Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: hosehead

It does show how different the way of thinking is from one point to the next. On one hand you have folks who say if you don't contribute you should not be allowed to shoot and on the other hand you have folks that say if you contribute you are throwing money away.

I think both are correct to a point. The point that started the discussion of the day, McCool Junction was that you could not sell any image you took at that facility. I don't mind providing a facility images for the granting of access but they are my images, my creations, my work. Not theirs. If they want to contract me for my commercial rate to photograph their event then they can do what ever they want with the images I shoot for them.

I have been trying for 7 years to make my nitch in sprint car photography. I still get a lot of resistance from promoters/track owners/ sanctions/ magazine publications when it comes to taking photos. I'm getting so frustrated with the way you have to jump through all of the hoops just to get a photo credential. I don't know what else to do to get accepted as a racing photographer. I send stuff that I feel is good quality and still receive little recognition in the print media.

The problem I see regarding tracks regulating photogs comes from the respective track photographers. They act like we are all taking away form their gold mine when there is very little profit in sprint car racing photography. At least in my area, the Junction Motor Speedway that is previously mentioned, has set those regulations as a result of their new "official" track photographer. They use to let just about anyone in the infield to take photos but with the new "official" track photographer comes new rules and regulations. This type of thing has been a long battle for me personally. If all of these tracks want "print media" photogs at their track, how does one break into the profession? You can't get started by taking photos, honing a skill, improving that skill, send to print media outlets, and then get credentials. The digital age has made it hard and I understand that but limiting photogs will only get you less recognition in the end. Fortunately, I have made some good contacts over the years (MSPN was a huge help) and have gotten a few photos printed in a local newspaper and a sprint car annual. Still tying to break into a national magazine but that is my 2008 goal.

www.ibracn.com

This is why everyone that wants to be a "PHOTOGRAPHER" needs to find a home and take care of it. In the old days I have paid as mush as 50% of my sales back to the promotor.

Jeez, a guy goes away for a couple of weeks and all h*ll breaks lose.

Photography discussions have been a moot point up here in Minnesota. The only photos I have taken during the past month were of my two year old granddaughter and her puppy. Everything else fell to snow, wind, cold, rain and a foot of mud.

Stan Meissner (Check out the photo gallery and blog)

Website
www.gotomn.com
Photos
Blog

Hey Stan! When's that O'Doul's Tour comin to my neck of the woods? Whatchya been upto?

Pretend Photographer...
www.figzphoto.com

I can't remember where your neck of the woods is Alex. Was it somewhere up by St. Cloud or Alexandria? I seem to recall you telling me it was from points west and north of the TC. I don't get up that way very often but I'm sure we'll run into each other somewhere if it ever warms up.

Stan Meissner (Check out the photo gallery and blog)

Website
www.gotomn.com
Photos
Blog

Just skipping around in different post with my $.02

Making many trips to Cali over the last few years I've learned many things: Giving a copy of my shot's to the track is one of them. Going and talking to the track photographer/person in charge and asking the rule's is another thing I do. Every track has rules for photographers and if they break the rules (don't let the door hit ya on the way out)

I've talked with many photogs' about credentials and passed that along to the powers to be and things have changed in my area of the world now for the good; I don't think you'll see the "I want to be a sprint car photographer" type where I work there is a list that we will be working off of now

Copyright thing doesn't mean a thing; just looking back over the last few years I've had several people that have sold my images and it doesn't even pay to take them to court over it

Like John wrote about free pictures I don't have a problem with teams/tracks using my photo's for their web-sites/promotion's it just brings in more business and there are a few teams that ask for pictures and if they don't buy pictures they don't receive pictures for their site it's that easy

If you think you'll make a good living as a sprint car photographer (I have some ocean front property in Arizona for ya) but you will make enough to see the country; last year I was in seven states taking pictures not bad for a guy who chews Copenhagen all the time and sees some 90 open wheel races a year

I'm working close with three tracks and the things I've seen since then is amazing; with photogs' doing underhanded things to the track and other people

About giving back to the sport I have giving back at the yearend banquet the last few years from front wings to cash and this year there is something new in the works for the drivers them self

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

When you coming back to Cali Brian?

Not until our season is over up here

Gold Cup; Trophy Cup; Perris and a few others

Also I'm doing the mini sprint thing again this year in October ~ Marysville and Perris

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

PS: Official member of "THE DARK SIDE"

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

I guess I will see you at Dirt Cup then Brian. I don't think I will be able to make the 360 nationals though this year. I just don't have enough vacation time.

I sure hope I make it to Manzy this year. I have friends that live there so it is always a double treat when I get to come out there.

Vacation time ?

It's racing season; I thought you where a member of the "DARK SIDE"

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

Come on guys/gals don't let this thread die it's to young

OH; and my extra bed in my trailer for Dirt Cup is taking now

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

"As long as I can have a fast boat, a margarita 
machine and can light my hair on fire, I'll be just 
fine."

Jason Giambi

Bare Bones INC.

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"