Public Service Announcement: Spotting, Filming, and Photography

[T-Square]

Just wanted to kick up some dust with this!

We have some big matches coming up, so here's a friendly reminder:

 

Spotters — you do NOT need to be the second-closest person to the target. 😂

Take a step or two back. You can still see the targets, the shooter can still hear you, and—BONUS—the videographer might actually be able to get some good footage without having your backside fill the entire frame.

 

Brass pickers — same goes for you. We appreciate your dedication to keeping the range tidy, but please don't park yourself directly in the spotter's line of sight. And remember, there's usually a camera lurking somewhere nearby trying to capture the action.

 

And while we're talking about spotters...

PAY ATTENTION! 👀

Watch the targets. Watch the shooter. The job is to spot.

Not visit with your buddies.
Not watch the brass hit the ground.
Not admire the stage props.
And not stare at the shooter while apparently seeing absolutely nothing happening downrange.

 

Because here's the official Spotter's Rule of Thumb:   If you don't see a miss… IT'S A HIT! 🤠

 

I'm sure the Safety Police, Range Sheriffs, and assorted Wire Karens will have something to say about all this. Before you fire up the keyboard, please note that “stand back and don't block the view” is actually the safety portion of today's program. 😂

 

This public service message is brought to you by the Bureau of Cowboy Action Visual Evidence, dedicated to proving that, yes, we really did shoot that fast—and no, that wasn't a miss. 😉   We look forward to seeing all the evidence in all its smoky, six-gun glory and sharing it with the world on Yo*+Tube and F*#ebook.

 

— T-SQUARE

 

 

[Cholla]

And, if you are not spotting, please don't distract the spotters. Spotters, don't look around afterward and see what the other spotters are saying. Call 'em as you see 'em.

[Eyesa Horg]

As a regular spotter, I often find it difficult to get where I can clearly see all targets due to prop buildings etc being in the way and staying out of the way. I've actually been fired from spotting for not seeing a miss and scoring accordingly. Some TOs get an attitude if you don't see something. I do my best for each and every shooter and if I miss a miss , then so be it as far as I'm concerned. There's 2 other spotters to overrule me! No reason to get on my case for just being honest about what I saw.😊

Sometimes it can be especially difficult with ultra fast and BP shooters!

 

 

[Sixgun Seamus]

 

NEW SPOTTER GUIDLINES

 

TO...."Next shooter"

 

T Square comes down and shoots

 

Spotters all agree.....5 misses and a "P"

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Good points T-Square.  But when I am videoing a shooter, I don't think it is the spotter's job to stay out of my way - more the opposite.  They need to be where they can see the best and I need to avoid blocking them.  If they can back up and still see the targets, that's great, but their job is a requirement, mine is just peripheral!

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

19 minutes ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

Good points T-Square.  But when I am videoing a shooter, I don't think it is the spotter's job to stay out of my way - more the opposite.  They need to be where they can see the best and I need to avoid blocking them.  If they can back up and still see the targets, that's great, but their job is a requirement, mine is just peripheral!

Video is great but Abilene is right on this.

Horace

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

It is the shooter that owns the stage and the spotters and brass pickers should not be in their way.
 

As noted sometimes pickers get a little too aggressive trying to pick brass while the shooter is still shooting. Yes sometimes spotters need to pay a little more attention to spotting.
 

And yes sometimes stage designs and target placement makes it difficult for spotters to easily see all the targets from one spot.  
 

Most spotters try hard to make sure they call what they see correctly.  Anyone who cannot should find other jobs to do instead of spotting.

Edited September 18 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

And to include, when spotting for Black Powder or APP shooters, pay extra attention as "smoke gets in yer eyes" too.  We soot shooters really hate being called a "miss" when we clearly heard it hit the target.

[Eyesa Horg]

It does sometimes become a listening game 😁

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

However you must not rely on sound alone as sometimes the loud boom from Black Powder can mask the sound of the soft lead ball from a cap and ball revolver as it hits the target.  I have also encountered dead targets that do not report being hit. IF you’re not SURE it missed then it must be called a HIT. 

