FREE. Is that what it is worth?
Hockey game, Halifax Nova Scotia Canada. (click image to enlarge)
Just this past week I had yet another editor going to do wonderful things for my career if I could give him a photo from a local hockey game… I am much quicker with my response now… “are you working for free? No? Well sorry, neither am I.”
I am often left in amusement when photo editors believe they have the God given right to belittle a photographer’s skill to the point of asking for images that are free of charge. About 12 years ago, I had the opportunity to photograph an IMSA motor sport race near Halifax. Having photographed a few political conventions during my “stringer” days, I played a hunch: Sure enough, sandwiches and cold drinks were in the press lounge.
It was in the lounge that I met a Ferrari staff photographer who had the strangest set-up I had seen. Digital cameras were just coming on board and this was my first look at one of these behemoths with enough umbilical cords to substitute as a wiring harness for that red horse in the back stretch paddock.
Over the course of the weekend, and between practices and time trials, this Italian photographer and I developed a great rapport. I told him of the local area and he apprised me of all things digital. It was amazing back then, in a matter of minutes he was shipping these images back to his head office in Italy. Meanwhile I was driving like mad to the local lab with film in hand, paying for rush processing so I could have the chromes by the next morning. My new friend provided some very useful hints as well to this neophyte, and I will share the most important advise with you: Stake out a corner where the cars have to slow down; it will be easier to focus and the cars will “bunch up” creating more action.
Following my mentors advice, I was to secure a few good shots and one stood out more so than the others. I showed my friend, and he too quite liked the picture. That evening I had a call from a photo editor at a sports magazine in Montreal, and the conversation went something like this:
“This is Remi. Roberto gave your name to us. He indicated that you have a great shot of the IMSA race at Shearwater, and we would like to consider it for this week’s cover of our magazine. Can you send it up to us?”
“First, could you please let me know what your budget is for covers”, I ask?
“Yes,” said Remi.” It is our practice to provide a credit and several tear sheets, as we believe a cover with our magazine is more valuable than any form of payment. Just think what this will do for your career!”
At this point in the conversation I planned my counter strategy:
“Remi, let me think about this: A roll of film and processing is costing me $25.00; driving back and forth to the lab is costing a further $10.00; FedEx will cost another $25.00 and then there is the three hours that I spent at the track which is worth about $150.00. Mmm, Remi, why don’t I just send you a cheque for $210.00 and we can let on we have never had this conversation”, I concluded.
I haven’t heard from Remi since.
What makes me think of this story?
Just this past week I had yet another editor going to do wonderful things for my career if I could give him a photo from a local hockey game. I have been at this craft for twenty-some odd years, and I know exactly what these ventures will do for my career.
I am much quicker with my response now. It goes something like this: “Remi, are you working for free? No? Well sorry, neither am I.”
Post script: I didn’t even bother to tell him that I couldn’t let him have the photo even if I wanted help with my career. Hockey team names and logos are usually trademarked and teams aggressively enforce those rights (as well they should).
© Dale Wilson
April 8th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Nice shot, Dale. Even bears comparison to that famous one of Bobby Orr horizontal in mid-air:
http://www.bobbyorrhalloffame.com/orr_thegoal.html
But you left out the most important part of the story. Did the guy score? And if not, did Number 15 in the background get a tripping penalty?
April 9th, 2007 at 3:26 am
Did he score? No - that is a Halifax goalie!
Did number 15 get a penalty? No - That is Daniel Smith, the son of the owner Bobby Smith. Yes, the same Bobby Smith who played for the Minnesota North Stars and Montreal Canadiens.
The reason he didn’t get a penalty is not because of who he is but because he is too far behind the play. The diving player from Val d’Or is a European who, as Don Cherry would say, is working on his swan dive.
Val d’Or did win the game 3-2, however.
The reason I go to hockey games and take pictures, Janis, is for the pure enjoyment. There are few things that give me equal satisfaction - it truly is a Canadian thing. When one can take their two favourite passions and combine them into an evening out … well, it’s fabulous.
The big challenge is knowing when to watch the game, and knowing when to take pictures. I haven’t been able to figure that one out yet. For example, I don’t have a photo of Sidney Crosby, who played all his minor hockey (minus one year) here - he was too much fun to watch!
April 9th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Hey Dale,
That’s a very nice shot. It’s sharp with lot’s of depth of field. The lighting looks quite even. Did you shoot it with available light or was there an arena strobe system you could tap into? It certainly doesn’t look like it was lit with strobes. If it was available light what ISO were you at?
April 9th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Hi Andrew,
Just as the name of this blog suggests, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.
Now you’re looking for trade secrets: OK. Normally I like to sit inside the blue line at the top of the face off circle at ice level. As a result I can place the “hooded” lens right on the glass and eliminate most of the flare, and by shooting wide open the scratches on the plexi doesn’t have a really adverse affect on the final image. It also means that you are shooting the goalie “face-on” and he is the centre of attraction around the net.
On this particular game, there were around 8000 fans at this Quebec Major Junior League game, and the kids had commandeered all the ice level seats. Consequently I moved to the zamboni entrance.
We are fortunate in Halifax because our arena has television lighting installed, whereas many junior hockey rinks don’t. It is also equipped with slaved strobes, but you have to be there on assignment to access those. So it was just me, a high ISO (800) and wide-angle lens.
Digital cameras have made arena shooting so much easier than with film. Just set the white balance on auto, anticipate the play, and shoot lots hoping for one.
Thanks for the questions.
Too bad the Giants will only get to the Cup by hosting default this year!