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03/07/2004 11:06:51 PM · #1 |
A couple weekends ago I went to an indoor motorcycle event. For those across the pond, Observed Motorcycles, for those in America I'm sure it's new to you. I use to ride professionaly I guess you would call it, so for only the second or third time in 15 years I was an spectator instead of a rider.
I made a lot of technical mistakes while taking these photos and I have a good handle on what they are, so feed back isn't neccessary, just thought you might enjoy these. Although feedback on my new photo gallery software is welcome :) It's new and I've decided I need to rewrite some large portions of it.
Motorama 2004
Shooting this event however is what made me decide to buy the Canon 10D, it should be arriving tomorrow via UPS :) It won't make up for any of my mistakes, but I think I really need the flexibility and next level of professionalism.
Enjoy!!!
Message edited by author 2004-03-07 23:07:53.
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03/07/2004 11:17:24 PM · #2 |
| We have indoor motorcycles in the US (racing as well as exhibitions), and something called a Monster Truck Derby as well. Seems rather like professional wrestling with internal combustion engines to me. |
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03/07/2004 11:23:43 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
We have indoor motorcycles in the US (racing as well as exhibitions), and something called a Monster Truck Derby as well. Seems rather like professional wrestling with internal combustion engines to me. |
I'm from the US (Albany NY), it's just not as popular here as it is in Europe & Japan, not even remotly close actualy.
The main person you see photod is Ray Peters, he's been in the top 5 for god knows how many years in the US, were best friends and we use to live and train together... He's a groomsman in my wedding this fall as well.
It's my belief that Americans are for the most part lazy and like sport like NASCAR, mostly cause you can sit in one spot and drink beer. This doesn't help sports like Observed Motorcycle Trials...
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03/07/2004 11:25:05 PM · #4 |
Its seems to be a big sport in the US too - huge ramps and stuff in indoor arenas.
The X-games are all over the place.
//www.transworldmotocross.com/mx/competition/article/0,13190,476270,00.html
Message edited by author 2004-03-07 23:28:24.
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03/07/2004 11:26:38 PM · #5 |
| Your shots look great! I went to a local indoor rodeo last night and took about 100 shots. I don't like any of them. They are pretty bad. Any tips you're willing to share with a fellow F717 (before you get that10D) would be appreciated. Sad part, they looked pretty decent on the lcd screen. I'm pretty bummed! |
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03/07/2004 11:35:49 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Russell2566:
It's my belief that Americans are for the most part lazy and like sport like NASCAR, mostly cause you can sit in one spot and drink beer. This doesn't help sports like Observed Motorcycle Trials... |
With remote controlled satellite TV and beer on tap in the home (special "mini-kegs") the modern American sports fan may never have to move another muscle larger than their bladder .... |
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03/07/2004 11:40:33 PM · #7 |
Great shots.....nice job of capturing the riders...
It was called trials here...and I did it many moons ago.... owned a Montesa and a couple of Ossa's
Nice shots ! |
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03/07/2004 11:46:25 PM · #8 |
Gordon, the sport you posted a link to is Moto-X, basically motorcycle jumping with tricks... Observed motorcycle Trials is a whole other animal.
Here is a basic understanding, although not full. I didn't write this.
Marjo, I'll try and give you a run down of my setup...
First I was lucky, there was some light comming from the roof, but this was also my worst enemy. BEcause we were indoors and all the smoke and 2cycle oil in the air I could not use a direct flash, everything just turned white. So I made my own custom solution.
From Walmat I got a sheet of thin construction cardboard (white) for about 88 cents. I basically made a rectangle with a missing end to go over my Sony 1000 Flash (equal length as the flash actualy). Then I put some tin foil on 3 side reflecting more light forward. I'm sure you can buy these, but mine was EL-CHEPO...
I shot in full manual mode on ISO 200 full apature, no zoom and -1 sharpening. I tried to keep my shutter speed at 260-300. The big trick was timing, of which I had an edge from riding for so long. I knew what the riders were always going to do.
I took about 400 photos over 2.5 days and threw about 275 of em in the trash bin. I really needed the wide angle lens, this would have allowed me to get closer and have my flash work much much better. Allowing me to shoot at 300+ all the time and hopfully darken out more of the background.
There is no way I could have gotten those photos without the flash though, it was just to dark and I needed to have a fast shutter speed. Feel free to email me if you've got more questions...
russ@EmpireGP.com
Some shots of me:
 
 
edit: I fixed the image links
Message edited by author 2004-03-08 08:22:32.
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03/08/2004 12:10:36 AM · #9 |
Thanks Russ. Great info. I might shoot you an email. I'm still evaluating my mistakes. I think the timing was my biggest problem. Like you said, your experience helped you anticipate the shot. In my case, you never knew what the stupid bulls were going to do and the whole ride only lasted a few seconds. I was really missing my Pentax. I can't seem to adjust to the lag time and it seems so slow to spool back up.
Thanks again and can't wait to see the 10D shots. |
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03/08/2004 12:15:41 AM · #10 |
One of the big things I forgot to mention was to make sure you hold down the button half way before you take your shot. While looking through the view finder there will be a blinking green button when you press half-way down on the shutter button. When this turns solid green it means that the camera has focused and tuned any auto features you have on.
This will make for a much much faster "reaction" time, getting you closer to what you think your taking a photo of.
But yes, nothing beats timing. My guess is you'll be alot better next time you go. I know I've thought of a million things I did wrong and things I could have done by looking ta my photos.
I just which I had a big screen at the time to review my photo's on so I could have caught my mistakes earlier!
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03/08/2004 12:22:59 AM · #11 |
That brings back some memories Russell. Mototrial is really popular in Italy as well and I had several friends that used trial 50s and 125s as general urban transportation. Still remember the one guy that rode right over a parked Citroen 2CV. LOL.
I remember watching competitions on TV, however they weren't arena style. They ventured out, up, and around mountain trails. Some of the things they did were truly breathtaking.
Personally, I keep to the pavement and both wheels on the ground. |
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03/08/2004 07:54:16 AM · #12 |
Now-a days the areana events over by you are huge... Kinda like NFL (Football) games here in the US... Almost everything in the US is an outdoor event like you mentioned though. We only have 2 real indoor events a year...
Another reason why it is more popular over the pond is because they are street legal bikes about everywhere in the world but North America!
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03/08/2004 08:56:36 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Russell2566:
One of the big things I forgot to mention was to make sure you hold down the button half way before you take your shot. While looking through the view finder there will be a blinking green button when you press half-way down on the shutter button. When this turns solid green it means that the camera has focused and tuned any auto features you have on.
This will make for a much much faster "reaction" time, getting you closer to what you think your taking a photo of.
But yes, nothing beats timing. My guess is you'll be alot better next time you go. I know I've thought of a million things I did wrong and things I could have done by looking ta my photos.
I just which I had a big screen at the time to review my photo's on so I could have caught my mistakes earlier! |
You'll love that 10D...
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