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TheMadScot

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A few days have now passed since UFC 86 went down at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas - here are a few choice shots from the event; all D3 with either the 24-70 or 70-200 lenses, ISO 4000, f/4 and 1/640 sec exposures.

Corey Hill sinks his foot into the gut of Justin Buchholz



Melvin Guillard makes sure that Dennis Siver stays down after just 36 seconds



Cole Miller celebrates a to-the-wire victory over Jorge Gurgel



Gabriel Gonzaga knocks the legs out from under Justin McCully



Tyson Griffin dominated Marcus Aurelio for three rounds



Chris Lytle didn't quit despite being cut and bloodied by Josh Koscheck



Joe Stevenson shows no discomfort from Gleison Tibau's omoplata attempt



Patrick Cote tries to put the lights out for Ricardo Almeida



Forrest Griffin shies away from the heavy hands of Quinton Jackson..



... though Griffin's height and reach posed reall problems for Jackson



--
http://www.flickr.com/mcneilcommercialphoto
 
I understand why you have the photos heavily watermarked, but it sure is distracting. I kind of skimmed through them just because the watermark was so obtrusive.

Just my 2 cents. Other than that, the photos look great.
 
Nothing wrong with the author's watermarks. The subject matter is so engaging because of his impeccable timing and anticipation, let alone composition and exposure.....if YOU think that the copyright mark is distracting, then you obviously do not know how to appreciate art in one of its finest forms. Your feedback of these images do come across as shallow and without merit.

The real genius to these photos is how he gets such a great image behind the wire cage, yet you forget it's even there!

Well done themadscot!
brentj said:
I understand why you have the photos heavily watermarked, but it sure
is distracting. I kind of skimmed through them just because the
watermark was so obtrusive.

Just my 2 cents. Other than that, the photos look great.
Click to expand...
 
Nice timing! Very good fight shots. Great to see something different on the dpr site. And the D3 gets to show off its amazing high ISO quality - with regard to noise, sharpness and color. Good stuff.

Q: How did you focus? Manually? Or did the D3 actually manage to ignore the wire fence and focus on the fighters? Any special settings needed?

Thomas.
 
Sorry. I didn't realize TheMadScot's mom was on the forums.

I'm a little confused with your comment that a heavily watermarked image constitues "art in one its finest forms". I think there are a few artists out there who might take umbrage at that remark.

The pictures themselves are great. I don't know if the timing is "impeccable" but he did do a great job of capturing some key moments.

Here's a question...

Why do we post pictures on these forums? Is it so we can have other posters say, "OMG!! You are so amazing!!!!11!! LOL!!"

Or is it so we can learn and grow? Because if a photographer can't deal with anysort of feedback unless it is glowing, heaping praise, then what is the purpose of discussion?

And let's not get carried away with the chain link fence. You open up the aperture, (in this case he used f/4), get as close as you can, and fire away. It's not rocket science.

To the original poster (TheMadScot). Those are great photos. Seriously. I would love to have some shots like those. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings by mentioning the watermark. I'll just keep my mouth shut next time.
Arretose said:
The real genius to these photos is how he gets such a great image
behind the wire cage, yet you forget it's even there!

Well done themadscot!
brentj said:
I understand why you have the photos heavily watermarked, but it sure
is distracting. I kind of skimmed through them just because the
watermark was so obtrusive.

Just my 2 cents. Other than that, the photos look great.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
thomas1973 said:
Q: How did you focus? Manually? Or did the D3 actually manage to
ignore the wire fence and focus on the fighters? Any special settings
needed?
Click to expand...
Great questions, I was think the same thing....

As far as the watermark goes, anyone who complains about it is an idiot! Obvioulsy there is a potential market for these images and I don't blame the OP for palcing amwatermark on them - I would have done the same thing.

Great stuff and thanks for sharing! How did you get octagone-side anyway? Were you shooting for someone or just scored awesome tickets?

--
Bruce Allen Hendricks MPA, F.Ph.
http://www.impactphotographicdesign.com
 
Jeez. People need to chill the freak out.

Did you not read the part of my post where I commented that I understood why he had to put the watermark on there?

Did you also not read the part where I said it was just "my 2 cents", meaning just a casual, unsolicited opinion. Now I'm an "idot"? I think you people are wound a little too tight.

Also, just of curiousity, since you brought it up... what do you think the "potential market" for these images is? Was the photographer an official shooter for the event. Certainly possible, considering how close he was sitting. If not, does the UFC allow commercial resale of images from their events? That would be unusual for a professional sports organization to permit that.

Maybe the OP can clear that up.
Bruce Allen Hendricks said:
As far as the watermark goes, anyone who complains about it is an
idiot! Obvioulsy there is a potential market for these images and I
don't blame the OP for palcing amwatermark on them - I would have
done the same thing.
Click to expand...
 
1. Some folks don't mind the watermark, others do - the sole purpose of it is to deter casual image theft since a lot of online UFC / MMA fans seem to be the type that don't respect image copyrights. I like to share my work but must balance this with a modicum of protection.

2. The 'resale' value of these images is relatively high; there are a growing number of outlets that feature MMA photography and, if you have commensurate skills, you can earn a decent amount from shooting it - which leads me on to point

3. I shoot for ESPN and am granted cageside access by the UFC's PR folks; some would say I have the best 'seat' in the house but anyone who shoots sports for a living will tell you that you're so busy working that you don't get to enjoy the action the way a fan does.

