Photographers in British Speedway

[cityrebel 2,960]

35 minutes ago, Richard Weston said:

Modern publishing is so fast...almost instantaneous. I know a chap who sends pics direct from the scene of events to national press---those pics are on the website within minutes. That's how it is these days.

That's why premier league football clubs try to block mobile phone signals when the game kicks off. They don't want normal fans taking and posting unlicensed photos on the web whilst the match is in progress. It's all about protecting their image rights.

[SharpenRake 1,505]

8 hours ago, GreenLightGo said:

He may have received help in the past but all people involved are prominent track photographers at their respective tracks. In fact, I am pretty sure they are all named club photographers. Go to twitter and search on #amow and It reveals some interesting info. 

 

Thanks for trying to help. I did what you suggested and got lots of stuff about 'Annoying Moment of the Week' and a couple of speedway photographers who attached it to some photos along with other hash tags. There wasn't any mention of young Taylor. 

[GreenLightGo 24]

13 minutes ago, SharpenRake said:

Thanks for trying to help. I did what you suggested and got lots of stuff about 'Annoying Moment of the Week' and a couple of speedway photographers who attached it to some photos along with other hash tags. There wasn't any mention of young Taylor. 

The ones using it are the ones allegedly involved

[WalterPlinge 657]

5 hours ago, CottonOn said:

Are we perhaps not looking at this from the right perspective?

Speedway these days is not a big sport, and doesn't give many people an income.  In fact most people investing time and money in the sport do so knowing they're going to get very little back, and probably not even cover their costs.

Say for instance you ran the track spares van at Leicester.   It's hardly a money-spinner.    Or say you had the burger van concession at Leicester.  Probably not going to make you a millionaire.

So how would you react if someone rocked up at Leicester selling fuel and oil etc and taking away the official spares man's meagre earnings?  How would you react if someone parked a burger van outside the Leicester car park, taking the business of the guy who had paid for an official concession?

Why should the Leicester official track photographer be any different?   As far as I understand it, all of the official track photographers across the country usually provide all the pictures to the clubs free of charge.  in return they might get a few quid back to cover their expenses by flogging pics to outside media outlets or the track shop for supporters to buy.

Now an enthusiastic 17-year-old might not be any real threat to professional photographers, but if we give carte-blanche to people to just turn up at any track taking snaps, how long before the professional photographers decide it's no longer worth the cost of fuel to cover speedway?  And the sport loses out?

It might just be enthusiasm, but it does sound like this 17-year-old has encroached on the work of official photographers at half a dozen tracks.   Perhaps the answer is for him to concentrate on his own local track and learn the trade there, with a view to becoming that track's official photographer? 

 

(N.B.  I only used Leicester as an example in the above.  I don't know who the photographer, spares man, or burger seller is at Leicester, but you can change Leicester for any other track name.  The point is the same).

 

Agreed. 

I think the BSPA are sloppy with their handling of media rights.  They should be protecting the rights of the official photographers from each track. 

I fear a Pearson cartel having free licence to roam anywhere can only be bad for the sport.  We've only just escaped the Russell monopoly on creaming money out of the sport's media rights.

No doubt "GreenLightGo" will see it differently.   I probably would if it was my son.

[GreenLightGo 24]

18 minutes ago, WalterPlinge said:

Agreed. 

I think the BSPA are sloppy with their handling of media rights.  They should be protecting the rights of the official photographers from each track. 

I fear a Pearson cartel having free licence to roam anywhere can only be bad for the sport.  We've only just escaped the Russell monopoly on creaming money out of the sport's media rights.

No doubt "GreenLightGo" will see it differently.   I probably would if it was my son.

Yes you’ve busted me. Your a clever, clever man. 

However I'm not. I’m a lot too old. 

You miss the point and by doing so you appear to condone bullying. 

Irrespective of whether the track photographers have a real or perceived issue and need ‘protecting’ they have been caught out bullying and trolling. If they had done the mature thing and made a formal complaint to the BSPA then I’m sure their issue would have been given a fair hearing. If they are indeed being frozen out by a cartel as you put it, then they could approach the right people to make that known. But they didn’t. They chose to bully a kid. They are a disgrace.

 

[00000 1,279]

If you want to know how the modern media works, take a look at the Eastbourne website and their live report from tonight's meeting at Glasgow. Constantly updated throughout the meeting with text and photographs. The older 'togs need to catch up. This is how the media works in 2019...no time to go home and develop (!) your film and post out the pictures second class the next day. Ok, the last line is just for a smile.

