Rugby Sevens, A Street Shooting Guide

WARNING This is an attempt at humor that has essentially failed but I thought I would put it up anyway… From now on I will just stick to photography!

So the Rugby Sevens starts tomorrow and even as I write this there is a parade with all the teams passing through town in all their colour and splendor.

I am currently at home developing film while my youngest has her lunch sleep 🙂 so I thought I would write up a quick informational to help would be street photographers to navigate the slippery slope that is Wellington on Rugby Sevens weekend.

Disclaimer: If you want something serious maybe stop reading now… All views are mine alone and while this post may contain some information of use in no way were any animals harmed in the making.

Rugby Sevens… Its the one weekend where you are more likely to be beaten up for not taking someones photo that the other way round. The one weekend of the year where it is OK for rugby guys to walk around wearing shot skirts and dresses outside and for girls to wear clothing several sizes too small for them.

Im a cheap ass and never actually buy a ticket to the actual games (although most of the teams train on the field across from where I live so I kind of get a free preview).

What do you need? Not necessarily in order…

Camera (very important unless you have one built in somehow)

Wingman (good idea especially if you are going out at night cause they can photograph you being assaulted and you can both laugh about it the next day…Joking)

Film or a memory card (cause sometimes a camera just isn’t enough)

Clothes (cause being naked in public just gets you arrested)

Lots of energy drinks (because it helps your shot count even if they are a bit more blurry at a 1/500th)

The first year I shot I decided to go up onto the concourse outside the stadium and get shots of people coming in… This was a good confidence boost because people really wanted to have their photo taken… If you are shy just attach yourself to one of the press photographers and when they get someone to stop take one over their shoulder… I learned this the hard way due to the fact that this is exactly what one of the press photographers did to me…

You get shots like this:

Colourful but pretty boring on the street photography front…

I tend to hang around town and get the people on their way to of from the grounds… It makes for interesting interactions… You have to watch out though cause they move pretty fast, blink and you might miss something (I recommend matchsticks to prop open your eyes so you don’t miss anything)

This to can degrade into posing for the camera which is to be avoided at all costs…

The best shots seem to happen after the games have finished and people go out to party… but again you should avoid these shots where you can since using a flash really makes it hard to be low profile in you shooting.

Again not really street photography but just a lot of fun 🙂

Anyway I hope this wasnt to informative. I will leave you with an actual street photo I did like… Be safe out there…

Cameras assorted, both film and Digital film…