A local photogs behavior

[prncfarquad]

I was at a local high school baseball game today taking some shots of a friends son. One of the local news photogs was sitting in front of me doing what he does. The first base coach for one of the teams is pacing back and forth in front of the photog. The photog watches him for a minute and the coach was blocking a shot the guy was trying to get. Well the photog was obviously annoyed because he said "Coach!, you need to pick a spot and quit pacing in front of me"

Me, the coach, and the field ump looked at each other like dogs listening to a high pitched whistle. We thought the guy was kidding until he didn't smile, laugh, or show any emotion other than disgust with the coach.

So this is a partially a vent but is a question too..have any of you pro or hobbiest photogs out there EVER thought of telling a coach in the middle of a game to get out of your way? not ask but TELL him to move?

[d2creative]

You should have knocked him unconscious with your 70-200. Would have done everyone a favor.

[CaptainTom]

I've requested some consideration from people obstructing my shot line, but never told anyone to move. Usually once they are made aware that you are shooting there, they don't have a problem keeping it clear. If they don't keep it clear enough for me to shoot, then I have to move.
PJ's can be on really tight schedules and can get a little short tempered. Not an excuse, but just a reality.

[photojournalist]

I've shot high school and professional sports for over 10 years for a paper. I have never, or even thought about telling a coach or even a player what to do. If it happens it usually the coach or referee that's telling me to move.

[prncfarquad]

I do understand that he make his money that way but I was there, another dad was there, and him. before this I even offered up my spot to him because I know he was there for work and I was in one of the best places at the field. There was plenty of room to move. Just wanted to make sure I was not over reacting.

prncfarquad added 1 Minutes and 30 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by d2creative

You should have knocked him unconscious with your 70-200. Would have done everyone a favor.

The way he acted I think it would have taken my 100-400

[ggeen]

Originally Posted by d2creative

You should have knocked him unconscious with your 70-200. Would have done everyone a favor.

LOL!

[Daniel Bates]

I have (many times) wanted coaches to stay out of my way. However, as previously mentioned, asking a coach to move would be a serious breach of professional ettiquette.

[Hogleg 44]

Who is More Important to the game, the Coach, or the Photographer?

[dbphotos]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

I have (many times) wanted coaches to stay out of my way. However, as previously mentioned, asking a coach to move would be a serious breach of professional ettiquette.

+1 Exactly.

We are there to record the happenings, not interact with the players (or coaches). They do their job and it is our duty to work around them, not vice versa. Very unprofessional of the photographer. While I can understand the frustration of having "zebra stripes" or coaches in my shot, it doesn't need to manifest itself into verbal demands.

A more acceptable trick is to make small talk with the person you're shooting around during down time and they will usually try to stay out of your way. I've never had a negative experience with this approach.

[dminton]

Now as for football ball boys and parabolic mic guys, that's a WHOLE different story...