Edited May 18, 2019 by Richard Weston

[The Doctor... 1,478]

45 minutes ago, Richard Weston said:

If you want to know how the modern media works, take a look at the Eastbourne website and their live report from tonight's meeting at Glasgow. Constantly updated throughout the meeting with text and photographs. The older 'togs need to catch up. This is how the media works in 2019...no time to go home and develop (!) your film and post out the pictures second class the next day. Ok, the last time is just for a smile.

I agree the Eastbourne live report thing was good..

re the #amow thing on twitter, i assume some of the chaps behind it have  deleted their messages as i can only find a handful of posts from Steve Dixon (who's on here isn't he?) and Ian Charles.  Quite cringeworthy i think tho and very much stinks of veterans who have had their feathers ruffled by someone who is new on the block and is perhaps using methods and contacts that they themselves have never had the chance to exploit.  All very sad.

[GreenLightGo 24]

6 hours ago, The Doctor... said:

I agree the Eastbourne live report thing was good..

re the #amow thing on twitter, i assume some of the chaps behind it have  deleted their messages as i can only find a handful of posts from Steve Dixon (who's on here isn't he?) and Ian Charles.  Quite cringeworthy i think tho and very much stinks of veterans who have had their feathers ruffled by someone who is new on the block and is perhaps using methods and contacts that they themselves have never had the chance to exploit.  All very sad.

I couldn’t agree more. Yes the others have quickly deleted their #amow hashtags. At Glasgow last night I did not see two of the photographers that are involved so perhaps the Facennas have taken action already?. They run a large scale business and I imagine they know the consequences of not dealing with situations such as these. They have built a very professional operation up here and wouldn’t allow their reputations to be sullied in this way. I understand BelleVue are run by big London banking investors and I can imagine they will have a similar perspective on bullies. Leicester is run by a guy high up in the BSPA and Edinburgh by the ex chair of the BSPA. Can’t see any of them not wanting to take action. 

 

[edmon 163]

Serious question - At what age are BSPA approved photographers given a Licence/Permit?

[GreenLightGo 24]

This looks like it’s still rolling on.

Peter Oakes has picked this up so don’t be surprised if it becomes a red top story.

in effect these people are bringing the sport into disrepute and I sincerely hope they have their BSPA passes removed. The only thing that might save them is the toothlessness of the governing body. If this was happening to a 17 year old rider in the pits, I’m sure they would find away if fining the riders.

I understand that Phil Rising of the Speedway Star is on here a lot - so a question for Phil is what are you going to do about it?!

Bullies cannot be tolerated

[CB252 1,376]

I'm not sure it's up to Phil Rising to do anything about it?

I buy my speedway star to read about speedway not photographers having a schoolboy squabble.

Just boot the offending photographers out and put someone else in their place.

[GreenLightGo 24]

9 minutes ago, CB252 said:

I'm not sure it's up to Phil Rising to do anything about it?

I buy my speedway star to read about speedway not photographers having a schoolboy squabble.

Just boot the offending photographers out and put someone else in their place.

He can refuse to use their pictures. That would be one thing he could do. 

[CB252 1,376]

Just now, GreenLightGo said:

He can refuse to use their pictures. That would be one thing he could do. 

Yes, quite. I would fully agree with that stance.

Just put the photographers out of work. Can't stop them behaving like schoolboys on social media though I'm afraid.

[GreenLightGo 24]

I understand it’s gone much further than schoolboy stuff. And besides schoolboys usually get brought to book. We had a leather strap in the 60’s!!

Really hope that the BSPA, the Speedway Star and the respective clubs take strong action to make a stand against bullies. 

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leicester and Belle Vue are some of the biggest names in the sport. Their promotions work hard in the community and these guys are pulling their names down.

[BobC 664]

My own comment on Facebook.

''When in Glasgow for the Scottish derby, I asked Taylor what it was all about. To his extreme credit he didnt want to comment. I admire that.

I suppose professionals can find a fault or two, even nit picking. But then again, who is at the top of their chosen profession at 17? Absolutely no one. Keep on snapping Taylor Lanning Photography. Let your camera do the talking''

I have been collecting speedway photos all of my life,from the late 50's right through to today.  Obviously Poole in particular. I am not interested in the technical details. All I know is that if I like it, I will buy it,simple as that.

However, this is making me think twice about buying others photos.