By: Andrea Gallucci
Many of our readers recognize me from attending area high school games over the past six years as a photographer and writer for The Press-News. Recently at all three of our home schools Sandy Valley, East Canton and Canton South, a rule has been questioned and brought to the attention of school administrators. The rule concerns the use of a camera flash during play, specifically basketball.
Now, in the past few months, I have heard it all! I just wanted to clarify something with some of our school administrators, game officials, coaches, players and fans.
As a member of the press with approved credentials, I have free and legal access to public high school games and permission to take photos and information from the event to publish in our newspaper and on our Web site each week. In doing so, I am also allowed to use a flash on my camera during any sporting event-- excluding bowling, gymnastics, diving and post-season volleyball games. In basketball, the only restrictions are, I am not allowed to use a flash while standing in the lane or while an athlete is shooting a foul shot. Both rules I strictly follow.
I also carry a copy of the OHSAA photography regulations in my camera bag at each event. Though, it seems these rules don't get me very far when the officials single me out, point in my face, call official timeouts for an argument or announce this "made-up" no flash photography rule over the loud speaker. What really matters to me, however, is being completely embarrassed in front of the communities that I work with and for.
Feeling I have a reputation to protect, not only as a photographer for The Press-News but as a business owner and member of the community, I do not want to or mean to cause problems or difficulties at these games. My photography business is located in Magnolia and many of my clients are from our readership area. I want to reinforce the fact that I am just trying to do my job, not be a problem.
I try to get out to as many home games as possible in our area, and do so mostly for the students and parents. We try to print as many photos as space allows from week to week and I enjoy giving those athletes a chance to be featured in print.
I could easily get away with going to a lot less games per season but choose not to, and I expect when I take a good many of my Friday and Saturday evenings to travel to games that I am respected at the ones I attend. Most of the time I am, but last Saturday night, I was in East Canton's gym when just before the second half started an announcement was made over the load speaker: "Just a reminder, flash photography is not permitted during the game, thank you."
Not only were the seats full of East Canton community members, but I was the ONLY person on the floor taking photos. Leaving me in complete embarrassment. I got over it pretty quickly, but for me to take an approximate 40-mile round trip on a Saturday evening to be told that I can't do my job when I get there, makes me want to take a little break from covering East Canton sports.
The thing that bothered me the most is at the end of the night, when I was told that I wasn't allowed to finish my job for the third time this season at this particular school, I still looked like the bad guy, when I was doing nothing wrong.
A similar situation happened at a Canton South boys game earlier this season, in which athletic director Rocky Bourquin quickly corrected the misinformed referee, allowing me to finish covering the first half. Later that week, that same referee was contacted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. He eventually apologized to another photographer, from our sister newspaper, The-Review, who was also at that game.
In saying this, I hope the rules are clearly stated and I will have the support from administrators when this situation occurs again.
Until then, I will continue to cover our regular season home games and post-season games for The Press-News and for the community.
So, see you at the games.
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