Should photographers bring steps / ladders to events?

should photographers be standing on steps / ladders?


Results are only viewable after voting.

harper

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2005
906
0
16
lost in translation
Just curious of views if photographers should be standing on steps / ladders?

As was at various events and saw some of the photographers standing at the front middle infront of the stage and in the process blocking the view of people attending the event behind.
 

I think it's kinda a grey/gray area thingy... if he got clearance from the organisers, then there's nothing you can do about it...

If he don't have, then he's one selfish and/or inconsiderate photog...

But then again, to look at both sides of the coin, if your ricebowl (ie; job) requires you to do so (get the best shot possible, regardless of morals), would you, or wouldn't you?

My thoughts... :)
 

bring ok la. jus dun block everybody la by charging to the front n setting up a 7 step-ladder etc. there la.


be more considerate la, last few rolls then set up ladder lor.


ladder-gang code of conduct and ethics. :bsmilie:
 

for some of the events, one can see a whole row of photographers standing on ladders and they are not even the official photographers, blocking a full view from the back.

Upon closer view, realised that one of the photographer is really short. Which might justify him standing on the ladder. This brings to mind those who are very tall and still stand in the front.
 

I guess as a photographer you should have some prior research at hand and find out about the space you are shooting in as well as the people/number of people you're shooting. Steps will def be an advantage if you are doing large group shots. Also check with venue if they already have steps just in case.

On some shoots (not usually events) I like to bring a chair around just for different perspectives.
 

Nowadays step ladders seems like a must for events such as singer autograph signings, celebrity appearances etc. Why? Coz nowadays all the fans use the "hands over head" digicam holding method to shoot their favourite idols....if you same level as them and not lucky to get a place in front, confirm will be blocked big time...so need to "elevate" yourself to at least get a chance to have a clear shot.

Most of ppl who shoot these events have 70-200 zooms so not long enuff...must go somewhere near the front or the middle to get good coverage...if set up ladder behind the crowd definitely need at least 300mm one. :sweat:
 

As a photographer i think one should excerise some basic ettique...if you want to use a ladder stand behind and not right infront blocking the whole village. If you want a nice shot with all the bokeh and stuff pls be there early and get yourslf in a good posiiton .

or like ortega say , explain to the ppl that u will only take a few shoot and will be going off ...quickly take your shot and move on

One chinese saying :" if you dun want ppl to do it to you , dun do it to ppl ";)
 

Last edited:
As a photographer i think one should excerise some basic ettique...if you want to use a laddle stand behind and not right infront blocking the whole village. If you want a nice shot with all the bokeh and stuff pls be there early and get yourslf in a good posiiton .



I'll use the laddle to knock on the head of someone using the ladder, hehe:bsmilie:
 

Ladder is not the issue. It's whether the photographer know what's right. I have seen early comers standing way behind the boundary line set by organiser,about 5 m and expect others not to stand in their way or block them ? Sound reasonable ??? Still have the audacity to demand rights ???:dunno:
 

If doing it as official photog, i feel by all means go ahead! But if hobbyist photog, go to the side or to the back so u dun block ppl and the officials.
 

imo its okay to bring but must be considerate..if bring must be at the back of the crowd dun block anyone's view.
 

The whole thing about ladders and whatnot has really grown out of proportion. If you're the hired chap, so be it.

However, the audience has every right to get a good glimpse of the action, they sure as heck aren't there to look at the backs of photographers.
 

Last edited:
forget about using it for F1 GP
 

F1?You gotta be kidding.Might as well bring a nice 600mm lens to piss the organisers off too...:confused:
 

in deed, nowaday celebrities events sure need step ladders especially when he/she/they are big names.

ok i know i will be spitted/condemned/depised/etc when i write these but still i will write based on what my current view is & what comes to my mind and i wont be replying any further to defend myself.

im not here to start any word lashing but to give my view on it(or give excuse to myself).

Before i got my ladder(bought specially for celebrities events) a few months ago, i was also displeased by photogs using ladder and some more they were at the front row when shooting fashion shows or other events. of cos i cant do anything since i was late but can only grumbled; anyway im not really into shooting fashion shows unless it's feature celebrities but i will still shoot if possible.

For big shot or got pretty pretty celebrities events, i would normally take off or leave and arrive early(at least 2hrs in advance). From my point of view, if someone view that these events are so important that they 'sacrifice' to take off/leave and come in early, they should have every rights. Events such as popular singer's autograph session, i might not even waste my off/leave(more likely if it was male/all-males) cos im no match for those fanatic fans that will arrive hours earlier if not the night before.

Let's take for example the <Red Cliff> event, i took full-day leave and arrived 4hrs in advance and have the option of standing either at the front row or behind a few rows, in this case the front of the rear boundary fence; i chose the latter which was at least 5 rows behind. My fotos was 'sarcasted' or was it my photos in the 1st place they were referring to.
Of cos, if i was to choose the front row i will not use the ladder else i will sure kanna the wrath from the public and who know i might be featured in STOMP.
Like last nite <Connected!> event featuring Big S & Louis Koo, almost the 'front' row were photogs with ladder; the 1st 3-4 rows were for Louis's fans. I was at the very front row(2.5hrs earlier) but was asked by the organizer to move back. haiz the fans can come in late and still got stands.

Another point to note is that if you are at the very front, you would be shooting their nostril hairs:devil: if there a certain height difference between you and the platform. This was what i got when shooting Donnie at the <Painted Face> event last week, not using ladder and in the 1st row corner. And that is why i guessed those photogs that stand on ladder and at the front row, so that they are at somewhere eye level with the models(to minimize perspective issue).

Until recently, i now also sometimes offer my ladder to the people standing behind me to let them take a few shots. This of cos is done to implicitly express my apology.

Look at the the recent SIN, so many photogs hounding the models. Do you tell the photogs blocking you to buzz off since they already taken a few snapshots and let others have their chance(of cos you still have the chance if you are willing to stay long enuff and to re-enact the pushing here & there again). In this case, i do leave after taking a few shots or i squat down to let those behind me take their shoot until i cant dahan cos they were 'crushing' on me, then i stand up again.

I try to believe in "&#25105;&#20026;&#20154;&#20154;,&#20154;&#20154;&#20026;&#25105;" but then in reality, it doesnt. Note that taking off or leave are intangible, but when convert to money then it's tangible, which mean i'm paying >$100 to get the grand stand tix. I dun use the ladder that often, but if i used it then the event must be important.

So after reading, if you think u want to ballastic missiled me at some future events, PM me and i tell u how to identify me(though some of u might already guess who i am). My writing represented my view and not of others.

[OT]
Im a super lousy the-man-behind-camera and it was my better optics that help salvage the situations. My PS skill is even lousier. I dun want to be mocked by friends that i'm using a dslr and the results cant even compare to a pns camera; such is the power of peer pressure.
[/OT]