Opening Day Jitters

[Chris Talley]

Okay guys, I need all your wisdom. Saturday will be the first day I will be shooting baseball with credentials at the Advanced A level. What do I need to know?! I'm psyched right now!! I just need to know how to not make an ass out of myself!

[Mr. Pickles]

Take your camera(s) and the right lens(lenses). Make sure you got at least one battery, and you have a memory card (CF, etc). Make sure the camera is in the right mode and not in small high compressed mode. Also make sure you don't have a custom white balance from a tungsten light shooting set.

Stay out of the way.

Relax, compose, and shoot. You can do it.

[Chris Talley]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

Relax, compose, and shoot. You can do it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Hopefully I'll get some useable shots and some to share here as well.

[Mr. Pickles]

Well, it looks like you have to go this alone....

Oh yeah, don't wear the opposing teams hat either

[KABeach]

Well, I'm not sure exactly what you are asking - tips on how to shoot baseball or tips about where to sit/stand and where you are allowed to go...

Tips about shooting baseball would be a long write-up, so I'll assume you are looking for tips about shooting at a "professional" ballpark...

All ball parks are different - some have special "photo boxes" some just have a spot on the grass, some have assigned seats some work on a "first come" basis... Heck, some photo wells can be so crowded that the photogs all take off their sun shades to keep from interfering with everyone else...

My best recommendation is to just ask - explain this is your first time at that park and find out what restrictions you might have (if any)..

Just keep a low profile and stay alert, and try to be polite - oh, and never jump in front of another photographer

Cheers,
Ken

[Chris Talley]

Originally Posted by KABeach

Well, I'm not sure exactly what you are asking - tips on how to shoot baseball or tips about where to sit/stand and where you are allowed to go...

Tips about shooting baseball would be a long write-up, so I'll assume you are looking for tips about shooting at a "professional" ballpark...

All ball parks are different - some have special "photo boxes" some just have a spot on the grass, some have assigned seats some work on a "first come" basis... Heck, some photo wells can be so crowded that the photogs all take off their sun shades to keep from interfering with everyone else...

My best recommendation is to just ask - explain this is your first time at that park and find out what restrictions you might have (if any)..

Just keep a low profile and stay alert, and try to be polite - oh, and never jump in front of another photographer

Cheers,
Ken

Obviously, I know how to shoot baseball, or at least I think I do or I wouldn't of got the job. So yes, I was looking for advise about any spoken or unspoken protocols when it comes to shooting at a professional level.

I'm definately going to ask the media guy about where I can go and such and I am always polite so I shouldn't have too many problems.

One specific question I have, from anyone's experience, is it usually okay to move from a photo well on the first base side to one on the third base side inbetween innings?

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by Chris Talley

Obviously, I know how to shoot baseball, or at least I think I do or I wouldn't of got the job. So yes, I was looking for advise about any spoken or unspoken protocols when it comes to shooting at a professional level.

Sorry, but I always have to think about that - I've seen way too many photographers who score credentials to professional events and then ask basic questions... I've not seen your portfolio and only had the recent baseball post to go by... I really didn't know if you were looking for more specific shooting tips or not...

One specific question I have, from anyone's experience, is it usually okay to move from a photo well on the first base side to one on the third base side inbetween innings?

Like anything else, it depends - if the photo wells are not crowded, then yes, you can usually switch back and forth between photo wells - if they are crowded, then you may have to find someone willing to switch with you...

Early season Single A ball will probably not be much of an issue...

Cheers,
Ken

[Chris Talley]

Originally Posted by KABeach

Like anything else, it depends - if the photo wells are not crowded, then yes, you can usually switch back and forth between photo wells - if they are crowded, then you may have to find someone willing to switch with you...

Early season Single A ball will probably not be much of an issue...

I hope so. The big draw here is Justin Upton and Randy Johnson will be making a rehab start the day after I plan on being there.