[Leica] A newbie here..

[alex at zabrovsky.com (Alex)]

Some great discussion and advises here, thanks Ted.
Perhaps you also have an experience in shooting a boxing action from 
within the pitch area (nearby the ring) ? Since I'm training in martial 
arts in one of the clubs whose boxers participate in tournaments, 
chances I may obtain an access to there for shooting. What startegy 
would you suggest in such kind of work ?
I'm pretty familiar with what can happen in the ring, but have never 
shoot myself such kind of action...

Thanks, Alex

Ted Grant wrote:

> Larry K. asked:
>
>> Ok, how do you photograph runners in a race? Do you watch for their 
>> knees to come up and hit that moment? ;-) Do you wait for them to 
>> collapse? What do you photograph when you're watching 5000 runners 
>> stream by?
>>
>>  Does my jumping runner shot here:
>> > http://web.mac.com/mac.hive/iWeb/Site/Street.html <<<<
>
>
> Larry,
> There are two basic pictures:
>
> 1: the gang bang start with everyone which I prefer to shoot with a 
> long lens down the street, 300mm or 400mm as it adds to the mass of 
> bodies. Yep it's been done a thousand or more times, but that's life 
> in marathons. Or a high angle from a building looking down on the 
> mass.... Or from a helicopter. Your choice of locations.
>
> 2: At the finish line.... "first person coming across the line!" 
> Period! Hopefully arms held  high and great expression! That's it, 
> then you go home. Or hang around and shoot the losers because after 
> the first person comes across the line..... particularly in a new 
> record time, that's what everyone else is! Unless it's yur grand 
> mother then you better wait for her to cross the line. :-) !
>
> The problem of waiting for "others" to come along is you end up with a 
> shot as you have here..... way too loose, too many bodies in the way. 
> The facts of life when there's 5000 runners. Or whatever number.
>
> First and last are the only two that count! Hopefully the last is some 
> old folk of 89 years to give the shot some extra meaning.
>
> Your shot might be saved by a tight crop from roadway to top of sign 
> over the jumper with the time board, that's the picture ..... nobody 
> else in this frame matters. Remember it's a tight crop, even the guy 
> on the jumpers in blue, goes. It looks like there's enough space 
> between the two of them to cut it clean.
>
>>> Do you watch for their knees to come up and hit that moment? ;-)<<<
>>
>
> I realize you're joking. ;-) No you don't see this action because it's 
> nothing but a mass of bodies.....
>
>>> Do you wait for them to collapse?<<<
>>
>
> Yes you're always aware this might happen and hopefully they collapse 
> right in front of you! That you have right camera in hand with right 
> lens at precisely the right time! This rarely happens because they do 
> it before they get to you, or they do it 100 yards down the road past 
> you! :-( :-(
>
> It's like shooting bob sled racing they crash before or after your 
> location, rarely right where you are no matter how well you planned 
> where you should be! :-(
>
>>> What do you photograph when you're watching 5000 runners stream by?<<
>>
>
> You do just that after the start, "watch them stream by" because it's 
> nothing but a mob scene! That is unless someone collapses in front of 
> you. Or you wait at a water cup grab location sometimes you get 
> something there.
>
> Or you watch for the father or mother pushing a stroller or other 
> quirky things of this nature.
>
> Quite frankly marathons are a pain in the ass to shoot unless you're 
> assigned the finish line! But then you had better not miss the picture 
> of the winner!
>
> ted
>
>
> Ted Grant Photography Limited
> 1817 Feltham Road
> Victoria BC  V8N 2A4
> 250-477-2156
>
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