Indonesian Photographer in World Cup 2010

A worker was cleaning up a tower in front of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, two day before the opening of the World Cup 2010 (Photo by Peksi Cahyo)

Today photographers has all gathered in South Africa to cover the month-long soccer event, World Cup 2010. And on this Friday in the next few hours, there will be an opening match between South Africa and Mexico on Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg.

We have contacted an Indonesian photographer who is on duty for World Cup, Peksi Cahyo, from Bola – the leading sport tabloid based in Jakarta, to find out what photography gears he’s bringing, how he’s adapted to the weather and what matches he will cover.

When did you arrive in South Africa? How long will you be there?

I and two reporters of Bola landed in Johannesburg on Tuesday, June 8, at 11.00 (local time). We flew from Jakarta for 16 hours plus a four-hour transit in Dubai. I and the Bola team will be here until the end of the World Cup. We’ll fly back to Jakarta on July 13.

How do you adapt to the local weather? It’s winter time , isn’t it?

I have no problem with my adapting to the local condition. Before leaving for South Africa, I have predicted that June-July is winter in South Africa and the temperature can be on 0-5 degree Celcius at night. This low temperature and the cold wind, of course, will be hard for the photographers since we have to shoot from the side of the field. A thick jacket and a neckerchief, I think, are a must to wear.

Journalists were in a queue at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, to get accreditation for World Cup 2010 (Photo by Peksi Cahyo)

What photography gears are you bringing?

I am bringing some gears like one ThinkThank camera travel bag; two bodies of Canon EOS 1D Mark IV cameras; one Canon EF 400mm/f2.8 lens; one 70-200mm f/2.8 lens; 17-40mm/f4.0 lens; one 15mm f/2.8 lens; one 4-GB Sandisk CF card and three CF cards each 2 GB, and one 2-GB Lexar CF card; one Manfrotto monopod; and 2.0x and 1.4x Canon extenders.

What matches are you going to shoot?

In a great tournament like World Cup, there are several procedures that we have to comply with though we have had accreditation cards as official reporters/photographers. Firstly, prior to the tournament, every photographer is required to choose matches that he/she wants to shoot along the group preliminary round. Secondly, after getting an approval for matches to cover, every photographer has to queue for six hours before the kick-off starts in order to choose Match Tickets (tickets for the position that we have previously chosen: Pitch — side of the field or Tribune — tribune for media people). For 15 matchdays of the preliminary round that I have applied to FIFA, thank God, I representing Bola got 11 matchdays. For four remaining parties I got a “waiting list” status; it means that my chance is 50-50 to get Match Tickets.

Photo by Peksi Cahyo

Unfortunately, since Indonesia is not a participating country, Indonesian journalists/photojournalists are always on the last priority to get into the stadium. It is, however, a challenge for us to find out a way to lobby FIFA Media Officers having authorities to decide who’s in or who’s out.

For matches in the preliminary round, my priorities are shooting matches where superior teams “fight” so that I can have stocks before the tournament steps in the “knock-out” round (where there will be fewer teams but possibly more photographers; meaning that I will have lesser chance to get Match Tickets). So, please pray for me, that I would be able to shoot the final round.