Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sunday, February 21, 1999, Robert wrote: > I feel your pain. I came to the conclusion when shooting football games > that all I needed was the 400 2.8, monopod, body with drive, Lowe Pro Orion > half moon shaped waise pack, Metz flash, and a 35mm Summicron. I found > anything more was too heavy and too much to carry. I usually carry F1n/400 2.8 on a mono-pod, 70-200 2.8 (or 180 if prime lenses)on body around neck or off right shoulder for quick grab, and a 24mm on the other shoulder if a big game, other wise the 24 stays in fanny pack. For a fanny pack I discovered the best is my dad's old USMC web belt with various ammo pockets and Lowe Pro lens bags. I can carry all of my extra lenses, meter, and quantum and flash. This keeps the weight off my back almost entirely. Like Carl I used to use the Domke vests, however I have discovered that a good waist belt such as this gets almost all the weight off my back. Eric mentioned that for post game a 35 is too tight...he is right sometimes even a 19 is not wide enough. For some reason those TV idiots think everything looks better super wide and run out onto the field and cram their camera into the players faces...If only they would learn that a long lens really cleans up the backgrounds! When the Braves beat the Pirates in the NLCS back in 92 I was shooting from the first base outfield pit. I had a 300 2.8 on a bogen crazy clamp with foot trigger pointed at home, a 400 2.8 on a mono-pod for "walk around" shooting and a 24-35 on a 3rd body. I told my film runner "When the game is over I am handing you my long lens then jumping the wall. You grab the 300, carry the long lens and KEEP ME IN SIGHT!" Despite being told we were not to jump the wall the minute the TV a*****es ran on the field I was over the wall with the 24mm lens. Almost all of the post game shots moved that night were mine...Shots of Sid Bream scoring the winning run, President Carter hugging Bobby Cox, and others I forget. A very exciting night, but a must for a 24 or wider lens. In a melee like that wider is better. And a flash is VERY handy. If you ever work around the Washington Press corp get a 17mm and sharp elbows. ;) > The football games I > shoot are University games and I and the other photographers follow the > action up and down the field. I do lots of walking by the end of the day > and any more gear just makes my bad back worse. You WALK??? Man ya gotta RUN up and down the side lines. And Ya gotta get on your knees to get the good shots.....Standing up the background gets WAY too cluttered. Plus there is something about kneeling that forces me to focus more on shooting than when standing. Best regards, Harrison mailto:mcclary@iname.com http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto preview my book: http://www.volmania.com