Back lighting

[SmartWombat]

Not a cry for help, just some experience.
The position of the barriers was putting the drivers directly up-sun of us, fine for the autograph hunters but hard for photos.
1) don't trust the lens hood
... this is flare on the front element, and there's no contrast
2) shading the front of the lens with your hand works
... but only with a SLR can you see what you're doing !

Even fill flash couldn't rescue #1

3) increasing flash does not IMO improve the result