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View Full Version : Shooting from the stands at an NFL stadium

MattHauser
October 6th, 2005, 12:13 PM
Hello, I am heading to the Browns/Bears (Da Bearss!) game in Cleveland this weekend. I am going to be in the stands and I was wondering if anyone had any insight about taking photos from the one of the upper stand areas. My longest lens is a 75-300. Obviously I won't be sending any photos to Sports Illustrated, but I was hoping the 300 would get me close enough to make an interesting photo. Is it worth taking the camera along or is that too far from the field to get any nice shots?

I looked around the web for some examples of shots from the stands and I couldn't find anything. However, I did find this on the Browns site.

Worst case scenario view from my seat is this image: http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/graphics/stadium/seat_views/509.jpg

The seats are on near the 50 yard line, but in the upper decks.

I appreciate anything you can give me!

Go Bears! -Matt-
Anders Östberg
October 6th, 2005, 12:31 PM
Do you know what focal length was used for that picture? If you do it would be possible to simulate 300mm from the same position by cropping it.
MattHauser
October 6th, 2005, 12:50 PM
Since that photo is supposed to be simulating a view from the specific stadium section, I would think that it was take with a 50mm lens. So, what can I do with Photoshop to simulate the same photo at 300mm?

Increase the photo size by 6 and then crop to the original photo size?

Is there an easier way?

-Matt-
Anders Östberg
October 6th, 2005, 12:52 PM
That's probably right. Maybe factor in the 1.6x crop factor too (300mm becomes the equivalent of a 480mm)
MattHauser
October 6th, 2005, 01:04 PM
Thanks, that was interesting. I guess I will take the camera. The weather is supposed to be good and it is a 1:00 game, so the light should be good.

Thanks! -Matt-
FredG
October 6th, 2005, 04:36 PM
You may want to check on whether "professional" cameras (ie, anything more than 3" in total length) are permitted in the stadium without a press pass.
rjgleason
October 6th, 2005, 09:29 PM
There are walkways between sections as you get closer to the field, from the nosebleed section all the way down. I would at times during the game position myself in the walkway closest that I cud get to (even if you have to slip one of the attendants 20 bucks, just to get about ten minutes or so of shooting.

Just a suggestion.