Yv
TPer Emerita
- Messages
- 25,725
- Name
- Yvonne, pronounced Eve...
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Well what a weekend! Left London Town via Stansted airport Friday morning heading for a karate tournament in Dublin. Got through check in and passport control easily enough then it was straight to Dixons Duty Free to collect a nice shiny new D300. 
Had a very quick play whilst sat in departure lounge to make sure it all worked then it was off to board the plane.
Got near Ireland and the most amazing sunrise could be seen - out came the camera for a few shots through the window. Only viewed them on lappy screen so far, but they look very nice. Landed, found hire car and off to hotel for food, a nap, then an evening in the bar. Early night so the kids would be ready for tournament following morning.
After some wrong turns we found the basketball arena at Tallaght, and got ourselves settled in. Now normally our tournaments are covered [photographically] by the DePhoto franchise guys, with 3 or 4 shooters and onsite printing, but no sign of any togs setting up. hmmm....
Anyway, the event got underway, and 4 of our kids were up first on different mats. Cue yours truly running round the hall making sure I got shots of them all - ISO 1000-1600 and 1/200 shutterspeed, the light is lousy. That was worth it, 3 of them took Gold in their categories for Kata - including my own, Beth.
We then had a breather before a couple more of our lot were on, so I headed off to grab a quick ciggie, then collected camera and went and stood by the barriers again waiting for the next lot. The next thing I know, I am being dragged over the barriers - bloody big roadwork style plastic moulded things that would have done a bloke a serious injury - and I am being told 'we need you, we need an official photographer!' by our federations deputy chairman
WTF!! but...
So, new camera, which luckily is close enough to the old D200 for me to be able to use it quickly, the old D70s, and me spent the entire day walking round the mats, dragging all the medal winners off to the podium for official pictures with representatives of the sponsors and handing out business cards as well as being much closer to the action to get the shots of our own kids!
By 7.30pm, having been there over 11 hours, my knees ached, my back was numb and I had to drive back on my own, Mr LL and brat having gone back to the hotel with the others when their categories had finished. However, it was a great day and hopefully I will get some print sales from it too. Still need to have a word in some select ears about some more 'official' renumeration, but talk about being thrown in at the deep end :bonk:
The sponsor wants some shots and will pay for a few more if they like them so got a busy few days making sure they DO like them
I have of course told the boss that next time, 24hrs notice would be appreciated [with heavy sarcasm] :nuts:
Anyway, spent today taking a few shots around Malahide and Howth and I LOVE the D300, its just lovely jubbly
Will post some shots over next few days, but just had to share the weekend, its been an interesting if unplanned one.
Had a very quick play whilst sat in departure lounge to make sure it all worked then it was off to board the plane. Got near Ireland and the most amazing sunrise could be seen - out came the camera for a few shots through the window. Only viewed them on lappy screen so far, but they look very nice. Landed, found hire car and off to hotel for food, a nap, then an evening in the bar. Early night so the kids would be ready for tournament following morning.
After some wrong turns we found the basketball arena at Tallaght, and got ourselves settled in. Now normally our tournaments are covered [photographically] by the DePhoto franchise guys, with 3 or 4 shooters and onsite printing, but no sign of any togs setting up. hmmm....
Anyway, the event got underway, and 4 of our kids were up first on different mats. Cue yours truly running round the hall making sure I got shots of them all - ISO 1000-1600 and 1/200 shutterspeed, the light is lousy. That was worth it, 3 of them took Gold in their categories for Kata - including my own, Beth.
We then had a breather before a couple more of our lot were on, so I headed off to grab a quick ciggie, then collected camera and went and stood by the barriers again waiting for the next lot. The next thing I know, I am being dragged over the barriers - bloody big roadwork style plastic moulded things that would have done a bloke a serious injury - and I am being told 'we need you, we need an official photographer!' by our federations deputy chairman
WTF!! but... So, new camera, which luckily is close enough to the old D200 for me to be able to use it quickly, the old D70s, and me spent the entire day walking round the mats, dragging all the medal winners off to the podium for official pictures with representatives of the sponsors and handing out business cards as well as being much closer to the action to get the shots of our own kids!
By 7.30pm, having been there over 11 hours, my knees ached, my back was numb and I had to drive back on my own, Mr LL and brat having gone back to the hotel with the others when their categories had finished. However, it was a great day and hopefully I will get some print sales from it too. Still need to have a word in some select ears about some more 'official' renumeration, but talk about being thrown in at the deep end :bonk:
The sponsor wants some shots and will pay for a few more if they like them so got a busy few days making sure they DO like them
I have of course told the boss that next time, 24hrs notice would be appreciated [with heavy sarcasm] :nuts:
Anyway, spent today taking a few shots around Malahide and Howth and I LOVE the D300, its just lovely jubbly
Will post some shots over next few days, but just had to share the weekend, its been an interesting if unplanned one.