[T-Square]

The Key message: Spotters need to be alert and on-the-ball.  Abilene, perhaps you can re-read.  I never suggested the guy with a camera is superior to the Spotter.

 

But the Spotter doesn't have to be breathing down the shooters neck to see the targets,  The Spotter DOES need to be alert and aware of their responsibilities.

 

If they do need to be on top of the firing line, as was mentioined about, then we might have to re-consider the stage design or get a SASS Opthalmologist to certify some of our Spotters. (joke)

 

 

Edited September 18 by T-Square

[Eyesa Horg]

38 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

It does sometimes become a listening game 😁

Why the sad face? If a shooter can't see through the smoke what makes ya think that spotters can? I mean really, we do our best, but with full house loads and no breeze on a humid day, it can be difficult and hearing may be the best asset. But if that's how everyone feels, I guess I'd be happy to hand over the stick, my lungs would also appreciate it! I do my best is all I can say.

And yes, I do shoot BP on occasion, just not full house loads of 1.5F BP!

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

... If a shooter can't see through the smoke what makes ya think that spotters can?...

Smoke can get in the way of spotters, but in general I have found that the smoke mostly gets in the way of the shooter and spotters to the side usually can see fine.

 

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

5 hours ago, T-Square said:

Because here's the official Spotter's Rule of Thumb:   If you don't see a miss… IT'S A HIT! 🤠

Thank You! 🤠

 

Randy

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

I will stand wherever I need to, to do my job - even if "my backside" is centered in your photographs - I will stand wherever I need to, to do my job - even if YOU think I'm standing too close to the shooter.

 

My job is to count misses, watch sequences and ensure safe procedures are being followed.

And to do so to the best of my abilities - which means I will freely move across the stage as needed or position myself in the optimum placement to best view the stage.

 

You will notice nothing in that description that says that I am, in any manner, obligated to concern myself with the occurrence of photography.

 

Spotters and Timers are imperative to the safe operation of the stage.

 

Claiming that "take a step back and don't block the view" for photos somehow equals "safety" is a ridiculous statement.

Edited September 18 by Creeker, SASS #43022

[Diamond Jake]

My biggest complaint when spotting is when the brass picker jumps in front of me and starts picking brass while the shooter is at another active window.  Folks, we shouldn't be in such a hurry that you can't wait 15 seconds to start picking brass.

[Barry Sloe]

One of the reasons that it is recommended that spotters be positioned on either side of the shooter is to have a full view. There have been many times that I have scored a shooter as clean when I was sure that there had been a miss. But, due to the angle, props, or something, I didn't SEE the miss.

Call 'email as you see them. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

BS

[John Kloehr]

As someone who sometimes videos another shooter or have someone video me. these are my rules of etiquette in all shooting sports:

• Do not interfere with and stay well behind and out of the path of the shooter
• Do not interfere with and stay well behind and out of the path of the TO
• Do not interfere with and stay out of the path of any support staff (spotters, scorekeepers, ...)
• Do not interfere with and atay of the path of any "organizational"* video recording

The reality is in some sports the scorekeepers and even other coverage may yield to any shooter wanting video but it should never be insisted upon. Depends in  part on the sport. And considering the role of spotters in SASS, I would not even ask, spotters have right-of-way.

 

* Organizational: Anything form  the club to news coverage to national organization.

Edited September 18 by John Kloehr

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

3 hours ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

I will stand wherever I need to, to do my job - even if "my backside" is centered in your photographs - I will stand wherever I need to, to do my job - even if YOU think I'm standing too close to the shooter.

 

My job is to count misses, watch sequences and ensure safe procedures are being followed.

And to do so to the best of my abilities - which means I will freely move across the stage as needed or position myself in the optimum placement to best view the stage.

 

You will notice nothing in that description that says that I am, in any manner, obligated to concern myself with the occurrence of photography.

 

Spotters and Timers are imperative to the safe operation of the stage.

 

Claiming that "take a step back and don't block the view" for photos somehow equals "safety" is a ridiculous statement.

Also very well said, Creeker !

