Being in Australia for a bit and wanting to make the most of it I went along to the australian open today armed with my 100-400 to try taking pics of the matches.
On the bag search I was informed that I could not take a lens in which was bigger than 200mm!!
I was told this was printed on the tickets and on the web.
It was not printed on our tickets (we had printed them off the web) and when I got home I checked the web and found the following hidden under terms and conditions for tickets:
13. For the comfort and safety of patrons and players, and/or pursuant to the
Major Events (Crowd Management) Act 2003, the following items are NOT
allowed into MP:
Alcohol, animals except service animals (e.g. seeing eye dogs & police dogs),
any item that could be used as a weapon, audio recorders, bicycles, scooters,
skateboards and roller-blades/skates, camera tripods, monopods, telephoto
camera lenses with a focal strength of greater than 200mm, video cameras
and handy-cams, cans, chairs/stools, eskies & hampers, fireworks, frisbees
and helium balloons,…………….
So I went there to take photos and as I only had one camera bag on me I had to deposit my entire kit in the cloakroom – with no offer of insurance or anything else!
I was very very annoyed and it wrecked my whole day!
I wonder what the reason is?? I looked before I went on the web about taking pics and saw this section which is fair enough but I didnt read any further as I thought that was cameras covered!:
10. Images of the AO taken with a camera, mobile phone or other wireless
device cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic
purposes, that is you cannot sell, license, publish or otherwise commercially
exploit photographs. Flash photography is not permitted in seating areas.
Taking video footage via any means is forbidden.
Any thoughts?
By: richb - 24th January 2008 at 23:36
Ren frew – Yep didnt realise – not been out much to these sorts of events! 😉 – I will remember for next time. 😮
Just hope they don’t start doing the same at other privately run events on private land such as airshows!
By: Ren Frew - 23rd January 2008 at 01:30
It’s been ‘the general rule’ that you don’t take professional photographic kit into events like this, rock/pop concerts etc etc for years. I’m slightly surprised that you were surprised by this…
By: richb - 23rd January 2008 at 00:06
Steve and Cal – All I wanted to do was practice my action panning!
I just wished they:
1/ made the information clear on the website and tickets rather than it being hidden in the small print – its only natural that people will want to take photos of the action. (there were plenty of cameras about!)
2/ Even if they do put the info in the small print list it under the point relating to photography.
PMN – yes think I will get a olympus with a 200mm and 2x converter – that will give me 800mm!! Therefore the rule kind of defeats its own argument!
Just checked on the F1 website and it states well into the small print again that 300mm is the maximum……..hmm I must have been lucky last year!:)
Rich
By: PMN - 22nd January 2008 at 00:06
You’re on private land at a privately run event. They have every right to dictate what you will or won’t photograph.
That said, if you do choose to take a DSLR into the event, just make sure it’s a Four Thirds body with a 2 x crop factor. 😀
Paul
By: steve rowell - 21st January 2008 at 23:36
There were three people arrested last year for up skirting..in other words taking shots up ladies dresses with telescopic lenses and mobile phones
By: cal900 - 20th January 2008 at 13:47
They dont want you taking close up’s of the Williams sisters very manly bottoms?
Above 200mm can be used for publications?
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January 20, 2008 at 12:05 pm