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Sneaking in as press? Anonymous
Hi /p/. I've had to deal with a few political events on the local campus lately but got screwed into a really bad spot for one of them. Do any of you bother trying to get in as press? Do you try to sneak in or just line up really damn early for a good spot?

Typically I've been mistaken as press for smaller events but the larger ones I can't get by...
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
it's difficult because security cab be overzealous... i think it's like that almost everywhere.

I'm a... i should say the ONLY staff photographer for the university newspaper so i'm actually going to milk it more this year. Like concert tickets and all that.

Try and speak to the campus papers, tell em you'll give them photos and all that jazz.
>> Anonymous
See if you can get yourself one of those high visibility vests, people will mistake you for someone who's meant to be there.
>> Lynx !!KY+lVSl0s2m
The secret to getting in anywhere like that is just to look and walk like you belong. For most low security events, as long as no one walked up to you, you're good. Don't look at the floor, don't look people in the eye, just act like the place is fucking yours. Don't ask for permission, just do eeeeettt. Whats the worst that could happen? You get asked to leave?
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
>>124911

>>Whats the worst that could happen?

Guantanamo
>> Anonymous
>>124911

I agree. If you look like you know what you are doing and look like you belong, nobody will question you. Unless of course you actually try to sneak into a political event. Then it will be Gitmo for you.

Your equipment will help. A big camera, with a big lens/hood and a flash on an extender will let you in more than a subcompact P&S.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
Sometimes just standing around in public with my SLR has gotten me asked if im press, thats when im just minding my own buisness (although it was in the middle of a massive festival).

If you cant get a decent spot just ask people to move with some conviction, most people will get out of the way on sight of mega camera.

Protip: dont use small primes.
>> Anonymous
>>124937

I do this at concerts I go to. Only problem is that that indoor/night concerts make the 50mm f/1.4 necessary. The hood makes it look slightly more "pro".
>> des
have balls of steel
just walk past gates if there's room
smoke, seriously, it helps
if someone asks who you're with, don't even look and bark the shortened name of your localish paper at them: globe, the news, journal, foo. Keep walking. If they stop you, act *really* annoyed.
if someone asks for credentials, fumble around and say you dropped them or forgot them in the van. Helps moar if you're, cccombo, smoking!
>>just act like the place is fucking yours
truth'd for truthiness
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>124941
But you cant smoke indoors here!
>> des
>>124942
Smoke as you're coming in, then.
Make sure you do the head-nod thing at the dumbest looking member of security (if you snuck in already) when you leave for another smoke. This is good if you snuck in, but are worried, even if you don't smoke. Just leave.
Then you're likely to have someone go, "yeah, he's cool, just went for a smoke."

It's just One of Those Things. Something you should always have on you or in your camera bag. Lighter, matches, cigarettes. Doesn't matter if you smoke.
>> Anonymous
Camera bag + vertical grip + extra lenses + air of superiority
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>124978
>Vertical Grip

yeah, infact anything you can do to make your camera look BIGGER will help, tacticool that shit!

Two or more bodies hanging round you in a 1960 war photographer style will also help, as will stupid fucking cargo pants and jacket.
>> Falldog
You could always be one of those guys who carries around multiple cameras.
>> Anonymous
>>125025
Does anyone have the picture of the guy with all the camera bodies and the knee pads?
>> Anonymous
Wow, a lot of smoking suggestions. I'll keep that in mind (though I don't smoke myself, I tried it and found it disgusting). Are press photogs really that well known for smoking?

As for what to wear-- this anon is female, so dress code would be different I believe. I don't see many female photogs around but those who I have seen typically don't dress up the part. They don't carry a lot though either.

>>124906
I talked to someone last year but they said the position was full or something. I may decide to try again since I noticed the event photos sucked SHIT in the newspaper (I probably took better photos, even with cropping a photo off the 300 end of the 75-300mm). I'm actually trying to get our photo club more reputable so we can at least get press access to events on campus.

>>124937
Lulz, I actually shot for a Chelsea Clinton event with a 50prime (I need to invest in a telephoto, and I hate the Canon kit) and got asked if I was press. This was a smaller event too though.

>>125019
>>125025
Unfortunately I lack extra SLR bodies. I'll keep this in mind though.


Thanks for the tips guys :D
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
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Butterfly DELIVERS (for once)

Also act like a prick/douchebag/whatever it translates to in your local shitsspeak of english and complain about _EVERYTHING_
>> Anonymous
Just this weekend I walked into a $500 per ticket event without showing ID or anything. I had a jacked with pockets full of various photo related things, a 30D with a large 24-70L lens with a lens hood (these things even look expensive, it helps a lot), with an aftermarket flash on top.
>> Anonymous
>>125034
There you go. Looks like he even has home made lens hoods out of a major German magazine. I wonder if that makes anyone think he works for them...
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
o come on I have a seriously hard time believing that smoking would change shit
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
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also
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
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somehow related
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>125043
Ah i see someone found a good use for those after all!
>> Anonymous
>>125034
LOL. Although the most I see press photogs carry are 3 cameras + lenses, so that's probably a bit much.

>>125037
Nice, I'll keep that in mind.


I am also a poor college student anon, so no expensive stuff for me right away :( I'll keep in mind the suggestions to keep building up though.
>> Anonymous
>>125034
You really are the greatest trap ever.
>> Anonymous
>>125032
>Are press photogs really that well known for smoking?

Journalists in general are. I was volunteering at an election one time, and a television news correspondant who had set up near me chainsmoked the whole time? Cameras about to roll? Usually he'd throw it down and stomp it out, only to go light another one right after; once he just held it in his hand still lit and the camera guy just moved in closer to cut off his hand.

>>125040
I can see how it would. Plus, if someone's hurriedly smoking, there's an implied "leave me alone, I'm busy."
>> fence !!POey2hdozCZ
worth noting that if you do sneak in, you should be on your best behavior with regards to the real, working photographers. don't get in their way, don't crowd the angles, don't talk to them unless they talk to you (unless it's before or after the event, at which point you should absolutely definitely talk to them), don't be a dickhead noob in general.
>> Anonymous
>>125043
This is the real reason everyone settled on one brand.
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
>>125057
standardized table leg sizes?
>> Anonymous
>>125070
Of course. Everyone just hauls out their body, their 70-200 (?) and the standard lens hood and gets drunk on some good wine.
>> Anonymous
>>125056
Oh definitely. Last time I got anywhere close to make a difference I stood in front of pillars or crouched down. The other photogs weren't willing to really move from their spot to get any photos.....

>>125055
Wow. Sounds good, I'll probably head out after class to buy cigs then.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
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Fuck cigarettes

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>> Anonymous
>>125086
Ten megapixels of cigars with bonus colour cast free of charge.
>> Anonymous
>>125043
Yeah, that's putting the Canon's to good use. Might I also suggest using them as door-stops?
>> Anonymous
An air of confidence and the ol' "Glass Pass" has gotten me into many events without a second glance.