OBSERVATION!!!

car568 · In rehab

OBSERVATION!!!

jones off road · Rehab Dropout...

I know you not picking on anyone, but Murray and Julie probably need the chance to get back to S.A. to update the site.
But I thought someone might have posted more stuff on the sorra forum.
I did find it a shame that more was'nt on the internet over the weekend, to keep me updated on what was going on............
so I used the old (forgotten) method, I used the phone to ring some-one:)
Actually, I still remember the days (not so long ago) when not many racers had mobiles/service, so we needed to wait till they returned home and rang on the 'land-line'! (that was just after carrier pidgeons became redundant)

Trekka273 · sponsor

I know I personally would love to have been there, as from everything I have heard of the track, and looking at the qulaity of the entry list, it would have been a great event to see, let alone photograph. My first problem was that I don't have my camera at present, it is in getting fixed, but secondly, it is very expensive for me to get to these races and spend all day out there, etc taking photos. The current repairs on my camera/lens are going to cost me close to $1k, and that is just from general use, not being dropped or anything.

I don't run my business to make money, I try to get it to cover my costs if I am lucky, but to do that I rely on sales of photographs, and of course, there is no guarantee of that happening. When I go away to shoot an event, it costs me a lot of money... I have fuel to get there, accomodation, meals, not to mention the cost of my photo gear itself (camera, lenses, etc). Then there is the money and time to run the website.... it all adds up. Then I have to also work for a living during the week as well, which makes things tough when I have a heap of pictures to process, events to get to, etc.

car568 · In rehab

Excellent some discussion!

Firstly as Jones mentioned I am not trying to knock anybody espeacially Murray and Julie, there website started it all and I know they put alot of time and effort into it. All I am trying to do is prompt people to take part. If I could actually take a decent photo I would post them up here in the forum without any hesitation.

This forum is an ideal place for anybody who has a few good pics to post them up. Anything to promote interest in the sport. Lets face it offroading provides some great action photos.

Trekka273, your work is great and I applaude you for it and I completly understand where your coming from which is why I am looking for ideas to help people such as yourself get the assistance/support they need to do what you do.

Flat Out Off Road Racing Team · Powerhouse Poster

www.offroadoz.net.au ran a best photograph competition last year (not for proffesionals) which got a few more photos for the site not to mention some good photos. Maybe other sites could look at doing that? Or maybe even a best video comp?

car568 · In rehab

Great suggestion Flat Out...

Wolf · Rehab Dropout...

All fair enough comments.

Murray and Julie are great supporters of MMC, but it does take time to get back home resize the pics and get them up. Remember theyre also finishing off their own car, as well as ubilding a shed (warehouse!) to put it in.

As for the sorra site, as a past webmaster for it I can say that you cant put up pictures that arent sent to you! Has anyone forwarded on any pics to Daneen to host?

I miss Jamin, he was great at getting pics done, sized and sent through quickly!

car568 · In rehab

Folks lets keep Muray and Julie out this nobody is having ago at them...

However a sugestion for thier site could be the ability for people to post thier own pics. This doesn't have to be a direct part of thier site it could be linked from offroadracing.com.au as it is the Cornerstone of Australain Offroad Racing's web presence.

This medium is the most accesable for contibutors and viewers a like and I think we can take better advantage of it. TV has proven to be out of our grasp but this isn't. More people are doing business on the web everyday a strong web presence could be enough to entice better overall sponsorship of the sport from companies/businesses.

Look at Google the majority of it's money comes from advertising how else could they offer such awesome facilities for free to consumers, they have effectivly generated a captive audience to be exploited buy advertising.

delete · In rehab

I was discussing with Murray and Julie at Milbrodale the subject of live updates similar to the ones they do for the Nationals. The simple answer is that there is insufficient phone signal strength to be able to do it out of the Milbrodale valley.

-- Edited by Dusteater at 10:36, 2008-08-13

Trekka273 · sponsor

Being able to post up pictures on the web is good, but don't forget, it costs money to get those pictures, and every time I give a picture to some one, or to a website free of charge, it is money out of my own pocket. I can tell you now, that to cover the Sea Lake event this year cost me close enough to $700, and that doesn't include my time or the wear and tear on my vehicle getting there and back, etc. And that is the closest major event to where I live, the others usually end up costing me more then that.

As I said earlier, I am not doing this to actually make money (I am far from doing that!!), but I also want to try to cover at least some of my costs.

car568 · In rehab

Here's a thought...

How about as part of the entry fee for an event we pay $20 - $30 extra. Almost nothing compared to what has already been spent.

The organiser of the event arranges for an official photographer they recieve that money as a retainer and every entrant gets 2 - 3 photos free. This may be helpful to people such as Trekka and Jamin to atleast meet/cover some of their upfront costs.

dirtdrifter · In rehab

I was at the race with my brother who took a couple hundred photo's from all over the course but he is not currently online, so i am trying to get somthing sortted out to get to them up ill keep you posted.

car568 · In rehab

Fantastic! I am happy help out sizing and etc, if you need it.