First Time: College Football Oh Boy!

[rmfagan]

Oh, and no spills are breaks. I did secure insurance beforehand, as suggested on here, which made the whole experience much more fun since I wasn't paranoid about dropping CPS's 400 II. But nonetheless, I avoided getting trucked on the sidelines or dropping the monopod rig while switching out and shooting the 70-200.

All that said, I've developed what I call monopod shoulder. It's a HUGE knot in my left shoulder presumably from the repetition of the "monopod shrug" that you do in transition to the zoom, lifting your left shoulder a bit to both support the lens and to bring your left arm around the pod and into shooting position for the zoom. Time for a massage.

 

[wsgroves]

Nice going rm. You are lucky to have the opportunity to shoot college games. Here at WVU...their heads are so big you basically can not get a field pass for photography anymore...those are reserved for paying customers.
I do not know how true it us, but my good friend who shoots the games every weekend told me that the landscape for shooting has changed the last few years. He said the papers/web are more interested in close up's.
It used to be you would do a full body shot of the players doing something but he says they want tighter crops anymore.
I cant say he is wrong as he shoots every home game, and maybe that's what the local west virgina papers/sites want.
I know at WVU they have a press room (used to be in with players but new coach moved them to basement lol).
Always talk to those other guys if you get a chance. You can get a lot of tips from other shooters (I was able to).
Scott

 

[paul13walnut5]

334 is 99% pro standard, really really excellent, if only you had cropped a bit of the sky and not the players feet.

Otherwise this is excellent stuff. Don't be scared to be a little wide. You can crop it out, if you are too close however, you cannot put it back in.

You must be pretty chuffed yourself with how its turned out?

 

[gunnar997]

I shoot for my University newspaper as well. (University of Arkansas if you're curious) along with the Athletic Department and Yearbook. This is excellent work man. Also dream setup! Not sure how much sports you shoot but my 2 cents. Get in with the veterans who've been around that area/college for awhile. The local newspaper guys and your schools Athletic/University photog. Just talk to them. Ask advise things of that nature and not only does it help but they may help you sometime as well. I get gear from our athletic photog for football games to shoot with and he helped me get a University All-Access pass as well just cause I offered to help him shoot sports when he gets busy. But that philosophy has helped me do a lot of things I prolly couldn't have done on my own. Always about who you know.
Hope you get to shoot some more games!

As for the monopod shoulder. Get a pad for your monopod. I have an Aquatech one but I think there are a few others who sell them. You still feel it after all is said and done but it keeps me from getting real sore and no more knots either after I got it. Must have for any type shooter carrying big glass anywhere I think.

 

[mackguyver]

Oh, and no spills are breaks. I did secure insurance beforehand, as suggested on here, which made the whole experience much more fun since I wasn't paranoid about dropping CPS's 400 II. But nonetheless, I avoided getting trucked on the sidelines or dropping the monopod rig while switching out and shooting the 70-200.

Great work and it must've been a blast to shoot the game. That's on my photo bucket list, but with Florida State being my local university (and having no ties to it), I don't think I'll be doing it anytime soon.

I'm happy to hear that the insurance gave you some piece of mind. As I said, my CPS loan of the 800mm was nerve-racking, particularly at one moment when I forgot to lock down my tripod head and it almost crashed all the way down the ground. I caught it just in time, but that could have been expensive! Of course that doesn't compare to a 300+lb linebacker falling on you!

I hope you get to shoot some more games