Impossible or what?

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Archive 2008 · Impossible or what?

Travis Harris
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p.1 #1 · Impossible or what?

Here is the situation:

Going to photograph a golf and tennis tournament for free to get my name out in the open for self marketing ect.

My business partner got me the gig. However, I need to be able to provide prints ASAP AT THE EVENT. Basically as I shoot them, I need them printed.

SO.. I am thinking of some kind of automated scrip running on my Macbook Pro to execute this task? But, then the printer needs to be in a remote location (club house)... so this is a real challenge. How do I get the files from the camera in the field to the MAC, to the printer....

<sigh> Maybe there is a way I can shoot with the camera connected to the Macbook pro in my backpack, as the files come in to the computer, an automated script sends them to the printed via (wireless internet connection)

?? maybe some kind of cellular connection?... then another computer at the club house (also connected to the internet) is downloading the files, while my business partner prints them.

Sound impossible? Am I totally nuts?

This might be cool!

- T

Dec 10, 2008 at 08:51 PM

zimmian
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p.1 #2 · Impossible or what?

May I suggest a Polaroid?

Dec 10, 2008 at 08:59 PM

Travis Harris
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p.1 #3 · Impossible or what?

Funny.

However.. I remember reading somewhere their was a "team" of photographers that went to sporting events, and did just this... so they could sell prints to the parents as they left the event. Timing is "KEY" for something like this, also is the "WOW" factor of having something so instant. I am sure this could be executed... if well thought, and planned out..

No ?

- T

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:04 PM

jcolman
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p.1 #4 · Impossible or what?

I remember reading about something similar during the Olympics. The photographers pictures were uploaded via wireless and in the hands of the editors in NY two minutes after the event.

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:13 PM

c.d.embrey
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p.1 #5 · Impossible or what?

What you need is a Canon WFT E3A, read this review http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_WFT_E3A/

Buy from B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&shs=wft+e3a&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2FRootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

Free jobs can become very expensive

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:17 PM

Travis Harris
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p.1 #6 · Impossible or what?

Yeah, I knew about that thing... but not sure that is going to do the trick... not sure the range of that is going to "wi-fi" to a computer thousands of feet away. But, very very cool indeed.

I guess what options are there for connected the Macbook Pro to the internet with a wireless card in the middle of a golf course? AND.. how reliable.

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:28 PM

fizzy
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p.1 #7 · Impossible or what?

Set up on the first tee, or another close to the clubhouse. They'll want group portraits of the golfers' foursomes, if it's like the ones I've done. You'll have some time to get "action" shots on the nearby holes too, if they think it's important. Employ a kid to run cards back to your partner to print. The people are going to be out on the course for a few hours, so it doesn't have to be all that instant. There's probably a big dinner at the end where they'll display all the pictures.

If that's not the situation, explain more about the way the pictures will be shot and distributed and we'll have better suggestions.

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:39 PM

Travis Harris
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p.1 #8 · Impossible or what?

Fizzy... yes... this sounds like a better plan.. come to think of it (and I am not a golfer) there is no need for ME to be following them all around on the corse... I just need to setup on one hole, right? Get the action shots, and group shots and be done... thus proximity to the printer ect.. will be MUCH closer then I was thinking...

Tell me more about the "type" of shots you have done... this is a first for me.

Dec 10, 2008 at 09:43 PM

fizzy
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p.1 #9 · Impossible or what?

I've done shots like I referred to above, foursomes at the tee, at fundraising tournaments, with the prints given as a "thank you" to the participants. (In many cases, these aren't given immediately, but mailed later, as an excuse for further contact with the donor.) I just have the groups stand there, casually holding a club and smiling, use a little fill flash if it's sunny. A few action shots, or even shots of the opening breakfast/closing dinner or other activities might be put in the organization's newsletter, but the nice portraits of the participants are much more important.

From one tee, you'll probably be able to see an adjoining green, and maybe the fairways of several holes, so take a longer lens and get some action of drives and putts from a distance, so the noise doesn't bother the golfers.

You mentioned "golf and tennis" -- you could do similar pictures of tennis players, and the action is actually a little easier to shoot (at least it looks like action!) but if they're both going on simultaneously, then you've got a problem...

Dec 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM

Marcel VanEerd
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p.1 #10 · Impossible or what?

.. what you really need is your own caddy that will run cards back and forth to your partner in the clubhouse. Not as sexy as wireless and scripts, but damn near foolproof.

Dec 10, 2008 at 10:16 PM

shoebox9
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p.1 #11 · Impossible or what?

^ Agreed. You need a team of people, all willing to work for free as well. Or you could pay them, while you work for free...

I don't personally understand the whole work-for-free thing. Serveys show that over 75% of men wouldn't ever consider marrying a girl they could sleep with on their first date. But most will still $crew those girls on the first date anyway.

