How do you pick which games to go to?

So lets say, it is a night where you dont have an assignment, or a parent to shoot for, how do you pick which game to go to? Do you just go to the nearest high school (after of course checking to see if a game is happening there) or do you travel a little to get to a good game going on? Or do you do nothing? lol... which is it?

canonnoob wrote in post #8777338
So lets say, it is a night where you dont have an assignment, or a parent to shoot for, how do you pick which game to go to? Do you just go to the nearest high school (after of course checking to see if a game is happening there) or do you travel a little to get to a good game going on? Or do you do nothing? lol... which is it?

As an agency photographer, I'm not paid to think...

I point the car in the direction I'm told to

Stay home and post on POTN,

Man you guys are boring lol

I look for the best matchup or big recruits. This also is typically where I tend to be able to network the best since there are usually more media at those games

Basically David your asking about trying to get some portfolio shots or just practice. If its practice then I'd just pick the venue that afforded me the best subject matter I felt I needed to practice on.

If its trying to possibly get portfolio shots, then I'd pick the best venue, best backgrounds, best lighting etc.

Other than those two issues, I'd pick the game I enjoyed the most. Or the one that was touted to be the best matchup. I've done this before and doing this kind of "shooting" basically your a spectator, be respectful and curtous to the pro's that are there doing a job. I always make sure to make an extra effort to stay out of there way when I'm at an event just for "me". I think its just common professional courtesy. My 2c.

It seems like there is always a Friday night game I have to cover, mid last month 2 of 6 of our schools had home games and I had no NCAA game on Saturday, so me and the better half left Wed evening and spent the next 4 days at our cabin in north GA. I love shooting but if I can get away I get away.

Dave,

I generally just take the night off since it seems like I am shooting something 5-6 days a week anyway.

If I decide to go cover something without a real reason, I usually pick something close and go try and shoot in a way that I normally don't. Ex. Panning, odd remote camera setups and locations, video with the 5D Mk II, experiment with new strobe placements, etc. I love trying new things but love it more when there is no pressure so if everything turns out like crap it is no loss.

The other thing I will do sometimes is go cover a team I cover on a regular basis and shoot anything going on besides the actual game. Ex. Go shoot from the stands and talk to the parents, the people working the concession stands and taking tickets, the kids playing around the field not paying attention to the game. I followed the AD around one night and shot what he did for a night and made a slideshow of it. That sort of stuff. It is a good chance to get to know the people and have a more recreational evening.

Hope that helps.

Shoot the game scheduled that you can easily travel to, a venue that afford you the ability to get as close to the actions as possible and shoot the teams that are higher in the rankings. If you shoot a highly ranked teams game you might stand a better chance of marketing your photos and adding them to you website or portfolio