Rant about NBA photography policy.

Croasdail wrote in post #8955827
So you guys think they are going to start asking people to surrender their phones at the door too?

And maybe I am biased, but I haven't seen many shots from stands worth the electrons they are stored on. There are a few, but good enough for someone to sell? Really. I guess they must be selling, but that just proves some people will buy anything.

Mark I think it totally sucks but its looking like the trend. Have you seen lately how many less photographers ore on the sidelines at NFL games? Passes are not easy to get. Its even gotten harder that it was a couple of years ago. I had a to shoot something for a client during half time at a Bears game this past weekend, I had a field pass and I still had a tough time with security. Its only going to get harder and harder.

I hear ya... It really is too bad. I was given some grief a couple of weeks ago by security at a NCAA game by the hired security crew... finally had to threaten calling the SID to sort it out, and they backed down. In my area, all three major venues have dramatically different rules.

I'm old enough to remember when they cracked down at concerts.

I had a good friend that actually started shooting concerts for local papers and one of the established older photographers started seeing him at all the concerts he was shooting and probably started seeing his work and somehow he must have known someone high up in security and my bud suddenly couldn't get in the venues even with a pass.

Shoot HS sports. The players don't whine, they give 110% for the love of the game, not for the endorsements AND they will appreciate what you do for them.

Not all stadiums have tight rules. I went to four Blue Jays games this year at Rogers Centre in Toronto. I checked the rules on their web site before going - no video, bags of only a certain size, photography allowed but don't interfere with the other fans' enjoyment of the game. Seemed like sensible rules to me.

No issues with security at any of the games. They were more worried about bringing in glass or alcohol. In all games I sat by first base in row 1 or 4. The ushers all saw me with my 30D and Sigma 70-200. There were other fans with DSLRs sitting near me as well.

Then again, the Blue Jays are probably just glad that anyone came to their games this year.

I have taped a lens to my inner thigh as my friend had the body taped to his. Even after being patted down by security they are in a hurry and not trying to anger anyone so they don't go near your junk. Do the arena's your talking about have metal detectors? You could always try bribing a security guard. Those are my solutions if you are really pissed and wanna fight the system.

If they ban camera's at games then that cool effect of seeing all the flashes go off when the guy goes for a dunk would stop happening!

Snowshooters wrote in post #8967050
I have taped a lens to my inner thigh as my friend had the body taped to his. Even after being patted down by security they are in a hurry and not trying to anger anyone so they don't go near your junk. Do the arena's your talking about have metal detectors? You could always try bribing a security guard. Those are my solutions if you are really pissed and wanna fight the system.

If they ban camera's at games then that cool effect of seeing all the flashes go off when the guy goes for a dunk would stop happening!

This is some of the stupidest advice I've seen on here. First try to sneak things in you're not allowed to at a major event where every security guard is on terrorist alert in his own mind. What is this from, how to get tased 101? Illegally bribe someone - good idea, risk getting someone fired and yourself banned. WHAT THE *#*(?!!?!?! Completely asinine...better advice, don't whine about it as you're supposed to be there to watch the game, not take photos.

The "cool effect" of strobes going off is the professionals on the sideline shooting and of course they would still be allowed in as they are MEDIA.

And FWIW, in the NBA, not every pro is considered "Stroby Worthy" so many are still shooting ambient despite being credentialed.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #8970518
And FWIW, in the NBA, not every pro is considered "Stroby Worthy" so many are still shooting ambient despite being credentialed.

Heh, were you referring to me? I resemble that remark.

You'll see me on the floor, right side of the basket facing the court on the Heat side of the bench at most home games. D3, 70-200, long hair, usually jeans and a black button down shirt.

The NBA is very strict on photography in general when it comes to licensing, but yes, what you ran into regarding lens length is a policy of the AAA in particular. A lot of arenas have similar policies.

I had the same problem at a Dallas Cowboys game. I ending bringing it in a non-camera bag. Some guy yelled at me from the sideline to put up my lens when I was shooting the pre-game warmup, so I just went to another area and started shooting again. Didn't have any issues once the game and crowd got going. I was using my 70-200.

Thalagyrt wrote in post #8970539
Heh, were you referring to me? I resemble that remark.

Persecution Complex Perhaps?

Actually, I was thinking of another friend of mine who shoots PHX Suns for a Sports Website. Fully Credentialed but not "Strobe Worthy."

I think you would agree that yours is a "unique" situation...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #8970547
Persecution Complex Perhaps?

Actually, I was thinking of another friend of mine who shoots PHX Suns for a Sports Website. Fully Credentialed but not "Strobe Worthy."

I think you would agree that yours is a "unique" situation...

Haha, yep. The strobes are pretty much sacred ground in NBA arenas though. They're owned by the NBA, there are generally 5 sets, so only 5 people can use them. They cannot be used for any non-NBA events, period, unless approved by the NBA. It's nuts how protective they are of them.

In the AAA the people who get them: Heat Photographer (not game, just random stuff), NBA Photographer (my buddy that I shoot with), Sun Sentinel, 2x Miami Herald

Just curious, what's the ambient light in an NBA arena? ISO, SS, app.?

Sibil wrote in post #8971317
Just curious, what's the ambient light in an NBA arena? ISO, SS, app.?

They are all very good, seldom needing more than iso 800. They used to have it so you could shoot slightly pushed 400, and it has only gotten better. But they are all a little different, so there is no one setting. I would typically go 1/800 min SS, f2.8-3.2 on the long lens, and f4 on my wides. The wides you can stop down more because they gather more reflected light than a tele....and of course aren't as shutter speed critical.

ISO 6400, f/3.5, 1/1000" is my typical exposure to get things spot on without having to adjust in post. Our arena seems to have turned their lights down a bit.

Example:

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