CRUFC take on Clifton (and wipe the floor with them)

Chris Fell, Cambridge Rugby Union FC's official photographer, was unable to go to yesterday's match as he was shooting a wedding in "sunny" Halifax instead.  Ann Miles was deputed for the day, and she asked me if I would help out.  I guess that makes me "Chief Assistant to the Assistant Chief" (with apologies to Michael Flanders).

I've never photographed Rugby before, so wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Well, here are some of the results.

Ouch!

I'm sure Rugby Union was never this balletic when I used to play it at school...

It's a constant battle to try to isolate interested periods of play while, at the same time, keeping an eye on the (rather cluttered) background.  A healthy dose of luck is involved in getting half-way reasonable shots, I discovered.

If you can keep your shirt when all about you are losing theirs...

Yet another try for Cambridge, who eventually won 46-7.

Group commiserations in the Clifton camp after the game.

They start them young at CRUFC!

The Chief Assistant pointing out her inept partner to Cambridge's Scrum Half, who had just scored a spectacular try.  Yours truly had failed to capture it; well, failed to capture it in focus, anyway.  The most valuable lesson I learned was to take a second camera body with a shorter lens on it, as otherwise it's almost impossible to guarantee that "big moment".  Oh well...

Thoroughly enjoyable, and it's definitely something I'd like to have another go at - if the Big Cheese(s) let me, that is.

RPS Distinctions Advisory Day

Yesterday saw the first of this year's RPS Distinctions Advisory Days in Foxton, with Richard Walton, Roger Force and Will Cheung presiding.  An excellent day it was too, with some absolutely cracking panels on show.  We are lucky in East Anglia to have a dedicated set of advisors who work so well together and are happy to come back regularly.  Mind you, we also have some very talented photographers in this Region, which might have something to do with it.

The advisors very much liked the Creative panel from Barry Badcock, one of Cambridge CC's members, but couldn't quite agree on the best layout for the pictures.  Even Ann Miles got in on the action...

We have an LRPS Print Assessment in September and another Advisory Day in November, so plenty more good work from the Region to look forward to later in the year.

Crufts (part 5)

This is the final post from Crufts, you'll be relieved to hear.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out, despite the halls being heaving with visitors.  Izzi and I had hoped to get into the Arena to watch the "Fly Ball" competition, but queue to get in was so long that the event would have been over by the time we reached the front!  Whatever else, it's the dogs who are the stars of the show, and we met some really beautiful animals.  My ears haven't been quite as clean for a very long time.

The final picture shows the aspect of dog shows which I dislike the most: the concept of an "ideal form" for each breed.  This is something which causes endless genetic problems in the misguided pursuit of "perfection", and can result in unhappy and unhealthy animals.  The dogs' well-being should be paramount, in my view, and not sacrificed in the name cosmetic beauty.  Here endeth the sermon...

Crufts (part 4)

No - the poodle is neither a Hound nor a Terrier, but was at one of the trade stands being given a new hair-do.

The wolf hounds were very gentle and placid considering their enormous size.

Never work with children or animals, unless absolutely necessary.  This is one of the "real" photographers attempting to get a wide-angle shot of one of the dogs (and failing miserably).

Whippets and greyhounds always look so mournful - to my eyes, anyway.

 Now, I would have enjoyed seeing the borzoi with hair which matched that of its owner...

The beagles were lovely, although many had just been abandoned in cages.

This set finishes with one of the blood hounds.  Very gentle and friendly, but I do worry about those eyes...

This is the penultimate set, you'll be pleased to hear.  Just be thankful I didn't go on the gundog day!