Velodrome Bike Racing photos - DPChallenge Forums

06/07/2005 11:47:46 PM · #1

Tested out my new All-Access Media pass to my local velodrome. I found the picture taking sooo hard to get in focus. Really hurts when yo'ure lacking AI Servo. The lighting was terrible... only half the lights were on and once the sun went down it was just too dark for any setting my camera had. I managed to get maybe 10-15 good keepers out of about 250 taken. Here are 3 of the ones that I'm gonna submit to the Velodrome staff.

ISO 3200 and Manually focused

ISO 400, 1/100, F 4.0, Prefocused

ISO 3200, 1/125, F 7.1, Prefocused ( 17mm )

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/08/2005 12:08:28 AM · #2

no comments or tips? I'm pretty frustrated with how it went.

dockode

06/08/2005 12:27:54 AM · #3

They look pretty decent to me for high speed photos in low light... it's hard when the environment isn't cooperating.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

06/08/2005 12:28:37 AM · #4

Other options are to pre-focus and pan. AI Servo is not necessary.

They are going around an oval so you can very easily anticipate a location and focus there manually. Then pan as they go through your pre-set focus point. Judging the speed so you know what shutter speed to use will take a bit of experimentation but probably somewhere around 1/250 should work or slightly faster.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/08/2005 12:32:26 AM · #5

Thanks, yeah I need to practice with the prefocusing more... the last two there were panning shots, my normal shutter speed for stopping the action was at least 1/500.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

06/08/2005 05:15:10 AM · #6

Comments to come when I'm on my home PC. Looks like you did reasonably with the conditions as they were.

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

06/08/2005 07:56:40 AM · #7

I think the three you have posted are pretty good, especially the last one illustrating the rider's big lead. The conditions you describe may be addressed by using flash. Is it allowed? If so, I would urge you to include it in your experiments.

What lens are you using on your Rebel?

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 07:58:37.

wanger114

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical IF Super II for Canon

06/08/2005 10:13:20 AM · #8

Yeah, ditto on the pre-focus/pan method. The best of my track (running) photos from college were done that way - clear face, blurred background makes for a much more active pic.

Where is the velodrome near you? I only know of the one up in the poconos, maybe near Easton? I ferget.

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 10:17:12.

beamsclan

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/08/2005 10:16:48 AM · #9

Great image. I used to race on the velodrome and this image portrays perfectly how I always finished a race... in my dreams. I'm adding this to my favorites!

Dan

06/08/2005 11:11:10 AM · #10

Originally posted by coolhar:

There was another photographer using flash... but as I was a rider I know i would not have wanted somebody blinding me while i'm going 35mph with only 6 inches between me and somebody else! I was using the 80-200L and the 17-35mm Tamron.

06/08/2005 11:12:32 AM · #11

Originally posted by wanger114:

Where is the velodrome near you? I only know of the one up in the poconos, maybe near Easton? I ferget.

The velodrome is the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown Pa, It's one of the top 3 or 4 velodromes in the country if not the top. //www.lvvelo.org

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 11:12:43.