Winner Podium Shots

ckasparckaspar Registered Users Posts: 154 Major grins
edited June 3, 2010 in Sports
I have been shooting a lot of race events lately. One of the things I will be required to shoot more of is podium shots/trophy presentations.

I was looking for some advice on what to do and what to look for when doing these kinds of shots. It is usually pretty fast paced, kind of like an assembly line. Call the person up, hand them a trophy, take a pic, next...

Sometimes it will be taking place while other races are happening so setting up a whole studio rig would not really be feasible. What thoughts would you guys have?

This is an example of what I am working with:
880642591_pciyh-L.jpg

I took 75 five of these kinds of shots in under 45 minutes so I don't have a lot of time to pose people or anything and I am kind of competing with family and friends of the winners as well.

I got REALLY bored after about 15 shots and I was hoping there was something I could do to liven up the scenario a little.
http://www.rncfoto.com/

Comments

  • cpagilitycpagility Registered Users Posts: 82 Big grins
    edited June 2, 2010
    I don't have any suggestions but I have to take podium shots at an upcoming dog show and recently took some podium shots and I definitely would appreciate any tips people have.

    I did get lucky and sell one of the shots to the New Zealand Kennel Club and they used it for their June 2010 magazine cover. I wish I could have done a better job since I'm not thrilled with the photo.

    One request from the person that uses the podium shots for publicity after the event was to always shoot from the same distance away from the winners and to use the same focal length so the photos all look the same when posted or published.
    Karen Moureaux
    www.cpagility.smugmug.com
    www.dogagility.net
    www.bordercollie.tv
    Fillmore, California USA
  • ckasparckaspar Registered Users Posts: 154 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2010
    Anybody have any thoughts or am I destined to be bored and shoot assembly line shots at the end of big events? Laughing.gif
    http://www.rncfoto.com/
  • tom_otom_o Registered Users Posts: 77 Big grins
    edited June 3, 2010
    I try and get a zoomed out shot, to see the winner + podium #. A zoomed in shot, and then (if they have it) when the champagne pops, I try and get low and off to the side. Makes for more interesting stuff, imo.

    Podiums, imo, are sort of necessary, standard, and a bit boring. ne_nau.gif
    http://www.tomolesnevich.com/
  • ckasparckaspar Registered Users Posts: 154 Major grins
    edited June 3, 2010
    tom_o wrote: »
    I try and get a zoomed out shot, to see the winner + podium #. A zoomed in shot, and then (if they have it) when the champagne pops, I try and get low and off to the side. Makes for more interesting stuff, imo.

    Podiums, imo, are sort of necessary, standard, and a bit boring. ne_nau.gif

    Ya, I know what you mean but they designed this podium without a camera in mind and the backdrop they have works but to either side of it is distracting. I try to center the shot so I can exclude or crop out the side of the backdrop. You can see the side of the backdrop to the right of the shot posted. The left is worse as it is the pit area and usually busy or bare, neither is very attractive.

    No champagne at these events unless it is a REALLY big event. This is a kid friendly hobby/sport and I am sure a 15 year old don't need champagne. :D

    I guess I am stuck at just being bored in an assembly line at the end of a big race day. Oh well!

    Thanks for the info.
    http://www.rncfoto.com/
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