Glad to see many of you are already in Alamy, or headed in. I have had an empty account there for about a year, and I am finally getting around to doing something with it. I believe I will start with editorial sports, and then start testing concepts once I've passed the initial QC and gotten a few batches online.
Racephoto, are you doing RM or RF for your editorial sports? And could you lend some advice to me on keywording editorial sports properly for macro?
Much obliged!
Dan
Oops, just caught the message, you can PM me for more and I'll give you my email address and some links.
Bottom line, everything racing is Editorial.
Drivers right to his or her own image, car design, all logos, advertising signage, sponsors names, service marks, trademarks, sanctioning body rights, track or facility rights, if there are any workers or spectators, and probably more reasons, you can't sell copies of the photos you take, to anyone, anywhere. (except those uses that fall under editorial, educational, news Etc.)
I put in the racing series, event, the location, track name, drivers name, make/model/year/color of car. (or whatever vehicle sometimes cycles or go karts) Unlike micro, it's data intensive more than descriptive. Talk about keywording, I have files and stacks of printouts and have to wade through them for each event. Something to keep in mind while you are at the event, because it's much harder to find some things on the web. Over ten years worth of race results filling a filing cabinet and I don't really know why?
One years media guides and results will fill a legal size bankers box maybe a couple of them with the team guides, programs and promotional materials.
The usual, you'll need a request for credentials on a letterhead or at least have an accredited website or publication, faxing in a request, to get you into the hot areas beyond the catch fences. There's much more but that's the basic info. Most tracks and events, more and more because of liability and people who just try to score a free ticket, Freelance Photographers are refused access. Some points around the track are limited to media outlets that qualify, not all photographers get all access. Pits are limited the same way. Then victory lane is more restricted to the need to be there because it's small and crowded.
Photo meetings are usually at 7:30 am, even if the race is at Noon or later. If you don't attend you don't get the vest or tag for that day. There's talk that certified fire suits will be required in some areas for 2009 for some events, so that's tightening up. ALMS already required them for the pits during races, the IRL is very likely to do this according to a safety source. They had virtually no access during races because it's way to dangerous. I don't do NASCAR which means I don't have a clue about their standards or requirements, but I expect it's even more difficult to get media access because of the higher demand.
12 hour days are not unusual, three day weekends not uncommon, sometimes editing until Midnight (sometimes in a tent!
) up again at dawn. I can't be sitting inside editing during the day, if I'm going to be outside shooting. Some publications want photographers to write articles also, race changes and laps for passes, which is a good trick being in three places at once.
It's really something I enjoy. I love it and it's great fun.