I personally believe that client respect works in the same way.

Dec 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM

adamdewilde
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p.1 #12 · Impossible or what?

Cheapest option is to buy yourself that battery operated printer from Canon, plug your camera into the printer, and press that little button that Canon has on the camera. The one that people complain should be a mirror lock up button...

Simple as pie, your partner wheels the printer behind you on a cart, and collects the printed photos into a folder.

Best,
Adam

Dec 11, 2008 at 03:52 AM

cgardner
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p.1 #13 · Impossible or what?

It takes about 4 hours to shoot 18 holes of golf so you should have plenty of time to print on site by shuttling CF cards. But its important to find out from the organizers how the groups will be started to plan your logistics.

Typically half the groups will start on the 1st tee and the other half on the 10th tee. You can still shoot everyone from the first tee and have about 2 hours between the time you shoot the last group to when they come off the course. But some tournaments use what is called a "shotgun" start where foursomes are scattered to every tee to speed play. In that case they will all wind up on the 1st tee eventually, but for one group that would be the last hole they play and you'd need to hustle to get their shot printed. But there's usually a happy hour / meal afterwards so even then there should be plenty of time even with sneaker-net.

The easiest way to keep track of which groups you've shot is by noting their golf cart numbers. That's how the course starter keeps track of who is on the course. You could shoot the group, then cards with their cart number on it to keep things organized. Then as carts come off the course you can match prints with people more easily.

You'll also want to coordinate with the organizers of the tennis tournament to see how it will be scheduled. Tennis is more difficult logistically than golf because the length of tennis matches is not as predictable and you'd want to shoot the players before the game not after when they are sweaty. If you are planning to shoot both yourself in the same time frame you are setting yourself up for potential problems which may defeat the purpose of doing the freebie as a promotional effort.

Dec 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM

mwallace
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p.1 #14 · Impossible or what?

I did something quite similar. I was hired to shoot each group at a golf tournament. I set myself up at one of the tee boxes and shot each group as they came through. I had my assistant take a card in to the clubhouse every three or four groups and print off the 5x7. We were using a Canon Pixma, it was great and each print was less than a minute running off my MBP. I was shooting with a 5D. All she had to do was open the file size it and print it. The client was super happy and everything was seamless.

Dec 12, 2008 at 02:35 AM

dylan21
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p.1 #15 · Impossible or what?

Has anyone considered a bluetooth printer? I use one as my normal printer in my computer room but I can print from my laptop to this same printer. I think the greatest distance I've covered is about 100 ft. between laptop and printer. Of course you still have the problem of processing the prints in the computer to your satisfaction prior to printing.

Dec 13, 2008 at 11:19 PM

Michael White
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p.1 #16 · Impossible or what?

First you do not need to print out every shot. I have done some event work where I provided images onsite plus put them up on the web for sale for those that didn't get to review all of them on site. I basically did a quick workflow on them, and if I was to do regularly I would buy ProSelect for taking the orders and processing the images for delivery. Otherwise I would use Lightroom to build a Photo gallery showing the image number and upload that to a local server where the client could log into using supplied computers in Kiosk mode for IE and have blank order forms for them to fill out and drop off for payment and processing. If I was doing it regularly twice a month I would also invest in the Canon attachment that will wirelessly send each shot from my 40D to a server so that the clients can see the raw image as I take them and it is sent for the clients to view. That would save me roughly 30-60 minutes or more of having to D/L my cards before they can view. All orders would be processed using the raw files on the cards not the image that is viewed by the client. Between having LR and PS on the main computer used for workflow and processing I would have a computer setup running either Apache or IIS acting as a server then two or three systems setup for viewing stations so that the clients can see the images and go through them without having to feel rushed. Ideally you would have and assistant doing the workflow processing and the order processing another acting as the customer service answering questions and helping with orders for each viewing station, another that is smart as a system tech for all you software and network setup, plus another assistant that is taking the orders, reviewing them for accuracy and taking the money from the clients. Then you need a Photog for each activity area ie Tennis court so nothing is missed, nothing worst than having a parent come up and ask if you got the child's perfect serve and you weren't on that court. The best way to be able to answer them is you think you got but they would need to look threw all the shots of their child and they find four or five shots that they can't live without. Also it would be need for you to have card runners if you do not have the images going directly to a server or computer.

I have shot CMSA mounted Shooting matches by myself and did quite well but if was balls to the wall for the whole event with little sleep. If I request to do it again I will have computers networked using the Kiosk mode and turn it on after the first stage and the server located near me at the shooting position so I can shoot tethered and if I do not use the kiosk IE setup I will buy ProSelect.

Dec 14, 2008 at 04:23 AM

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