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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
McCombs Field, University of Texas
Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 8:16 PM on 05.27.07 |
->> I checked the guide, and didn't see anything about it there. Looking to find out about parking, credential pickup and lighting. Can we shoot from wherever we want, or only from a few assigned spots? Thanks in advance.
I'll be there for the Class A and 3A softball championships this week. |
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Matthew Hempel, Photographer
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Austin | TX | USA | Posted: 8:47 PM on 05.27.07 |
->> Jeffrey,
I can tell you that there is VERY limited parking at McCombs and the lighting is okay; you'll definitely be in the ISO 1600 range after dusk.
I've never photographed a game from field level, though I know that there are a few areas marked off for media. However my experience at mccombs is limited in that I've never shot high school ball there so those areas may not be open. The seating is all elevated above the field of play and there is a net that stretches almost the entire length of the stands. There are small sections of seating along the first and third base lines that are not protected and I usually shoot from there. |
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Kevin M. Cox, Photographer, Assistant
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Galveston / Houston | TX | US | Posted: 10:30 PM on 05.27.07 |
->> Hey Jeff, I only shot the 4A Final there last year but here is what I remember. It was a day game so I can't give you the exposure for night games.
Using this map for reference:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=austin,+tx&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=0&ll=30.2...
While it looks like I shot briefly from the overhead areas in the stands, I shot most of the game from on the field. There were fairly large squares (maybe 8 feet) chalked off on both sides of the field starting at the edge of the outfield grass. This puts you well behind the base path. They got pretty crowded with both still and TV shooters by the end of the game. I think part of the reason I stayed mostly on the field was due to the large number of parents with cameras occupying the elevated areas without netting that Matthew mentioned.
Credential (and parking pass) pickup was in one of the ticket windows at the home plate entrance.
As for parking, the lot I parked in is just north (about 100 yards) of the field on Comal Street. Based on the Google map, scroll north and it is the first parking lot on the right with the darker asphalt just before the much larger lot with lighter concrete. (If that doesn't make sense let me know.) This lot had a parking attendant guarding it and only admitting those with parking passes. The lot was full but I talked my way in and managed to snag a spot when the game before mine ended and someone left.
Hope this helps. |
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Chris Reichman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Round Rock | TX | | Posted: 12:23 AM on 05.28.07 |
->> Hey jeff,
I shot UT softball there for The Daily Texan about two months ago. I agree with Matthew, I never shot from the field, but there is space in the stands on both the first and third base lines where there is no netting. From the first base side you can get right handed batters, the home dug out and the plays on first and second. I used a 70-200 and a 300. When I shot, a wooden high rise had been constructed by the first base line which is big enough that a few people could stand on. It was fairly tall so it make for a interesting perspective.
There really isn't a great place to stand for shots of the pitchers. Sit in the stands and focus through the net.
If you do have a long lens, there are rises in the outfield behind the wall on both sides. But i didn't stay long because i was missing the action on the field. They are only useful if the outfielders see some action.
I posted a few pictures on my member page, hope it helps.
Don't forget the monopod. |
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Ronnie Montgomery, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 2:06 AM on 05.28.07 |
->> Exposure at night is 1/400 sec at f2.8 ASA 1600. Since you are shooting 1A and 3A you will only have one night game and that is one of the 3A semifinals.
The schedule is at http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/softball/state/index.html
For the high school playoffs the UIL will chalk off areas on the field for photographers exactly as Kevin described.
As I recall, the media is also allowed to shoot from the top row of the stands just in front of the media/announcer booth which sits at the top of the stands behind home plate.
The media area up in the booth gets really crowded for the finals.
Parking is tough. Get there early.
The wooden high rise on the 1st base line that Chris referred to was also there in 2005. Actually it is some scaffolding so climbing up there with your gear in tow is a little sporty. I went up there for a while to escape a couple of yahoos that were in the photographer's field box that couldn't grasp the concept that when you move in front of another photographer then that person can't get a picture. |
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Andrew Malana, Photographer
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San Diego/Tokyo | CA | USA | Posted: 2:20 AM on 05.28.07 |
| ->> I dont want to hijack this thread, but perhaps all here can update The Guide with this good info. We ought to try to keep the value of our membership and respond by having the original poster checking The Guide after we update it? |
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Sam Craft, Photographer
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Paris | TX | U.S | Posted: 2:34 AM on 05.28.07 |
| ->> Hey Jeff I will be there Thursday for the first round of the 2A championship games, let me know when you are going to be in town. |
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