Update: I "double trucked" Sports Illustrated!

[Geoff_M]

Please forgive me for the overt crowing... I worked the Indy 500 again this year for the 16th time, and I had a pretty good day. I was there and assigned to the Penske pits.

You can spot me in this photo: Photo

I'm on the right edge of the frame. You can see me holding my camera up, my left sleeve is yellow and I'm wearing my Red Wings cap.

The "play" from my work this year is off the charts:

The New York Times used one of my photos (full page width) on the front of their sports section on Monday. Online Version

MSNBC has another of my images in their current "The Week In Sports Pictures" (Photo #5): Link

So far today I've also spotted my work in:
The Orange County Register
The SF Chronicle
The Montreal Gazette
and The Moscow (Russia) Times

If you happen to notice any of these images in your local paper from this Monday, please let me know!

My total published work for the month can be seen Yahoo! News

Boo-Yeah!!!!

OK, happy dance over!

 

[sk8belle]

Congratulations!

 

[gottalovethem]

That''s great. Are you employed by Reuters, or are you a freelancer?

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm a "stringer" (freelancer).

 

[sk8belle]

If I can ask, how do you get to be a freelancer for them?

 

[makinorlando]

Congratulations!

 

[Geoff_M]

In my case it's a "who you know" deal... My dad used to shoot at the Speedway in the 70's. But basically, you can best get your foot in the door by developing a good portfolio and showing it around until someone's willing to take a risk on credentialing you. Start small, and work your way up. Offer to shoot for a small local paper or "shopper" paper, for example. There's a good friend of mine who shoots for Reuters at Indy how started out shooting from the infield bleachers. He struck up a friendship with some of the Reuters "turn shooters", was introduced to the local head hancho, and had a credential before race day.

 

[handicap18]

Thats pretty cool! Congratulations!

 

[sk8belle]

Thanks for the info, Geoff M. I don't know that I'll ever be at that level, but it's good to know how to get a foot in the door.

 

[safetymom]

Congratulations!!!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Very nice pictures!

 

[Cashcow]

Great work Geoff!!!

I bet you weren't too happy about covering Hornish's pit when that fuel hose snapped off!!!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Congratulations! I am soooo jealous. I'm headed to the Grand Prix race at INDY in about 4 weeks and have always watched the guys in those sweet shooting locations.
THis year, since I have upgraded from a sony 17 to a rebel I will have to try and muscle my way into those few good public spots.

Thanks for sharing your pics.
Do you have any of the fuel hose incident? Was it that car?
Mikeeee

 

[Geoff_M]

Mike,

Have fun at the USGP! Photographically, that's a tough gig to get. I'm on the "outside" just like you for that race. For the 500 major news agencies like Reuters and AP get 40-50 credentials each. For F1 the max is around 4. The best public vantage point for the F1 race at Indy is the section nicknamed "The Twisty Bits" or "Mickey and Mouse". These are the tight (some drivers say "too tight") turns shortly before the drivers are dumped back onto the "normal" track. There are some nice observation mounds there that will allow you to shot over the fencing.

Yes, I was in Hornish's pit during the refueling accident. I wasn't real close, but it was one of the times when I don't mind wearing a Nomex suit in all of the heat of Indy. To see images, click the Yahoo! link I posted above. I hope to have a much larger Indy gallery posted on my personal web site in a few days.

 

[Geoff_M]

That's it, I'm going to quit now... I can't top this year. If you get Sports Illustrated, look at page 58 if this week's issue. They "double trucked" (two pages wide) one of my photos!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Wow!
Ya, go ahead and quit, hehehehe

Congratulations!!
Can you point us to an SI page so we can see it?
Mikeeee

 

[gottalovethem]

way to go!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very, VERY nice, Geoff. We now a celeb in our midst. Those are great pictures, great action and all. I like that umbrella shot, very creative. Thanks for sharing, Geoff, and again, congratulations!!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Congrats !!!

 

[Anewman]

That's it, I'm going to quit now... I can't top this year. If you get Sports Illustrated, look at page 58 if this week's issue. They "double trucked" (two pages wide) one of my photos!

I will go out and buy it just for your photo, can you email me your autograph???