Ready to roll……..
Got up this morning to pouring rain, as a big storm front has moved over New Orleans. Probably won’t get to shoot today, so I thought you might like to see what an NPS set-up for a major event is like. We finally got all the banners and tables covered, un packed the cases, they shipped in four large rolling cases for the event. We went some of yesterday doing a complete inventory that includes checking the serial number on every piece of equipment! So, pictured below, this is what we have to loan to credentialed shooters at the Super Bowl!
16 D4 camera bodies
8 D3s camera bodies
4 D800 camera bodies
4 D600 camera bodies
2 D700 camera bodies
8- 24-70 lenses
3- 14-24 lenses
8- 70-200 lenses
4- 300mm f2.8 lenses
6- 200-400 f 4 lenses
6-400mm f 2.8 lenses
4- 500mm f4 lenses
Plus a bunch of other lenses including; 16mm fisheyes, 10.5mm fisheyes, 16-35s, 17-35s, 85mm f 1.4, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f 1.4s and 4 – SB-910 flashes.
* Just in ase you were wondering, this is a relatively small consignment!!! The Kentucky Derby for example gets about four times the gear!! The Olympics? Don’t even ask!!!!!
We will have two repair technicians starting later today to do sensor cleaning and minor repairs all complimentary, and we maintain a table with snacks for our shooters, with soft drinks and snacks. We will have the depot open form 9:00 to 5:00 each day until Sunday, Game Day when we will operate from 12:00 noon until after all the gear is turned in post game, everything in inventoried and packed for pick up on Monday, we usually get back to our hotel around 3:00 a.m.
So that is what it’s like to run and event, the best part is seeing lots of old friends from Sports Illustrated, USA Today, the AP, EPA, and many of the papers and magazines we cover. It’s fun to see all the sports personalities we enjoy in person! Yesterday, while walking in the French Quarter, Brien, quiet literally, ran into, Mike Greenberg of Mike & Mike In The Morning, on ESPN, almost knocked him down leaving a restaurant. he was very nice and cordial, we got a chance to tell him it was nice to meet a guys we spent a lot mornings with!
So for those of you that have asked that’s what this gig is like!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
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I know I would never be qualified for a job such as you have, but seeing and reading about it gets me excited about what that could possible be like! Very hard work and many days away from home — but how does one get to do what you do with Nikon? Love your insight and peak behind the Nikon ‘curtain.’ Thanks, Bill and continued blessings to you! Go 49ers!
I actually got a call from a friend at Nikon saying they were looking for a new tech, I called and was hired three days later! What can I say, it’s the old blind hog finding an acorn story!!!
Very interesting to learn about something I didn’t even know happened. Cool!
You’re right pretty cool.
wouldn’t the credentialled photographers have their own gear? or are just provising emergency backup kit? Either way sounds like long hours!
Some do, but some need long glass, and extra bodies.
Hey Bill, your next job should be on an aircraft carrier. I thought immediately of you yesterday when Scott K showed his some of carrier shoot on THE GRID. Those Navy photogs have a seriously deep Nikon larder — it looked like NPS was there!
We’ve sure been there!
… and I know you are doing the packing on Sunday night as well!–lets talk next week–JG
You got that right on both counts!
This is the first time I’ve seen just how much gear you are responsible for, incredible! And to think the Derby is 4x as much, unbelievable. But, if there ever was a guy that could make it look easy, you would be that guy! Nikon and Nikon shooters are blessed to have you there. Not just a guy doing his job, but someone with a passion to do it well and make a difference. You do them both my friend! Be safe and we’ll talk next week after you get this chapter behind you.
Hi Bill;
Great post, thanks for sharing, we would have never been able to see such an event.
Thanks again for letting us inside.
This is a great post, Bill, in seeing what goes on behind the scenes. I had no idea. Amazing. Thanks for sharing it. Loved reading this post and seeing all the great photos. Makes me think about how the Lord is at work “behind the scenes” so to speak, working all things together for good in our lives. We often have absolutely no idea all that He is doing on our behalf!