Five pages of really interesting comments, insight, and tips now complete (and some of it not for the feint hearted may I add) and it only confirms my belief that forums can be quite brilliant or a right royal pain. It's a shame Soccersnapper feels the need to leave after the ban but if that's his will then so be it. I actually feel there are some things that can be learned here on both sides.
1. Maybe the forum owner and mods should look at a section where there are no holds barred critique provided by editors and pro
photographers This section could be on an opt in basis only so that no one can stray there accidentally.
2. SS, Whilst I understand that you are only following a lifetime of experience and learning in your chosen field, I feel you may have missed some of the finer points of joining an internet forum where etiquette and conversation is concerned. Regardless of which well run forum you join, one just can't go round calling people names even if it is proper grammar. It may be acceptable face to face with photographers in the work place but it can't and should not be acceptable on an internet forum. I hope you can come to understand that.
This is the first time I have read any of your posts and I have to say it has been most enjoyable reading. The insight given by yourself into sports photography has been informative and interesting. My sincere wish is that you stick around even though I have no ambition to photograph sports of any kind.
I will need to check back, but there may be something that I might wish to contact you about regarding and earlier comment made by you. I would prefer to do this by PM though if that's ok.
Anyhow, that said, I suppose I should ask a question.
So... In a big derby match such as a Celtic v Rangers game (well I am Scottish
) where anything can and usually does happen, which end of the ground will you choose to go to and are you allowed to change ends during the match. And how do you approach getting photographs of incidents happening at the other end. Does the editor normally send more than one photographer to cover this or will they just buy photos from freelance in this instance?