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Great photos,as ever.Thanks for sharing.As I wasn't there,I had to rely on mobile phone and teletext...not easy on the nerves!So the photos are a great way of catching up.

I've Taken the Pledge.

Just call me Nellie.

The one of Nacho laughing is my pic of the season, Claire. I know it's not an action shot but it just sums the man up. Everything about it is just, well, smashing!

I don't have words for the Ash/Shields one. Top man for Paul for looking out for a young man who has my utmost admiration for taking to the field this week.

COYSDC on Facebook

"It's not the despair, Saints, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."

Here here Phil!! Chris Ashton is a name I did not expect to see on the team sheet for satirday but that shot of Shieldsy and Dyl giving a mate an arm/shoulder is superb. The sequence in Clares shots at the end brought a lump to my throat. Well played Chris, one for your Dad? Oh yes! Keep your family and mates close in the days weeks months ahead I am sure it wil be of some help all the very best to you.

Thanks Clare and Smurf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:10:11:07:02 by Saintsby.

Some great photos! Check out Nos 89 and 90 on Claire's list...Tiny during and after the thumping tackle he received from LI No 14, Topsy Ojo. Priceless.

Especially like the "Getty" one Claire. Did see their take on it and thought it was excellently taken shot...but as you say "anything they can do..."

Claire

One of the best sets of photos I've seen from you - congratulations. Particularly good was the sequence with Tiny passing underam to the left.

Brilliant!

MK Al

they are amazing photos!i always love looking at the photos after the match and on this website you get to see loads. i was just wondering are you allowed to stand on the side of the pitch and take photos?and are you allowed on the pitch at the end of the game to take photos closer up? once again thank you for the fantastic photos!

Hi all,

Thank you for the kind words - I agree with you MK Al, it is one of the most successful and balanced sets I have. All shot with a ridiculously large lens and a brilliant camera.

8TIGGI8 - I am allowed to sit rather than stand pitchside - so I sit on a little fishing stool. On Saturday, I was allowed to sit anywhere in front of the North, South and West stands. I chose to sit at the North and South ends of the ground. Hannah Wearmouth sat near me. In the second half, I was sat only a few metres away from Dave Rogers from Getty. Dave took the photo of Tiny that was used on the Offy.

I of course, want to shoot Saints attack which means I need to know which way round the teams are playing. Having Sky at the ground is great because I now know many of the Sky team and they know I want to know and tell me. Some of the referees are very helpful too. On Saturday, I had to wait to see which way round the teams were and dash to my position.

The rules about access to the pitch vary from club to club (and in the case of ERC get stricter as the HEC progresses). Before the match it is usually very limited so we don't get in the way of either the warm up or the players coming on to the pitch. I occasionally get asked by barfly to take the mascot photo and if a player is celebrating a number of caps and leading the team out I get to take the photo of the player.

At the end of the game, it's pack up and get onto the turf as quickly as possible. I rarely do the Man of the Match stuff (phew!) and instead I like to get shots of the players as they walk round the pitch thanking the supporters.

Saturday was really the first time I had attempted to take the end of match events with the 400mm. It's quite hard work lugging it about the place. I am delighted with the results. I was actually 20 metres away when I took the shots of Ashton and Nacho so I am not actually that close.

It's a privilege to have such access and whilst I have the opportunity, I'll keep taking photos of the men in GB&G with a stupidly large grin on my face

ClaireJ
Saints vs London Wasps...

RedHatPhoto - supporting Soane Tonga'uiha's Testimonial - all the details on Tiny's site...

RedHatPhoto - a blog from a woman in a red hat taking photos

thank you so much claire!

thank you very much claire, now i understand!

Claire

Thanks for explaining how it works. Makes all my holiday photos look a bit plain.

Do you do weddings??????????

MK Al

Al - seriously, if you need a wedding photographer, let me know and I'll pass on the details of a friend of mine.

Photo Gallery

SWH10 - 5th May 2012. Click here for more details.

Al - no I'm afraid I don't do weddings. I have been asked many times but it's not my thing. I have an eye for what happens on a rugby pitch, I'd be all at sea at a wedding!