Just bought a DSLR for first time - help

[covunimotorsport]

Hi guys,

I have just purchased an Olympus E-10 Pro digital SLR and am preparing for the upcoming season to break into motorsport photography. I would be interested in your opinions on such things as Monopods,great positions for pictures at all the major tracks in uk, which tracks are nice at giving press passes, and any other advice you think an amateur should know.

Cheers

>> Edited by on Monday 13th February 21:31

[happy snapper]

covunimotorsport said:

which tracks are nice at giving press passes, and any other advice you think an amateur should know. Cheers

Tracks don’t these days "give out" press passes most if not all will require at least a letter from a publisher to say you are providing images for their web site or newspaper, some circuits like Mallory Park have exclusive deals with a local snapper.

Most professional teams have their snapper of choice. For the bigger championships like Le Mans Series you need to apply for the ACO and or the FIA who will only consider you for a media pass if you can prove you are working for someone and sometimes they require a press card as further proof your are media.

Then you have the issue off once you are accredited media it doesn’t give you a licence to sell your images only to use them for “media” purposes i.e. newspapers or WebPages. The MSA didn’t accept WebPages as a publishing media for years and you were required to present to the 10 published items for Motorsport papers or 20 for no Motorsport papers before you would be considered for a press pass.

[simpo two]

Engineering, media, marketing and photography - you seem to be pursuing four different careers at once ...

[covunimotorsport]

I'm a man of adaptability who gets really, really bored quick so im usually always looking for something different to do

[UKBob]

covunimotorsport said:

I'm a man of adaptability who gets really, really bored quick so im usually always looking for something different to do

I wouldnt admit as much myself, but I know what you mean

Photography is something you can persue till you're old and grey. Congrats on your new purchase, have fun!

[Andrew Noakes]

happy snapper said:

once you are accredited media it doesn’t give you a licence to sell your images only to use them for “media” purposes i.e. newspapers or WebPages

So how would a freelance photographer 'use them for media purposes' without selling his pictures, or at least some of the rights to them?

[Piglet]

Andrew Noakes said:

happy snapper said: once you are accredited media it doesn’t give you a licence to sell your images only to use them for “media” purposes i.e. newspapers or WebPages So how would a freelance photographer 'use them for media purposes' without selling his pictures, or at least some of the rights to them?

Yup that's the problem!! A freelancer can use them for "media purposes" ie sell to a newspaper etc. BUT technically there is no right to use them for commercial purposes ie flogging them to the general public etc. This is because the commercial rights are owned either by the circuit or in some instances by the series concerned.

I think on the whole the circuits just let it go but the media sign on does say that the pictures will only be used for media purposes.

I do know of people who have web sites offering images for sale where the photographer has been contacted by a circuit and asked to remove photographs taken at a circuit immediately.

It's all very complicated and then add in that there is very little money to be made from motorsport photography anyway as the advent of DSLR's has meant that everyone who owns one and has ever taken a picture of a race car considers himself a motorsport photographer!!

[happy snapper]

A close friend of mine had a call from the A1GP media office within hours of posting images of last years event. He had two choices remove the images or go to court!

Andrew Noakes said:

happy snapper said: once you are accredited media it doesn’t give you a licence to sell your images only to use them for “media” purposes i.e. newspapers or WebPages So how would a freelance photographer 'use them for media purposes' without selling his pictures, or at least some of the rights to them?

Most circuits not expect you to pay for a commercial licence if you do have a commission from a newspaper or magazine


>> Edited by happy snapper on Monday 13th February 12:13