Photography Restrictions At Meetings

[Little Thumper]

Aside from any commercial aspects, (and I really think these are minimal as the sport needs as much publicity as it can get), my understanding of the prohibition was more around the safety of riders due to :

 

1. The flash photography on the outside of the track is a distraction. Watch any onboard video and you'll see the footage will reveal more views toward the outside than the inside of the track.

 

2. I think a telephoto lenses will require a more powerful flash than a standard lens, therefore the flash could be quite strong.

 

3. Many recording devices and cameras have a red light on the device when in operation. This could be mistaken by the rider for the track red light resulting in him to cease racing and cause all sorts of issues. (I believe Scott Nicholls had this issue in the SWC when it was run at Poole).

 

So, if a meeting was run in daylight, there would be absolutely no need for any restrictions on photography and it would be unreasonable for a promoter to impose said restrictions on the basis of safety.

 

No problems at Buxton then: we can snap away merrily.

[iris123]

Aside from any commercial aspects, (and I really think these are minimal as the sport needs as much publicity as it can get), my understanding of the prohibition was more around the safety of riders due to :

 

1. The flash photography on the outside of the track is a distraction. Watch any onboard video and you'll see the footage will reveal more views toward the outside than the inside of the track.

 

2. I think a telephoto lenses will require a more powerful flash than a standard lens, therefore the flash could be quite strong.

 

3. Many recording devices and cameras have a red light on the device when in operation. This could be mistaken by the rider for the track red light resulting in him to cease racing and cause all sorts of issues. (I believe Scott Nicholls had this issue in the SWC when it was run at Poole).

As i mentioned on the other thread in the GPs,SWC etc most photographers are on the outside of the track with powerful flash and you don't find the riders falling off or getting blinded.More and more tracks seem to be making photographers stay outside.Plus there is a limit anyway on how many photographers are allowed on the inside,so most are outside at meetings here in Germany at least and there are no complaints from riders.At some meetings like the ice speedway there are maybe 20 plus accredited photographers and only 3 or 4 are allowed inside at any one time,which means 16 outside taking flash pics

 

Wasn't there also a big problem a few years back with one club (might have been Peterborough)claiming copyright on any pics?

 

Just have to do a google search on photography at sporting events etc and there are loads of pages explaining things.Also stuff about schools banning parents from taking photos at school sports etc......

Edited December 2, 2016 by iris123

[martinmauger]

Years ago when I was more into photography, I used to write to tracks before travelling to ask for permission. Most replied saying it was ok and reccomended I carry their letter whilst at the venue in case I was challenged by stewards. Among the correspondence, which I still have, were a hand-written "ok and good luck" from the late John Berrry and, from the late Charles Ochiltree, a beautifully typed one, as you might expect. Both also thanked me for asking nicely in the first instance. But some tracks didn't even reply, despite me always including an SAE, though one even removed my 1st class stamp and replaced it with a 2nd class one .

 

Oh, and I never ever, used a flash, didn't own one at the time, but flashguns were a huge no-no at speedway....

Edited December 2, 2016 by Martin Mauger

[stevehone]

As i mentioned on the other thread in the GPs,SWC etc most photographers are on the outside of the track with powerful flash and you don't find the riders falling off or getting blinded.More and more tracks seem to be making photographers stay outside.Plus there is a limit anyway on how many photographers are allowed on the inside,so most are outside at meetings here in Germany at least and there are no complaints from riders.At some meetings like the ice speedway there are maybe 20 plus accredited photographers and only 3 or 4 are allowed inside at any one time,which means 16 outside taking flash pics

 

Wasn't there also a big problem a few years back with one club (might have been Peterborough)claiming copyright on any pics?

 

Just have to do a google search on photography at sporting events etc and there are loads of pages explaining things.Also stuff about schools banning parents from taking photos at school sports etc......

 

do photographers use flash on the outside at the SWC or GP? there was only one year I've been at Cardiff that it was permitted, and at the SWC at Kings Lynn and Belle Vue on the outside we're not allowed, we even had one SWC where we weren't allowed it in the middle too and the lighting at Kings Lynn is awful.

[iris123]

 

do photographers use flash on the outside at the SWC or GP? there was only one year I've been at Cardiff that it was permitted, and at the SWC at Kings Lynn and Belle Vue on the outside we're not allowed, we even had one SWC where we weren't allowed it in the middle too and the lighting at Kings Lynn is awful.

