Well I read it in the same way that I presented it - "This is the way it is...", I also recognise what LBWR mentions in the previous post in that when sporting clubs address the undoubted paranoia that exists in SOME people about photographing their children (christ knows how they manage to get through each day without having a nervous breakdown) then sensible solutions can be found - they do have to be addressed though and its just one part of the bull-droppings that amateur sporting clubs have to put up with in their administration, I've been to committee meetings at our local RU club where heads of years have spent two or three hours discussing issues that have arisen in the last month, its like running a decent sized business when you have two or three hundred participating members.

Having no parental responsibility perhaps my naiveness is glaringly apparent with regard to the modern day child protection circus and the hysteria that ensues.

Perhaps my innocence is a good thing, maybe we should ask the children.

The really daft thing is, especially with junior and mini rugby teams, is that the ultra-paranoid parnets who are terrified of having their kiddies photographed, then happily hand them over to an 18 stone ex-prop forward with a face like a bowl of mashed potato for a full contact sport (well not for the minis, but they do get carried away sometimes) when at least one of them will report back to mater with a bloody nose every weekend, they already insist on headgear and gumshields, shouldn't be too long now before tag gets played all the way up to 18 year old

I have.



To accompany every set of match photos I produce a collage of all the images deemed worthy of "publication" (usually around 40 out of 600 or so). Here's an example:







That's my grandson on the right of the central picture having just scored.



Every week the team discuss the question of "who's in the middle picture this week" and bragging rights ensue.



To echo Jerry Chicken in a previous post, the boys love to see themselves in action.



It's also perhaps worth pointing out that, as you can see from the collage, I try to give equal coverage to both teams. I think that this is appreciated by the opposition and word gets around.

Where have I said any of this was the way I think? These are facts regarding how rugby clubs - and I have experience of a few - deal with the issues/potential issues caused by people photographing children while playing the game on club premises.

McF has explained things the way I see them at our club and it's the way I see other local clubs. I, as I've said, try not to get involved with any of the arguments, at the moment it doesn't effect the kids (my son's included) enjoyment of the sport and that's all I care about. I have a safeguarding course to attend this weekend and I'm sure the subject will come up again. whatever they tell me I'll take on board and do what the club asks me to.



The context here is very limited - it's just about taking photographs. Most of the work of safeguarding is around making sure the game is safe to play physically, that all activities are supervised correctly and training is applicable to the age of the children. There is also a substantial bullying section, kids can bully each other and they can be bullied (on purpose or unintentionaly) by coaches and other adults. There is no paranoia, but as McF points out, clubs are run almost like business's these days and reputation is very important. I know clubs who have bad reputations that have hung around them like a noose.

When I was taking junior/youth rugby league photos the club I was with applied for a CRB check for me from the RFL. Not a problem and the opposition team can then be told our photographer has been CRB checked by the RFL.

Some from this weekend:



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/Blackbird900cm_zps2b28a712.jpg.html[/url



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/ShabbyRobin900cm_zpsfb12b895.jpg.html[/url



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/HouseSparrow10900cm_zps5be62acc.jpg.html[/url



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/HouseSparrow8900cm_zps7f8f9cf0.jpg.html[/url



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/Robinfeeding900cm_zpsc0ac8746.jpg.html[/url

The first robin is an absolutely superb shot. I can easily envisage that winning prizes in certain niche circumstances.



The second robin is under-exposed. The bright background has caused the camera's meter to "think" that the subject is better lit than it actually is.



Before the fact: spot metering or fill flash would have helped.



After the fact: rudimentary masking of the bird followed by brightness adjustment might help.

First Robin is, apparently, entering it's post=breeding moult.



My camera gernerally overexposes (Pentax) and so the second Robin was amended via the sotware to "auto exposure". I think it looks better having the face / bill more correctly exposed. As you say though, the rest of the body becomes underexposed (high contrast as it was taken in yesterday's very strong midday sun (90+ degrees where we live).

Another from the weekend:



[url=http://s840.photobucket.com/user/David_Lyons/media/Rosecat130713cm_zps7ee0dfd5.jpg.html[/url

Managed to get this gull whilst aperch the 'mine' at Scarborough Harbour a couple of weeks ago..no fiddling with the image either

Played cricket on Saturday, and the 2 umpires stopped the game for 10 mins to walk over to a guy who was sat in his car taking photo's of the game!



We had a couple of "junior" players in our team, but both lads are 17, so at what age do you need parental consent to be able to photograph local cricket/football/rugby matches??

If the land isn't privately owned then I don't think you can stop people taking photographs in such situations, a private land owner can restrict access (so for instance you can still photograph from public land) but there is nothing illegal about taking photographs of children in the UK on public land unless of course that could be construed as 'pornography'. Photos of kids playing sport or just larking about in a park isn't pornography but some people do get a bit shirty over it..

And I hope the bloke told them where to get off, he was doing nothing wrong at all.



I was at a local loch last summer trying out a couple of lenses when a group of schoolkids turned up with a couple of teachers, I was told, not asked told to stop taking photos as there were kids about, they got short shrift too,

A patch of cleaned up oil after the rain on my D90.

It looks like a very difficult jigsaw puzzle.

Has anybody used or heard anything about www.procamerashop.co.uk ? They offer a 3% discount if you pay by bank transfer and that got me a bit wary.

Has anybody used or heard anything about www.procamerashop.co.uk ? They offer a 3% discount if you pay by bank transfer and that got me a bit wary.

Quote Iain="Iain"Has anybody used or heard anything about www.procamerashop.co.uk ? They offer a 3% discount if you pay by bank transfer and that got me a bit wary.'" The address is a lock up in Carlisle and I wouldn't trust a site like that mate. At least with eBay you have the Paypal protection.

Quote Iain="Iain"Has anybody used or heard anything about www.procamerashop.co.uk ? They offer a 3% discount if you pay by bank transfer and that got me a bit wary.'" The address is a lock up in Carlisle and I wouldn't trust a site like that mate. At least with eBay you have the Paypal protection.

[iPlease note that this address should only be used for mailing correspondence or pre-arranged returns. We are a solely internet based business and as such do not facilitate the transaction or sale of goods from these premises[/i.



It could be totally legit of course.



But I wouldn't trust it with high value items either - I once had a customer in the Huddersfield area who ran an online camera sales business but they actually had a warehouse there and a sales office and everything you'd expect from a legit business, eventually they couldn't make it pay either, the owner withdrew all of his investment and took it off to Spain where he runs a similar operation without all of the office and warehouse overheads.

One of the most photographed buildings in Leeds - the former Holbeck Public Library.

There is a very similar one on Armley Town Street too if you're looking for a subject.



Just don't take your most expensive kit with you

It's on the list, mate, I'm "collecting" so-called [iGhost Signs[/i at the moment and there's one on Armley Town Street, so two birds with one stone ...



This ghost sign is in Belle Isle …















I'll take our lass to protect me, she's from Armley and well 'ard.

Not sure it's still there but there was drinks sign on the side of a building at the crossroads through Drighlington. Will you be publishing all your photos?

Couple of photos from the weekend.

Thanks for the info. I've added Drighlington crossroads to the list and will look next time I'm there or thereabouts.



I'll be posting the pictures on my Flickr account providing I can work 'em up to an acceptable standard.