joderale Loc: Pensacola, Florida

https://thespun.com/college-football/auburn-georgia-photographer-sideline-knocked-unconscious

Did anyone see this yesterday?

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Ouch!

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Should have used a longer lens to avoid getting physically too close to the action?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

She was quite a distance from the sidelines. A pretty safe zone. But, these teams have fast running Backs and Receivers, and they don't stop on a dime. I have met two NFL pro photographers, that have the best Canon Gear. This was inexperience on the photographer, sorry to say.I hope she has a full recovery. A few years back, at an Oklahoma or Oklahoma State college football game, a player collided with a photographer. He survived the collision, but his $9,500 Canon 400mm f2.8 L lens did not. It was demolished.
He was concerned if the player was injured, more so than his equipment damage. I suspect these football photographers have damage insurance for their expensive equipment? I never asked either of those NFL photographers, I met that question.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

This statement is not worth a reply.

I sure hope that she is OK.

Bike guy Loc: Atlanta

I watched it live.
Scary

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

An unlucky scenario for an inexperienced photog. Sideline photography has its dangers if the photographer is screened in any way... the action is too fast even in high school games. Hope she recovers physically AND mentally!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

She was released from hospital and appears to be OK.
--Bob

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Hope and pray that she receives excellent medical care and has a speedy and full recovery...

I photograph girls league soccer matches and always honor the 2 meter clear area at the sideline and end-line (reserved for the referees). Even so I've had to quickly dance out of the way on rare occasions...

Have no interest in "American" football and have never considered attending those brutal contests let alone photographing one... btw, "American" football by far and away is one of the most dangerous of all youth sports which can have deviating consequences for those who engage in this gruesome sport.
Most notably: Concussions and brain damage... which sadly is also the bane of Girls Soccer.

btw, I'm only the messenger here..
Here is a recent study by Ohio State University
https://u.osu.edu/groupbetaengr2367/brian-add-stuff-here/

I would not encourage a child to participate in "American" football... enough said.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I certainly hope the young shooter recovers quickly and completely with no long-term ramifications.

In my 3 year stint as a press photographer, I had some near misses at athletic events but never landed in the hospital.

I was assigned to cover a rodeo- the Calgary Stampede. My having press credentials, the event management, not realizing this was literally and actually "MY FIRST RODEO" issued me an infield pass which allowed me to shoot from the sidelines and also get much closer to the action, on the field, and shoot near the "shoots" where the animals and riders are released. Many of the other photographers preferred to keep their distances and use their long lenses. I decided that some wide-angle shots, closer into the bucking horses and bull riders would include more of the crowd reaction in the stands- in sharp focus. The photo editor loved the shot but called me an idiot and told me the insurance wouldn't cover my serious injury or death.

Well, if not for the fast action of a "rodeo clown" who ran in and pushed me out of the path of an unhappy steer, I would have really learned the meaning of the word "stampede". Having survived Vietnam and being killed by 1 1500 lb. angry pot-roast was no my idea of a good way to go out!

Y'all know that notice on the right-side rear view mirror, something about things looking further away than they really are. They should engrave that on wide-angle lenses for stupid sports shooters like me!

So...I learned to shoot wide-angle with both eyes open and how to run fast-backward! I was never a good ballplayer so in high school I ran track and joined the wrestling team.

For rookie sports shooters my advice is to watch you back, and your front, and your sides and anticipate the action and make sure it ain't coming directly at you. At some events, it may be a good idea to wear a helmet- a broken limb can mend in a cast- not so much a skull! In the olden days, press photographers at ballgames shot from high above the field with 4x5 SLRs and "Big Bertha" lenses. The only peril they risked was falling out of the lofty press boxes!

I also learned that my press passe go be through some police and fire lines but offered no protection from injury at fires, explosions, riots and stampeding Paparazzi.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

But it’s the truth.

I’ve done a lot of sports photography and the first basic rule is always pay close attention to the action.

It’s always sad to see someone get hurt, but if pointing out the obvious avoids the next injury then it’s worth it.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I was photographing (flag) football games of my ex-husband's army unit when one of the guys was headed straight for me. I am no math whiz nor am I good at physics but it didn't take much to figure out that if this guy who was around 190-200 lbs was coming at me 130 lb full speed that I was going to get hurt. I hit the ground tucking my camera next to my shoulder and he jumped over me.

Unfortunately, for that poor girl she didn't have much room to move and probably froze.

You have to wonder what her thinking will be from now on...will she seek "safe" spots and possibly decide to change to portrait photography or will she opt for getting the shot and chalking this up to just part of the job.

I wish her well whatever she does.

Dodie

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Wearing a protective helmet may have helped in this case. I'm surprised how few sideline photographers actually were helmets or body padding. While looking through a viewfinder, it is easy to miss what's going on around you.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I watched that game. There are to many people along the sidelines.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

It looked like he tried to hurdle the photographer but it just resulted in a kick in the head.