Can't remember any restrictions being mentioned at GPs or at the FIM meetings at Berlin.Anyway it has all become a bit irrelevant nowadays with the explosion of mobile telephone use and the ever increasing technology of their cameras.Doubt it will be too long before mobiles can take as good a photo as slr's(not the best of course).In fact in some cases with bad light people can take a better snap than i can with my Canon!!! And now with the ever increasing use of drones it will become practically imposible to police people taking photos and video footage.I know Egon Müller uses drones to take video of meetings at the moment.Ok,that is authorised,but there would be nothing stopping someone sitting outside the stadium taking video and streaming it live

[topaz325]

Only British licensed tracks , so all tracks then, sad situation especially as you say so many camera and recording opportunites on phones and tablets.

"Gospeed copyright" limits promoters use of photos and footage as I recall.

[Little Thumper]

I can't remember having seen any No Photography signs at any speedway tracks that I have visited this year but perhaps my powers of observation are failing.

 

I shall make a note to look for these signs when I attend speedway meetings next year.

 

Perhaps they are stuck on the same poles that carry the Don't Eat Your Own Butties signs.

[Tsunami]

 

So you are seriously saying that a paying customer got banned from a venue because they took a photograph?

 

So, Tsunami, which venue took this draconian action?

He was filming video in opposition to the company who owned the rights to film the event. Try doing that at Football, ice hockey, the cinema or local strip show. Only one person around here is draconian.

[Gresham]

I really can't see a problem with this ruling.

 

You can always email the owners and ask to take photographs or video for your own pleasue. You never know, you might get a positive answer.

 

In fact this season past, Somerset had a Photography club present at one meeting. All pretty much new to the sport. It was nice to be able to chat to the guys and give them tips of where good viewing points would be, and a little advise on not blocking peoples views.

 

There were a mass of step ladders on the third bend :-)

[topaz325]

Technically only accredited photographers allowed.

[Little Thumper]

He was filming video in opposition to the company who owned the rights to film the event. Try doing that at Football, ice hockey, the cinema or local strip show. Only one person around here is draconian.

 

Well, obviously if someone is filming on a commercial basis without permission then that is understandable.

 

Wow, who is the draconian individual to whom you refer?

Edited December 3, 2016 by Little Thumper

[falkirkbandit]

I've often taken a camera with me to Glasgow in recent seasons when Berwick are there, and no one has complained. In fact, there's a good spot coming off the second bend where you see a few punters with camera's snapping away. I've taken photos up at Armadale too but only on the lighter nights. I think taking photos is a no no at Berwick though.

 

No such problems at Knockhill though. When i was there in the summer for the Touring Cars and the Super Tourer's, you'd be hard pushed to find someone who hasn't got a camera around their neck. The bigger the lense the better!

[Little Thumper]

I've often taken a camera with me to Glasgow in recent seasons when Berwick are there, and no one has complained. In fact, there's a good spot coming off the second bend where you see a few punters with camera's snapping away. I've taken photos up at Armadale too but only on the lighter nights. I think taking photos is a no no at Berwick though.

 

No such problems at Knockhill though. When i was there in the summer for the Touring Cars and the Super Tourer's, you'd be hard pushed to find someone who hasn't got a camera around their neck. The bigger the lense the better!

 

Yes, it is always like that at BTCC and BSB at Oulton Park. There are bods with whacking great lenses, tripods and all the other gubbins.

 

A lot of people are into motor sport photography, so it would seem a little perverse for speedway promoters to discourage potential customers by prohibiting the activity.

 

Speedway is a colourful and photogenic sport and the more speedway photographs that appear on the various media, the greater the chance that potential spectators might be attracted to marvel at the spectacle.

Edited December 3, 2016 by Little Thumper

[steve roberts]

I didn't have any problems at Grass Track Meetings I attended within the last couple of years.

[Little Thumper]

I didn't have any problems at Grass Track Meetings I attended within the last couple of years.

 

I have been to motor sport events all over this country and abroad and I have never been told that I can't use my camera.

 

I can't see why a speedway venue would seek to impose restrictions (with the possible exception of flash photography in the riders' faces) on spectators indulging in what is pretty normal behaviour at most motor sport events.

 

I feel sure that this must be something that perhaps happened in the past.

[iris123]

Quite strange that people are debating flash photography when the notice that started the thread doesn't mention it at all,but clearly mentions zoom,close up and video.......

[falkirkbandit]

 

Yes, it is always like that at BTCC and BSB at Oulton Park. There are bods with whacking great lenses, tripods and all the other gubbins.

 

A lot of people are into motor sport photography, so it would seem a little perverse for speedway promoters to discourage potential customers by prohibiting the activity.