[watab kid]

10 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

As a regular spotter, I often find it difficult to get where I can clearly see all targets due to prop buildings etc being in the way and staying out of the way. I've actually been fired from spotting for not seeing a miss and scoring accordingly. Some TOs get an attitude if you don't see something. I do my best for each and every shooter and if I miss a miss , then so be it as far as I'm concerned. There's 2 other spotters to overrule me! No reason to get on my case for just being honest about what I saw.😊

Sometimes it can be especially difficult with ultra fast and BP shooters!

 

 

im with you - i also am mostly a spotter and nothing more irritatin than someone blocking your view who is BSin with their friends , i take it serious 

[Kid Rich]

18 hours ago, T-Square said:

Just wanted to kick up some dust with this!

We have some big matches coming up, so here's a friendly reminder:

 

Spotters — you do NOT need to be the second-closest person to the target. 😂

Take a step or two back. You can still see the targets, the shooter can still hear you, and—BONUS—the videographer might actually be able to get some good footage without having your backside fill the entire frame.

 

Brass pickers — same goes for you. We appreciate your dedication to keeping the range tidy, but please don't park yourself directly in the spotter's line of sight. And remember, there's usually a camera lurking somewhere nearby trying to capture the action.

 

And while we're talking about spotters...

PAY ATTENTION! 👀

Watch the targets. Watch the shooter. The job is to spot.

Not visit with your buddies.
Not watch the brass hit the ground.
Not admire the stage props.
And not stare at the shooter while apparently seeing absolutely nothing happening downrange.

 

Because here's the official Spotter's Rule of Thumb:   If you don't see a miss… IT'S A HIT! 🤠

 

I'm sure the Safety Police, Range Sheriffs, and assorted Wire Karens will have something to say about all this. Before you fire up the keyboard, please note that “stand back and don't block the view” is actually the safety portion of today's program. 😂

 

This public service message is brought to you by the Bureau of Cowboy Action Visual Evidence, dedicated to proving that, yes, we really did shoot that fast—and no, that wasn't a miss. 😉   We look forward to seeing all the evidence in all its smoky, six-gun glory and sharing it with the world on Yo*+Tube and F*#ebook.

 

— T-SQUARE

 

 

Never video or take pictures without the consent of the shooter.

kR

[Leroy Luck]

18 minutes ago, Kid Rich said:

Never video or take pictures without the consent of the shooter.

Typically the match waivers have fine print listed in there stating something like this

 

This is from the Land Run waiver.
 

I usually will record a whole posse on the match days and then dissect what footage is needed. Permission was already given, so I’m not going to worry about who is in the background of my videos or who the shooter is. 

Edited September 19 by Leroy Luck

[Kid Rich]

Far as I know not every shoot has this waiver.

kR

[Leroy Luck]

9 minutes ago, Kid Rich said:

Far as I know not every shoot has this waiver

Pretty certain all the ranges and matches I’ve been to make you sign a liability waiver and there’s usually a clause in their about media usage 

[Jackalope]

I have never seen such a waiver regarding media usage at my local club.  And, yes, there are plenty of photos of our shooters which have been posted on various websites without their approval.

 

I am unaware of photographers getting in the way of participants, spotters or timer operators, at least at Oak Ridge.  We do have a few spotters who occasionally struggle maintaining focus.  🙄

[Shawnee Hills]

21 hours ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

It is the shooter that owns the stage and the spotters and brass pickers should not be in their way.

Absolutely this and I would add the TO to the list.  Yes, the TO and spotters have an important job to do but that doesn't include interfering with the shooter (unless for safety reasons, of course).  If any of the above get in the way of the shooter who is safely completing a stage then that shooter can, and should, demand a reshoot.

[Lawdog]

22 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

And to include, when spotting for Black Powder or APP shooters, pay extra attention as "smoke gets in yer eyes" too.  We soot shooters really hate being called a "miss" when we clearly heard it hit the target.

This +100

Spot BP shooters from the sides, not directly behind them.

Actually had a spotter say, “ He had a miss, but I didn’t see it.”

He was behind me.