"Illegal' 2012 Uneven Bar Gymnastic Photos Oz Nats Sydney

About AeonSmith.
Initially I took gym photos with a Canon 35mm and 135mm f3.5 lens at local and state competitions of my daughter who did rhythmic and artistic and won state titles
I attended many state and national comps judging, but I wished I was taking photographs instead.
After 2007 my videos and photographs were taken using an early digital camera, a 10 megapixel Lumix DMC FZ-50
Inside the sports center the camera had shutter lag and poor shutter speed which left me shooting videos, at 480p.
Despite the restrictions with my camera setup I have managed to take some reasonable photographs
See other uploads to RUclips.
I attended the Youth Olympics in 2001, 2003, using 35mm film and 2007, 2009 using digital Panasonic Lumix and had no problems
I also covered various national and state championships, classic clubs, and local competitions from 1998 to 2012.
Also the Qantas Challenge in 2000. Here I used a Nikon 501 with a manual focus 300mm f4 lens I hired
Some beautiful results on 35mm film.
My last comp was the 2012 Nationals
On Wednesday I bought tickets for the upcoming sessions, had a new camera and lens and was full of happiness to at last have decent equipment
With the junior artistic gymnasts on beam I took photos with a Nikon d7000 and a Nikon p501 which had a good zoom but poor light sensitivity
On Wednesday about 12.00 am I was taking photographs and was harassed by management who also called the police to talk to me.
He was plain clothed and assessed I was a freelance hobbyist and no threat to anyone.
The venue had about 12 photographers, and videographers anyway so they ended up giving me accreditation and a photo lanyard
As "parents" complained that I was taking photographs of their darling children in a public venue from the stands,the lanyard eased their apprehensions
But I was banned from using my new 70-200mm f2.8 nikon lens which cost over $1000 and took a long time to save up for.
I was told to put the 70-200mm lens away...As they had sold the photo copyright to a crummy media group.. It was probably them who complained. So I used my Nikon p510 bridge camera.
That night the Japanese team and senior Australian gymnasts were to compete.
Being sick of the restrictions I pulled out the "illegal" lens and about 30 mins later management came and asked me to follow them to a staff room, laid down the law stripped me of my lanyard and asked me to leave. It was then they told me I had been interviewed by the police. What a joke
By then I was sick of their crap and had a slight cold so was happy to go home missing the main event
That was fine
They said the photo policy was nothing over 85mm.
On friday restricted to using a 50mm f1.8 on my Nikon d7000 with no shutter lag I captured many unique images of the rhythmic gymnastics.
I sat alone away from "parents".
On Saturday I had problems again.
A greasy security guard harassed me for taking photographs with a 50mm lens. Now that is a joke.
He said I had no right to take any photos
If I had videod the harassment I would be making a slander suite
I left in disgust at 10.30am after 2 days covering artistic and rhythmic competition.
I decided never to attend a competition again.
I was going to attend the acrobatics the following week to get some unique shots, but that was never to be
Enjoy what you see, I am quite unwell now and will not be around much longer.This is why I am uploading.
Some B/W prints I made were given away as prizes at rhythmic competitions.
I competed in trampoline and gymnastics as a boy for Sydney YMCA winning a state floor title in 1966.
I coached from 1965 to 1968 at Epping YMCA as a teen, later on at NSW north coast, gaining Level 2 accreditation for WAG.
I judged Wag, Mag and Rsg at state local and national championships.
And gained Level 2 RSG Judging accreditation. Gymnastics Australia if failing big time in promoting the sport.
At the State Sports Center Homebush at the national Championships about 150 people may attend with a capacity of 4000 people.
On a finals night about 300-400 people attend mainly parents and siblings.
There is no gymnastics shown here on TV. In schools and universities almost no gymnastics lessons or facilities.
Some private girls schools have a rhythmic program
Management of a venue has to see no flash photography is used and that is it. just shut up about stranger danger and get on with life.
Gymnastics has become an upper middle class activity, with some clubs charging $20 an hour for a 6 year old to attend. More the money making venture.
After years of coaching you get to realise that most girls love to dance and show off. The "look at me daddy" phenomenon is really strong. A gymnast performs in public to feel good, to show off their skills, and get attention.
Most girls love to see their image in photos on the web or in videos.
Olympic Policy
“The Ticket Holder may take or record still and moving images and/or sounds within the Venue only for their personal, private, use.