4. Lastly, the action is caught with a combination of manual focus and AF. I don't have my cameras beside me right now but there are a few small tweaks to the default AF settings.

--
http://www.flickr.com/mcneilcommercialphoto
 
Awesome. I totally understand the watermark issue. I didn't realize the dustup I would cause.

Congrats on some great shots.
 
I went to my first ever pay-per-view event at a bar last Saturday, and it was for the Forrest vs. "Rampage" fight.

I have become more desensitized to the violence in the sport since I started watching it, but I don't know if I'm "ready" to go to an actual live fight yet!

Like many, I am realizing that MMA is the way to go. Boxing has fallen apart, and you have to wait too long before your favorite boxer has another fight.

Anyway, you and that D3 are an excellent team.... and you've got a great job!

Kelton
 
"Potential market for these photos"? HaHaHa

You must not know what the UFC is dude.

I saw this event and if you were one of the photographers I saw there that's amazing because you took brilliant shots. The shots you took speak of each bout very well.

May I ask how do you get gigs like that and did your photos end up in any MMA mags? There are quite a few photographers at each UFC event. There's this photographer who is a hot Asian girl LOL
 
tysun said:
"Potential market for these photos"? HaHaHa

You must not know what the UFC is dude.

I saw this event and if you were one of the photographers I saw there
that's amazing because you took brilliant shots. The shots you took
speak of each bout very well.

May I ask how do you get gigs like that and did your photos end up in
any MMA mags? There are quite a few photographers at each UFC event.
There's this photographer who is a hot Asian girl LOL
Click to expand...
You misunderstood, dude.

I'm not saying there aren't a lot of people who wouldn't want these photos. I was asking about the legal avenues for commercial sales of photos taken at professional sporting events.

TheMadScot please correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not like he can just start selling 8x10s on his website. There are other issues involved besides how many people want the photos on their wall, dude. I'm sure the UFC is very protective of their trademarks, images, and copyrights.

I'm also sure TheMadScot is aware of all the issues. I, however, am not, which is why I asked.
 
You're spot on; the agreement/waiver that you need to sign in order to get access to a UFC event prohibits secondary uses without the consent and approval of the UFC - so I can't go selling prints etc. at will.

In terms of media access they're one of the best companies out there; remember that they were bleeding money for a long time so they're naturally going to be protective of their image and potential revenue streams.

--
http://www.flickr.com/mcneilcommercialphoto
 
Great shots. Too bad you have to shoot through a fence. Any chance of shooting above or discussing a way to have a clear section with plexiglass or something?

--
Scott
 
Some photographers are assigned "overhead" positions which are effectively up in the nosebleeds - you need a 400mm (DX) or 600mm (FX) lens to shoot from those positions... and if the action ends up on the ground on the cageside closest to you, you end up without a shot of any kind whatsoever.

Alterations to the cage itself would not be possible; the mesh is for the protection of the fighters and also plays an integral part in the tactics and techniques that they can use too - thus it needs to be even throughout.

--
http://www.flickr.com/mcneilcommercialphoto
 
There is enough violence on the streets, I don't need that kinda "entertainment"
--
regards
JoeM
 
Combat sports of all kinds have been part of our history for many thousands of years; anyone who has ever practiced a martial art will tell you that discipline and respect are the foundations on which you build your skills - and thus have no bearing on the mindless thuggery you find 'on the streets'

I'd also like to point out that a good many of the fighters on the UFC's roster are college graduates - here's some examples

Chuck Liddell: BA in Business/Accounting
Rich Franklin: Masters degree in Education, BA in Mathematics
Joe Lauzon: BA in Computer Networking
Jon Fitch: BA in Physical Education, minor in History
Kenny Florian: BA in Arts & Sciences, major in Communications
Forrest Griffin: BA in Political Science

... and that's just a few whom I've met. On the whole the fighters are some of the most polite, well spoken and genial people that you'll ever meet. What they do in the cage takes years of skill and dedication, not to mention the mental and physical training that they put themselves through. To compare what they do for a living with 'street violence' is insulting.

--
http://www.flickr.com/mcneilcommercialphoto
 
brentj said:
tysun said:
"Potential market for these photos"? HaHaHa

You must not know what the UFC is dude.

I saw this event and if you were one of the photographers I saw there
that's amazing because you took brilliant shots. The shots you took
speak of each bout very well.

May I ask how do you get gigs like that and did your photos end up in
any MMA mags? There are quite a few photographers at each UFC event.
There's this photographer who is a hot Asian girl LOL
Click to expand...
You misunderstood, dude.

I'm not saying there aren't a lot of people who wouldn't want these
photos. I was asking about the legal avenues for commercial sales of
photos taken at professional sporting events.

TheMadScot please correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not like he can
just start selling 8x10s on his website. There are other issues
involved besides how many people want the photos on their wall, dude.
I'm sure the UFC is very protective of their trademarks, images, and
copyrights.

I'm also sure TheMadScot is aware of all the issues. I, however, am
not, which is why I asked.
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter if he can't sell them at will. The point is that it's UFC. The fastest growing sport in the galaxy. What better market would you like?
 
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