timing the shots, figuring out where to stand and where not to stand, etc. There are quite a few "how to shoot football" threads here that you should study, and I'll see what I can dig up.

I suggest you start another thread entitled something like "suggestions how to shoot football" and don't even MENTION that you have Chiefs credentials otherwise you'll get another onslaught like you wouldn't believe.

And, for the love of God, learn to shoot with both eyes open. Just when you think you're about to nail the shot across field of a receiver making a great catch, the D-back on your side will bump the other wide receiver out of bounds right at you, and you're gonna need to be quick on your feet to get out of the way, etc., etc, etc...

And if you are renting glass, make sure you insure it. I break a least 1 piece of equipment a year. Tonight I am boxing my 300 up again to send it in. I got knocked this afternoon and now has a soft area. My editor said it wasn't overly annoying, I see it and it drives me nuts. So off to CPS it goes hopefully all put back together again. Last year it was a mono pod that got damaged. The year before, the same lens again. So please get insurance when you rent the lenses. Odds are nothing will happen. But if something does, you don't want to be owning a broken expensive lens.

To Dennis' point on practice, if you can't find a good high school team, look for a Div 1 AA team to shoot, Division 2 university, or Junior college team. They are usually very workable, and will be much closer to the pro game... though still slower.