Australian Open 08

[bigsarg7]

Hello everyone, I am a very lucky lady this week, my husband has suprised me with tickets to the Aus Open on Friday the 23rd for my birthday (22nd....o how i hate getting old!!). I have just read the terms and conditions about the non use of lenses above 200mm, so i don't have to worry about that. hehehe. As everyone may or may not know i have the olympus e510, still doing me really well with the dual lens kit. But I am unsure as to what lens to use for the day etc etc. Is there any other suggestions i could use to take some nice pics, would love some advice. Can't wait, a day out with out the kids and out of the house!!

Thanks everyone!
kristen

[aim54x]

Bring both your lenses (they dont really take up that much space) the 40-150 will be a better lens for the tennis but the 14-42 will be better for all your walk around stuff. BTW this is where the Olympus will serve you well as you now have a 35mm equiv 80-300mm (thats longer than the 200mm limit!) and if you owned the 50-200mm you would have 400mm equiv!!

[ozimax]

23rd for my birthday (22nd....o how i hate getting old!!)

22? Old? Spring chicken I'd say...

Enjoy the tennis.

[bigsarg7]

22? Old? Spring chicken I'd say...

Enjoy the tennis.

Well actually its my 26th, but the date is the 22nd!! sorry i just re read it and understand now that i typed it wrong!! oops!!

I am glad i have the camera to take, i do think that thats the real benefit to the olympus system. My sister just brought me a new bag to take which only fits the one lens and the body!! mmmm now i want to take both, how frustrating!! I have got my polariser which hasn't seen any use yet, so i am very much looking forward to playing around with it. I've been told today that our seats are in the shade all day -good for staying out of the sun obviously, but is it going to hinder getting some great shots?? -please if you have some advice about taking shots i'd love to hear it....seeing as i am only used to photographing children and landscapes hehehe!!

Has anyone been to Melbourne park for the aus open before? i went when i was younger, but i can't recall much of it, been trying hard to think of some great places to get some nice shots, mmmm i think i'm gonna have to find an extra memory card, i have a feeling i will fill up my current card pretty quick!!

thanks again!!
kristen

[Potoroo]

I was at the Open yesterday (I go every year; I even went in '08). Since your seats are in the shade I assume you'll be at either Rod Laver Arena or Hisense Arena. They are the only courts with significant shade.

Assuming hubby bought tickets for RLA, it works like this. After you find your gate (1-20) on the concourse you'll go up a set of stairs and emerge on a walkway that rings the arena and divides the lower and upper seats. Rows A-Z are lower, AA-RR are upper. Seats at the northern or southern ends will be in the shade while those on the eastern or western sides (except for the very highest) will be in the sun. There are no pillars to obstruct the view from any position.

The main TV camera, the one that shows the full court when someone serves, is at the northern end on the walkway level. That will give you an idea of the angle and lighting. The roof is constantly adjusted during the day so the court is in sunshine and the ends where the linespeople are are in shade. After 5pm or so shadow will creep across the court as the sun sinks.

The accredited photographers will be in one of two positions, either courtside or on the walkway (usually clustered around theTV camera I mentioned). The latter group tend to have lenses I probably could not afford to rent. If you were in one of the lower seats a 200 (35mm equivalent) lens would probably get you a full body shot of the player facing you from the far end. From the higher seats it would probably get you a full court shot. Available light will not be a problem although with the difference in light levels between the court and the seats behind it you may want to spot meter on the player. You may not leave your seat to try to get a better position, or move about the stadium during play.

You can much closer to the action on one of the outside courts, crowd attendance allowing, but without reserved seating you may not get in to a match featuring a name player. Having reserved seating is why I always get tickets for RLA - I can go to any court except Hisense Arena, but those with general day passes cannot go to RLA.

Some general notes: there is very little shade at Melbourne Park proper other than that at the two main courts so wear a hat and take sunscreen. The seats are hard plastic so take some flat cushions. There is a tap outside RLA proper, roughly opposite Gate 17, where you can refill your water bottle. Food and drink is ridiculously expensive so if you're not taking lunch and nibblies with you then make sure you've got approval from your local credit provider first.

[bigsarg7]

Shucks thanks Potoroo, that was incredibly useful information. I think we have main and outdoor courts pass but not sure which stadium, hisense or arena......weither way i'm pretty stoked!
Thanks for the tips about the food and drinks, its ridiculous how they can charge so much for food and drinks after you've paid through the nose for the tickets in the first place!! I would like to think i'm on the lower section as you walk in but you never know, the tickets were brought really early so it's gonna be interesting to see if the early bird gets the best seat tickets!
But thanks so much Potoroo there is so much uselful info, i'll have to re read it to make sure i've taken it all in!!

Thanks again. kristen