Racing
Cycle Speedway Sheffield vs Ipswich.
Pictures from Sheffield vs Ipswich Cycle Speedway at Sheffield on the 05 June 2011 are here.
Some photographic technique thoughts below.
This Sunday’s brief was to take pictures of Cycle Speedway. Not something I’ve done before. Usually when I go to photograph any race, I prepare by scoping the course, first by map, then maybe by driving/biking/walking the course to see where the action will take place.
My preparation for this event was slightly different. No course reccy was needed.
Instead I headed over to YouTube to watch some Cycle Speedway races.
Some hours viewing, and several crashes later I come to the conclusion, that firstly this is fast, and a brief race format. Each race is only 4 laps and all is over in about a minute, and the “action” can occur anywhere. Wow, so for the entire race meet, we’re looking at maybe 20 minutes of racing, and I need around 50 shots. A challenge, and one that would require some new camera skills.
My usual way of working is to prefocus my camera to catch the action at a given place an time. I knew that in Cycle Speedway, that this approach would not work. I would have to track the action, and let the camera automatically focus. Next step is to google AI Servo (auto tracking focus). Which results lots of “AI servo sucks” type comments, closely followed by “AI servo doesn’t suck, it’s your technique that sucks” comments.
So to see which of the above statements was correct I’d have to give it a go.
Half term for the kids, and I have two fast moving subjects, who are sick of their Dad taking pictures of them. AI servo on camera engaged and shooting is commenced. A fun hours photography.
I learned that AI servo worked really well if my tracking was good. So it doesn’t suck. Lots of ths shots on Sunday wouldn’t have happened if I’d not given it a go.
Always learning.
The race report by Shaun Hudson on the British Cycling website is here.
Afan Dirt Park 4x British NPS and Euro Series Pictures.
This weekend gone we went to the British and Euro 4x at Afan Bryn Bettws.
What a thoroughly splendid weekend organised by Chris Roberts of Naked Racing. Yes it may have rained for most of it, but the vibe and racing was excellent.
We arrived on Friday, and the weather was sunny. Some of the guys were practicing and the Pro Line doubles were getting some big air.
However Saturday dawned and the rain was doing its thing. It did abate by the afternoon, but the course remained sticky throughout. The racing was excellent, the new course, designed by Phil Saxena and built by Robbie Griffiths had many places for overtaking.Featuring a corkscrew and the largest 4x rock garden in the world, both of which claimed casualties over the weekend.
Unlike many 4x courses which rely on you getting to the first corner first, this course was one where nothing was a given until you crossed the finish line.
Sunday, and the weather was worse. The start gate wasn’t visible from the bottom of a course, yet inspite of this would see many of the Euro riders later in the day breaking the 1 minute course time. Persistant rain and wind took us through the morning, and unlike Saturday, it never really cleared up.
The final race of the day was the Pro Elite, which was fought down to the last. With seconds to go riding the last doubles before the finish, the Czech rider Lukas Mechura seemed to have the race won, but a puncture put paid to that, the honours instead going to fellow countryman Kamil Tatarkovic.
My first time at a 4x race, and a long time since I’ve spent any time in Wales. Both to be revisited very soon.
A brilliant weekend.
More words in my reports on the British Cycling website here and here.
My gallery of pictures to purchase, prints and jpegs over here.
If you want pictures for commercial use, please drop me an email.
Crashtastic Peel Park Cyclo-Cross Pictures
Yesterday I went over to Peel Park, Bradford to watch round 5 of the national cyclo-cross championships.
Here’s a few pictures which mostly feature riders on the off camber hill which claimed many a victim. It started off icy and it was slippy, which melted a bit and became muddy and slipperier still.
I’d usually take pictures from more places around the course, but this was the place to be for maximum entertainment.
