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Don't take your camera to the ball park

OhEddieOhEddie Registered Users Posts: 337 Major grins
edited June 18, 2009 in Sports
Well, I should have said, don't bother to take your camera to a MLB park if you have a lens longer than 5 inches.

Last week I went to the Braves game at Turner Field and even though they didn't say anything when I walked through the ticket gate, they did stop me from taking photos when I got to my seat (12 rows back from just behind 3rd base looking at Chipper)

They told me that MLB has banned lenses, at all ballparks, longer than 5 inches unless you have a press pass. I had my D300 with 70-200 2.8 VR and a 1.7 tele.

They were nice enough to let me go back out to my car and switch to my 18-200.

I was still bummed out about it though. My first MLB game with my new 70-200.

Wonder what it takes to get a press pass? :scratch
Blessed are those who remain flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.

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    du8diedu8die Registered Users Posts: 358 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2009
    http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/guide.jsp#cameras

    Miller Park's policy seems to be much less restrictive... (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp#R)

    Wouldn't have even thought to have looked... ne_nau.gif
    H2 Photography - Blog - Facebook - Twitter

    Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular.

    Why do people post their equipment in their sig. Isn't it kind of like bragging? That having been said...

    Canon 40d Gripped (x2), Rebel (Original), Canon 70-200 f/2.8 USM L, Canon 300 f/4, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 17-55 f/3.5-5.6, ThinkTank Airport TakeOff
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    OhEddieOhEddie Registered Users Posts: 337 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2009
    Wouldn't have even thought to have looked...

    I sure didn't :cry

    It seems that this is not an MLB rule as I was told, but more a team or ballpark rule.

    It still sucks.

    They must be afraid that they might lose a penny of revenue to a freelance photographer. They need all the money they can get ya'know since they have to pay those player salaries. :D
    Blessed are those who remain flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.
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    ToshidoToshido Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2009
    Might be because they need to drw a line somewhere and they choose 5". just imagine if the guy behind you had a Sigma 300-800 f/2.8 on a monopod and had that beast sticking between you and your friend's head.
    Sure after some serious lens envy and admiration it would get REAL annoying for you. Especially if he kept hitting you in the side of the head.
    http://www.tag-photos.smugmug.com
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    SystemSystem Registered Users Posts: 8,186 moderator
    edited June 16, 2009
    I'll bet it has more to do with the pro teams not wanting people taking pictures of the players then selling them to Sports Illustrated or some other rag.
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    PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2009
    Toshido wrote:
    Might be because they need to drw a line somewhere and they choose 5". just imagine if the guy behind you had a Sigma 300-800 f/2.8 on a monopod and had that beast sticking between you and your friend's head.
    Sure after some serious lens envy and admiration it would get REAL annoying for you. Especially if he kept hitting you in the side of the head.

    Laughing.gifrolleyes1.gif

    I took my 70-300 to a minor league AAA game to watch the Asheville Tourist play the Green jackets and could feel the pressure of being cramped and I did not want to block anyones view of the game. I took a few shots and put the camera up for the rest of the game.

    later,
    Chuck
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

    Aperture Focus Photography
    http://aperturefocus.com
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    Rocketman766Rocketman766 Registered Users Posts: 332 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    all this has made me curious. The Buffalo Bisons are the AAA team for the Mets so I decided to check their site:
    Cameras:
    Fans are permitted to use both still and video cameras in the ballpark to shoot pre game, game action and between innings as long as they are not obstructing other fans. Tripods and other camera stands are prohibited. Fans should be advised it is illegal to sell or mass produce any photos taken at Coca-Cola Field without the consent of Bison Baseball, Inc. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in fan ejection and/or confiscation of film.

    This was taken from their website.
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    johngjohng Registered Users Posts: 1,658 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    captain78 wrote:
    I'll bet it has more to do with the pro teams not wanting people taking pictures of the players then selling them to Sports Illustrated or some other rag.

    No not really. Teams don't care who the photog is they like exposure of their players in national media. It's extremely unlikely fans are going to come away with images that compete with what the SI photogs are producing.

    There is some concern I'm sure about selling photos to other fans in violation of MLBs copyright of player images.

    It really has a lot to do with interferance with other fans as another poster said.

    But it really does vary widely by ballpark. At Progressive Field in Cleveland I have no issues bringing in a 100-400L
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    OhEddieOhEddie Registered Users Posts: 337 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    johng wrote:
    There is some concern about selling photos to other fans in violation of MLBs copyright of player images.[/quote]

    As I was escorted out that is what they said was the reason. It had nothing to do with fan interference. But I'm sure that could be an issue for the really large lenses.
    Blessed are those who remain flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.
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    anvilimageanvilimage Registered Users Posts: 154 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    Before going to a SF Giants game last month I wondered the same thing and made sure to call ahead. I was told on the phone that at AT&T Park there is no restriction as long as you are not obstructing another fan's view, causing a problem for other people or trying to use a tripod.

    -joe
    Joe Ercoli
    My Photo Blog - www.anvilimage.com
    My Smugmug Gallery
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    Cygnus StudiosCygnus Studios Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    anvilimage wrote:
    Before going to a SF Giants game last month I wondered the same thing and made sure to call ahead. I was told on the phone that at AT&T Park there is no restriction as long as you are not obstructing another fan's view, causing a problem for other people or trying to use a tripod.

    Be sure to take a smaller lens with you. The guards at AT&T have a very funny way of determining what may or may not be a distraction. Some days you can bring in a monster and the next day they look at you weird for the 35mm lens.
    The nice part is (at least in my opinion) that they tell you at the gate vs the stands. The seating ushers also allow you to hit the corners for great unobstructed views.
    Steve

    Website
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    Gary752Gary752 Registered Users Posts: 934 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2009
    OhEddie wrote:
    Wonder what it takes to get a press pass? headscratch.gif

    Well, one thing that might help would be some sort of identification that you are a photographer for some magazine or newspaper. I received one when I enrolled in NYIP's photography course. It basically says that I'm an Official Photographer for NYI PhotoWorld Magazine, and it never expires, even after you finish the course. I hope it will eventually open some doors for me in the future once I hone my skills.

    GaryB
    GaryB
    “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
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    CamAaronCamAaron Registered Users Posts: 4 Beginner grinner
    edited June 18, 2009
    I think you should be very careful with taking pictures at a ball park. First, you shouldn't obstruct the view or ruin the live experience of other fans. If you're allowed to take pictures, it's okay, take a few and then enjoy the game. At a basketball game a few months ago a busy photographer got in an argument with some other fans because he took pics right in front of their heads, this nearly ended in a fight. Thats's just unnecessary ...
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