what would you have done?

[gi_gav]

Here's a little situation i've been mulling over for the last 11 months.... I'd love to hear anyone's perspective on this - pro, aspirant, interested spectator; everyone.

Last May i shot the London Champcar Trophy, my first accredited event. At one point, I found myself alone, shooting qualifying from the top of the media building. I was then joined by 3 gentlemen:

Chris Pook - CEO of the CART series

Gordon Kirby - massively respected US journalist

Mario Andretti - needs no introduction.

I got a couple of shots (one of which has been posted before - i'll find the link) but was wary of going over the top with it, perhaps wrongly given that it was my job to be taking photos.

What i've always wondered is, 'should i have asked for a posed shot of the three of them?'

Obviously, this could have been a wonderful shot (Brands flags in the background), and let's be honest, it could have been an earner too...

After a few accredited events last year, i'm still sometimes hesitant to stick a camera in someone's face, and i'm still not sure of where the boundaries are in terms of asking for certain shots.


So what would you have done in that situation?
Any and all responses would be so massively appreciated.

Cheers,

Gav

[Hugewally]

By all means yes you should have gone for the shot. In that situation I would've asked them if I could take a couple of shots of them all standing next to each other. 9 times out of ten I'm sure they'd say yes.....

Shots like that don't happen that often, so you have to grab them when you can. Besides, shooting a race meet doesn't mean you HAVE to always shoot the cars or the drivers... Officials, wives, vendors, etc are all part of the event!!!

Martin

[sss]

there is no harm in asking, but i do think its rude just to take the photos without asking first. not that im famous enough for that to happen anyway

[kdr]

better to ask than snap away at constantly turning heads and backs. i usually just ask politely, and most experienced motorsport pros will pose and look at you. they know what they're there for...and they know what you're there for. a quick thumbs up at the end and robert is your mothers brother.

[gi_gav]

Thanks for the responses. It does seem so absurdly obvious when i read over them that i should have asked for the posed shot, and i wonder why i even asked in the first place!

I think it does just take a little to get used to the ways of shooting, trying to learn from the established guys whilst still doing my own thing.

[PaulSands]

Definitely would have politley asked them for a posed shot

[Snapper Baz]

...had my shot taken with Marioat Brands! Never hurts to ask...understand SS Collins will always pose for shot if you ask him!!

[KC]

I agree with you on the posed shot. However, some of the best images ever of individuals like this are taken candidly. These are the shots you see where a driver is explaining to another with his hands and the expression on the face says a thousand words alone. However, some decorum must be maintained. Stalking them and shooting them for hours on end is only going to result in you getting run off. Get a few shots and move on.

[gi_gav]

Candid is obviously the way i went with that one - the result is on this thread:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...i&pagenumber=3

I have to say, i do really enjoy just being around the drivers when talking with engineers etc.

This was again at Brands, and although it looks posed, it was on race morning when Jimmy Vasser found space away from the garages to discuss last set-up details with his race engineer.

[gi_gav]

Baz, was it you that got that wonderful 'candid' of Sam Collins walking back to the pits at Mallory last October, helmet in one hand and Vee nose-cone in the other?

[redshoes]

Do you mean this one - http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...5&pagenumber=2

[gi_gav]

Apologies redshoes, that is indeed the one i mean!

[Snapper Baz]

I never saw that one before-excellent...and have never seen him race either!