How'd you get that shot?

As is evident from a recent action shot at the Pac-10 basketball tournament, there’s more to photographing a big event than just showing up with a couple of cameras and sitting courtside. Robert Gauthier took the picture from on high that showed UCLA's Kevin Love and Stanford's Robin Lopez leaping upward toward the hoop.

How'd Gauthier do it?

Very carefully, one would imagine. The longer answer comes from the photographer.

Wrote Gauthier in an e-mail, "Photographers often will set up remote cameras to create a more diverse set of images.  That was the case Saturday, March 15, at the final game between UCLA and Stanford.  I was especially interested in getting a photo of UCLA center Kevin Love battling with Stanford twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez.

"The photo that ran on Sunday’s Sports page was taken with a remote camera mounted high above the court in the rafters of Staples Center. Using heavy-duty clamps and cables, the camera is attached to a catwalk railing, framing the image to include players jostling under one of the baskets. A radio receiver is hooked up to the camera, enabling me to trigger it from my position on the floor."

The photographer needs two cameras on the floor as well. For action at the other end of the court, he uses a 300 mm, a long lens. Meanwhile, he's stationed by the rigged-up hoop, and the camera he uses at ground level there has a radio transmitter attached: "Whenever I shoot a frame with this camera, it makes radio contact with the hanging camera, setting off the motor drive."

In effect, he's in two places at one time -- but what happens after that is as much luck as technology. As Gauthier says, "It's a bit worrisome as you're never sure the receiver is working or the camera is focused correctly or the exposure is set right -- or if someone bumped into the camera and knocked it out of whack."

Which brings up another worry: What if the clamps and cables aren't enough, and the contraption lands on someone's head?

"Because of the real possibility of dropping things on fans," Gauthier says, "Staples Center has strict rules governing the use of remote cameras in the rafters. Other photographers, too, from the Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters and Sports Illustrated, often hang cameras, but we are only allowed to do it hours before a game," leaving plenty of time to make sure everything's secure. "Long after the game ends, we are allowed to climb to the rafters and retrieve the digital card containing all the images and we download them to our computer in the media workroom." 

How often does The Times set up the camera this way?

Says Gauthier, "For most regular season games that are at night and on tight deadline, we stick to just shooting with what's in our hands.  If it's a big game, or allows plenty of setup time, we'll put up remotes." He adds, "Sports Illustrated is notorious for using numerous remote cameras.  One photographer might trigger four or five cameras with one push of the button.  Next time you watch a big game, carefully look at the backboard and its stanchion. You may see more than a dozen cameras mounted up and down the sides of the pole and even just behind the backboard."

The photo showing UCLA's Kevin Love and Stanford's Robin Lopez was published in Sports on March 16. Photographer: Robert Gauthier