Not to sidetrack the discussion about the big lenses, but media credentials or not necesaarily impossible to obtain. Try these steps in your area.


1. Shoot a decent portfolio of actions shots from some local high school events. Don't worry about volume, just get some spectacular shots.


2. Choose your best two or three and send them to the Director of Photography at your local paper asking if theyneed freelancers.


3. If your portfolio is up to the paper's standards, expect to receive a 12-page Word document in the return e-mail asking you to sign away your first born in return for a small fee per published assignment. Expect to spend more on gas and food covering the event than you actually get paid! Repeat the chant, I do this for the art, not the money.


4. Discuss upcoming events with the DoP and ask him / her to send the required fax to a team's media relations requesting credentials. This may be no more than an e-mail with your name if the paper and team have a long relationship. Expect to get obscure high school or college events until you seem reliable to the DoP and don't be suprise when the "best shot of your life" appears in a 1" sqaure on page 16.


5. Once published, start collecting your tear sheets...