Blog | 27 - Best & Worst
| bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Food & Drink Photographer; Commercial Photographer, Product Photographer & Packshot Photographer; Event Photographer; Portrait Photographer; Corporate Photographer & PR Photographer; Engagement Photographer & Wedding Photographer and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Freelance Photographer & Freelance Photography Services in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and across the UK. | |||
 
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Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London |
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bokeh photographic: Blog No: 27 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox |
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Best & Worst I can’t recall exactly which it was but one of the online photography forums recently published an article claiming that professional photographers are (perceived as) egotistical, arrogant, conceited etc. Not surprisingly it provoked a lot of comments. Not all of those comments refuted claims made in the article. This is in itself rather interesting given that the forum membership consists largely of serious amateur, if not professional photographers. Regrettably, on several occasions (far too many if truth be told) I have felt acutely embarrassed at the conduct of other professional photographers when witnessing, first-hand, distinctly unprofessional behaviour. Whilst watching the Tour de France this past week I have noticed, second-hand, some appalling behaviour by official press photographers as well as I’m glad to say exemplary behaviour by those covering Le Tour. Perhaps some of the best photography in terms of the final shot and the photographer’s conduct came on Sunday’s Stage 2 of the 104th Tour de France from Düsseldorf to Liège. British freelance photographer Chris Auld brilliantly captured a heavy crash on a roundabout 30km from the line where General Classification contenders Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Romain Bardet spilled along the wet road towards a traffic island. The picture went viral on social media including a re-tweet by Froome, featured in every media report of the stage and spawned multiple internet memes. It has drawn comparisons with images of Djamolidine Abdoujaparov’s spectacular fall on the Champs-Élysées in the 1991 race. Crucially Auld, who seemed almost embarrassed at all the attention, had picked the spot figuring he might capture a spill given that there was a descent down to the roundabout in the heavy rain which fell during the race. Notably, this is his first Tour de France. Less edifying behaviour was perhaps exhibited by Le Tour photographer No: 77 after Stage 3 from Mondorf-les-Bains to Vittel. After Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish had clashed (with Sagan disqualified and Cavendish forced to retire from the race after sustaining a fractured scapula) there was understandably a media scrum as Sagan went up to Cavendish after the race to apologise. Whilst I concede there were lots of photographers and camera operators surrounding the two riders No: 77 stood out for two reasons. Firstly, he was the only photographer using a short (24-105mm) glass compared to the other press photographers who had opted for medium-range telephoto lenses. Consequently, he held his camera very close to the riders faces especially when photographing Sagan. How close? On the live TV footage his lens hood was closer than the microphones held up to record Sagan’s comments on the crash! Secondly, he then decided to not only enter (without invitation it has to be said) the Bora-Hansgrohe team bus when Sagan disappeared inside but also the Dimension Data bus when Cavendish limped up the steps in order to undergo assessment by his medical team. Like every other Tour de France fan I appreciate pictures that capture the drama of the event. However, I certainly don’t appreciate lines being crossed in order to obtain dramatic shots. Although I’m not an exclusive sports photographer I do photograph sporting events through working as a Freelance Photographer. One of these days I may try for Le Tour accreditation – a dream assignment. In the meantime here’s one of my syndicated images of Chris Froome at the start of Stage 3 of the 2014 Tour de France in Cambridge. |
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Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking. |
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bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" Freelance Photographer offering Food & Drink Photography Cambridge; Commercial Photography Cambridge, Product Photography Cambridge & Packshot Photography Cambridge; Event Photography Cambridge; Portrait Photography Cambridge; Corporate Photography Cambridge & PR Photography Cambridge; Engagement Photography Cambridge & Wedding Photography Cambridge and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge. Also covering: Huntingdon, St. Ives, Ramsey, St. Neots, Peterborough, Bedford, Stamford, Newmarket, Sawtry, Alconbury Weston, Brampton, Hartford, Warboys, Houghton, Wyton, Godmanchester, Hilton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Fenstanton, Whittesley, Yaxley, Needingworth, Somersham, Chatteris, Ely, Bar Hill, Grafham and Buckden. |
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bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer | Cambridge, London, UK Food & Drink Photography | Commercial Photography & Product Photography | Corporate Photography & PR Photography | Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') | Event Photography | Engagement & Wedding Photography | Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition | Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 | Email: [email protected] |
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