Virgo said:
I'm no expert on gymnastics. However, your first line really irritates me. Why did the authorities expressed displeasure?
I think you're just trying to take some nice pictures, share them out so that the rest can enjoy the nicely taken photos, and probably encourage more people to take part in gymnastics.
I can understand that no flash is allowed during the session, but why the displeasure? They think you have ulterior motives in taking pictures of those gymnasts? I don't think so right?
Singapore still a long, long way to being a developed country in my point of view, at least in this aspect.
from my not-nice experience from shooting with a certain sport...
i was once told that i was tentatively the official photog for the Nationals, three weeks before the event. then time went by... then it was one week before the event. i was told i was NOT chosen, and i'm cool with it. but the person whom i was talking to, told me that it would be best if i didn't appear at all. i had, in the meanwhile, got to know a lot more parents and their children (happens so that most of them are girls, primary, secondary) and i was trying the sport myself. i was disappointed with the information i received. i soon called, and asked for permission to attend the Nationals. i was granted permission.
on the morning of the actual day, when i met that lady whom i was talking to over the phone, she had plenty of scorn for me. that day, Ah Pao was the only other photographer whom i knew at the venue, and so since i couldn't shoot, i decided to pass him my eqpt to use. suddenly, that lady jumped on us and alleged that i was masterminding someone else to shoot FOR me etc etc. she said something along the lines of, "there are very young children here, and we do not know what you are going to do with the photos" - in a somewhat scornful tone. Ah Pao was there, and both of us were not offered the chance to explain. ever since that day, i have not been back to shoot at the venue, nor shoot the sport. btw, the lady is not a local, but a canadian caucasian. her tone of reply was the really ugly part.
so what this means to say... what you encountered isn't as ugly as what was encountered in my case.
when i was intending to get official clearance from this certain mr phua from MOE/CCAB to gain permission to shoot photos for my friends at the National Schools Artistic Gymnastics comp... i had such a hard time getting him, finally i had some recommendation from a friend in the national team, but all she could do was to refer me to a senior team official, who didn't have the authority, but referred me back to mr phua. when i finally talked to the man, he said that there are official photographers covering the event.
on the day i went to shoot? i was the ONLY guy with a decent sport-capable camera at the venue. this leaves much to be explained. i also come from a sporting background myself, and i pretty much enjoy capturing images of sport (though i admit, shooting gymnastics so far, was pretty boring, given very limited action) and make friends this way. this was the same way i got to know quite a few athletes of the previousmentioned sport, as well as the parents - because their cameras are typically P&S, which can't do f/2.8, ISO1600, 1/200 settings, and i'm able to get them some shots the official photographers can't do.
now, the silly thing i see here, is that jodie, being a former RG herself, is being denied photography... silly, isn't it?