SPORTS CAPTURE | SPECIAL
player’s eyeline. “We’re running between the boundary rope and the LED boards and the players are very sensitive of what they can see in that area. The ICC are sensitive of the equipment getting close to players, there are some clear operating rules to what we can or can’t do from a safety perspective,” explains Nancollis. “We’re not allowed to get within five metres of a player. If the ball or the action comes close to us, we have to get out of the way, which is hard as all your instincts are telling you to go towards the action.” EUROPEAN ATHLETICS Agito was also featured in the European Athletics in Minsk, across a number of disciplines. This time, the Agito drove with
a Shotover gimbal, Grass Valley camera and Fujinon lens. Rob Drewett explains the roles the vehicle played there: “This was for Camera Corp and they got some great images from the opening and closing ceremony, but it was also being used as a track camera, shooting events like the 100m, but also the javelin and high jump.” For Camera Corp, the brief for Agito was quite an open one. It wasn’t until they started operating, that the possibilities presented themselves. “They were being asked to do as much as they could, the director really liked it,” says Drewett. With Agito’s recent commission by the Diamond League athletics in the UK, it seems the way forward in sports capture is possibly robotics.
run around the boundary line capturing general play. The majority of the general play is focussed on things happening on the wicket, the bowler run-up, the batsmen striking the ball and the running between the wickets. More recently, we’ve been asked to do crowd shots for fan engagement reasons. “There are 30 cameras for every match so you’re not short of options, but we did also look at fielders to hopefully catch moments there and also crowd reactions. You’re always on the prowl waiting for something interesting to happen.” The crowd also likes the Agito, especially when it turns towards them. “Because it’s not a cameraman, they go crazy when it points at them, it’s turned into quite a character,” says Nancollis. The Agito vehicle had to be low profile, so couldn’t use the recent ‘tower’ option that gives it height. There were also guidelines on being a certain distance from any player and to be wary of getting in the
If the ball or the action comes close to us, we have to get out of the way, which is hard
AUGUST 20 1 9 | DEF I N I T ION 43
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