Lens Flare

UPDATED:  Hey there.. If you happen to be out and about at any of the following events, please say hi. Got a busy next few weeks.

MLS – FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders May 9
PGA – HP Byron Nelson:  May 17-20
Spartan Race – Burnett, TX:  May 19
PGA – Crowne Plaza Colonial:  May 24-27
Int. Soccer – Mexico vs. Brazil at Cowboy Stadium:  June 3
Indy Racing League – Firestone 550k and GRC at TMS:  June 9
MLS – FC Dallas vs. Chivas USA:  June 23
MLB – Tentative Texas Rangers dates throughout May.

First let me say, I have had many bad experiences with security and venue media handling over my 14yr professional career. 99% of the time very positive and productive for all involved. However, I felt the need to put my experience tonight into words.

Objective: Cover the Ted Nugent concert at Lone Star Park for a couple of international editorial press wires.
Background: I have done this plenty of times at Lone Star Park without even the need for credentials (including Ted Nugent last year).

Day of: Felt strange about showing up without credentials for some reason (probably because that is not typically the way I operate). Did a little research, and found out that Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX is now under different ownership and a credential was indeed needed. Decided that I better just skip it, but on a whim, my buddy was able to secure me with credentials through the PR office at the venue.

I arrive, get the credentials and was let in with no problem. Got about 50ft…and a security person came running after me to check them because “I had a big camera”. Ok. No big deal… So like always, we check with the security team at the front of the stage to find out the rules and where to be, how many songs (first 3 from the pit area), etc… We shoot the first band and everything seems fine.

10 min before Ted Nugent is set to perform, we go up to the security entrance to the front of stage and are ushered in with no problem. As we approach the shooting pit (where we just were 45min prior), another security guy comes up and says we cannot shoot. (Mind you there are 3 other photographers up there with their iPhone, and disposable cameras…SERIOUSLY). We show him our credentials and he says he has to check with the “VP of the park”. Comes back and says sorry you can’t shoot unless you have a “Ted Nugent Sticker”? Huh? Then proceeds to lead us over to the side entrance to the stage and out behind the railing. Says, we can shoot from the crowd as much as we like, but not in photo well. Of course, I am a bit upset…We really cannot shoot much from out in the standing room only crowd, but I make the best of it and not complain. I did ask why in the world did they issue us credentials to shoot if we couldn’t shoot? No answer except, that’s what the VP says.

So I go and get some shots throughout the night from very odd angles and peoples hands and beer cans in my shots…but don’t complain, just make the best of it. Then comes somebody (couldn’t tell, but he seemed like either a security head or perhaps the darn VP – older guy) taps me on the shoulder and says, “shut it down”! I turned around (not knowing who he was) and asked “Why?”… Response, “Because I said so and you’ve been shooting all F’ing night.” I showed him my credential and he says, “You can only shoot the first 3 songs so you should consider yourself F’ing lucky!” I explained that I was not able to shoot up front and was told to shoot from crowd. Again, he said, “Shut it down.” I then said, “Fine, no problem…” and turned my camera off.

Let me just say, Lone Star Park needs to get a clue on how to handle media. I would also suggest they hire security (or whatever that person was) that have a better vocabulary so they can deal with media without spouting out curse words at me. The entire night was handled extremely unprofessionally and I can say that I won’t be back.

I cover these events and venues for International press wires and my images are used throughout the world. I do not sell these images for profit, but provide them for news, sports, and music magazines. This type of coverage benefits both the venue and the artists we cover. We even offer to provide images to the venue for promotional use (which the PR people at Lone Star Park seemed interested in). I don’t typically write long drawn out blog posts about these types of experiences. But I was so taken back by how rudely and unprofessionally I was treated tonight by the management/security at Lone Star Park.

For the record, the 3 “photographers” and their iPhones were allowed to shoot from up front for longer than 3 songs and a Dallas Morning News photographer was allowed to go right up front and shoot as well.

I’d be willing to bet I was the only shooter there with distribution throughout the world and they plain treated me like dirt. Well…I at least have one less venue to worry about in the future. While I don’t expect an apology, a company should treat press with a little more respect. After all, we’re there doing our job and getting the word out about your product.

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=5358.0

Seen several mentions of this problem on the web and was wondering if any here may have experienced it. Driving me crazy.

I have tried several different cards ranging from 8GB SanDisk Extreme III, Lexar 16GB Pro 400x to Eye-Fi 8GB. Some SD, some CF and various lens combinations. I have probably seen the error 15 times in the 4 days I have had the camera body.

I used only stock Canon batteries as well. I put in for RMA with B&H, but will have to wait until after Passover to get a reply back.

Having said this, I have shot NHL, MLS and a concert with the new body since I received it Thursday. The results are excellent. (Sans the darn err 80 constantly).

Sounds to me like this may not an isolated problem and may well be something Canon will need to address sooner than later… Pretty frustrating.

I am holding off on a CPS call as my experience with them on my 1D3 early adoption was less than pleasant. The last thing I want to do THIS TIME is send a brand new body back and forth to them for “repair” 3 times when I rely on it for my job.

Hope no one else has to deal with this too.

The state of journalism as a profession surely has taken even more of a turn for the worst with this trend. When AP offers this in return for “credit”, it further kills what was once a noble profession/industry. I am sad for my friends.

Per GigaOM:

AP turns to citizen reporters for live video news http://t.co/1QY7HEJI

Many of you have asked me why I do t post more sports images online. The reason revolves around licensing and league restrictions for use. I have finally found a workaround to allow you to view some of them. Corbis Images is a European based wire service that distributes much of my work “across the pond”. Not all images are there, but it’s an easy way to view much of my sports coverage (if you’re interested).

Here’s the link: http://static.corbisimages.com/Search#pg=andrew+dieb

I am pretty excited about getting my first 2-page Lead-off image published in this week’s SI magazine. NHL images are finally starting to pay dividends. If you haven’t picked one up yet, it’s on shelves now. “Block Party”

I have had the pleasure of working with several portrait models over the last month. Thought I’d share a pic or 2…One was to showcase a hairstylist.

Will small town America ever regain its charm? My guess is no. Massive corporations continue to kill anything that resembles what made America great. Apparently, the Dr. Pepper corporation has decided to follow the lead of those companies like Walmart and effectively kill any independent business or small town icons. Dublin, TX you will remain in my memories. Dr. Pepper, after 30+ yrs, I have drunk my last product from you.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The 2011-2012 Dallas Stars Ice Girls have released their 2012 Swimsuit Calendar. I have been privileged to work with the organization for the past 4 years and we have finally been able to put together a calendar. Please pick one here (Order Form) or better yet, come out to a game and get one in the gift shop and have it autographed by the beautiful and talented girls.

Thank you so much for your support! I sincerely appreciate it!

Dallas Stars – Friday 11/4
NASCAR – Saturday and Sunday 11/5-11/6
Dallas Stars Ice Girls – TBD