 

Speedway is a colourful and photogenic sport and the more speedway photographs that appear on the various media, the greater the chance that potential spectators might be attracted to marvel at the spectacle.

 

 

BTCC at Knockhill is a great day. I'd love to get to other tracks some day to experience it elsewhere. I'll get to the Superbikes next year too now i'm Monday - Friday in my new job.

 

I completely understand the "no flash photography" issue. That's just common sense for rider safety surely. But as you say, speedway is a photogenic sport, and capturing a great sideways shot is always pleasing. I went to the Scottish Drifting Championship final round at Knockhill on Bonfire night, and to be fair, unless you've got the proper gear, photography didn't really work well for me from a distance when it got dark, haha.

 

Here's the link to my Google+ page. If you keep scrolling, my BTCC albums etc are there if you fancied a look.

 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MartinHastings

[Little Thumper]

 

 

BTCC at Knockhill is a great day. I'd love to get to other tracks some day to experience it elsewhere. I'll get to the Superbikes next year too now i'm Monday - Friday in my new job.

 

I completely understand the "no flash photography" issue. That's just common sense for rider safety surely. But as you say, speedway is a photogenic sport, and capturing a great sideways shot is always pleasing. I went to the Scottish Drifting Championship final round at Knockhill on Bonfire night, and to be fair, unless you've got the proper gear, photography didn't really work well for me from a distance when it got dark, haha.

 

Here's the link to my Google+ page. If you keep scrolling, my BTCC albums etc are there if you fancied a look.

 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MartinHastings

 

Nice photos!

I've not seen a yellow Ford Cortina estate for quite a while.....wow!

 

With regard to flash photography, I remember when we used to work on the night forest stages of the RAC Rally. You should have seen the flashguns going off there when the big boys were going through!

 

To be honest, we relied on all these flashguns going off all the time, as it was the only way that you could see what was going on in the stage.

 

You could always tell when you were getting to the tail-enders - there would be hardly any flashes going off.

 

All this flashing didn't seem to bother the drivers too much as I think they were just focussed in their own zone and could block out what they didn't need.

[DutchGrasstrack]

As i mentioned on the other thread in the GPs,SWC etc most photographers are on the outside of the track with powerful flash and you don't find the riders falling off or getting blinded.More and more tracks seem to be making photographers stay outside.Plus there is a limit anyway on how many photographers are allowed on the inside,so most are outside at meetings here in Germany at least and there are no complaints from riders.At some meetings like the ice speedway there are maybe 20 plus accredited photographers and only 3 or 4 are allowed inside at any one time,which means 16 outside taking flash pics

 

Most photographers at the GP I know never use flash at any time when the racing is on. Flash should be banned IMO, only in the pits it could be handy. The blinding isn't the issue I believe, it's more the red light which confuses the riders.

 

I believe there should be some kind of official rule which allows max 4 photographers on the infield at all meetings (open and FIM). These photographers should have FIM press passes so local or unexperienced photographers can't get access to the infield.

 

I've been to many meetings where I see the first corner is clogged up with photographers (hobby and pro) taking all the same pics and making it impossible for the ref to see the racing on the first bend.

 

In the Polish Ekstraliga it's regulated that only 2 photographers are working on the infield, and they change at every trackgrading. Works pretty good is my experience

Edited December 3, 2016 by DutchGrasstrack

[iris123]

 

Most photographers at the GP I know never use flash at any time when the racing is on. Flash should be banned IMO. The blinding isn't the issue I believe, it's more the red light which confuses the riders.

 

I believe there should be some kind of official rule which allows max 4 photographers on the infield at all meetings (open and FIM). These photographers should have FIM press passes so local or unexperienced photographers can't get access to the infield.

 

I've been to many meetings where I see the first corner is clogged up with photographers (hobby and pro) taking all the same pics and making it impossible for the ref to see the racing on the first bend.

 

In the Polish Ekstraliga it's regulated that only 2 photographers are working on the infield, and they change at every trackgrading. Works pretty good is my experience

The problem here doesn't seem to be flash anyway.It isn't mentioned on the website.If flash was a problem,then it wouldn't even be needed at afternoon meetings.The restrictions seem to be in other areas as i pointed out in the previous post.zoom,close up and video

 

I agree with the amount of photographers in the middle providing a problem for the ref.

 

Find it a bit of a joke about going on about FIM press passes and hobby photographers.How did you get started????

 

Think they should limit FIM passes to the main speedway nations to stop people from countries that hardly host meetings getting them

Edited December 3, 2016 by iris123