Sports Photography Forum

Share your sports photos and discuss sports photography techniques and issues. This forum is moderated by SmartWombat.
Featured Photo
Photo by Tumber

by Tumber
Featured Photo Archive >>
Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Velodrome

  1. #1
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mundelein, IL USA
    Posts
    4,075

    Velodrome

    Images from the Illinois state championships on Saturday at the velodrome in Northbrook, IL. We were there for time trials, pursuit and sprints. It was mid-day with overhead (and very hot) sun.









    -----------------
    I am no better than you. I critique to teach myself to see.
    -----------------
    Feel free to edit my photos or do anything else that will help me learn.
    -----------------
    Sony/Minolta - way more gear than talent.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Gunnison, Co, USA
    Posts
    898

    Re: Velodrome

    Wow, that looks brutal. I bet it's so hot down on the track!
    Nice photos, thanks for sharing!

  3. #3
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Posts
    15,422

    Re: Velodrome

    Psyched to see you shooting some bike racing, Terry! The photos look good, too. As for the midday sun? Seems like bike races are always at noon so figuring out how to make that work is part of the deal. I think you did a good job. Looks like you got a lot of reflected light from the track doing some fill for you. That's always a bonus

    The third photo looks out of focus. Did you have problems focusing or is that one a fluke? For Velodrome racing I would almost certainly use continuous AF. This is one of those situations where I think it make a huge difference. Is that how you shot these?

    Had you ever watched Velodrome racing before? What did you think? I love the strategy
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

  4. #4
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mundelein, IL USA
    Posts
    4,075

    Re: Velodrome

    Quote Originally Posted by Photo-John View Post
    Psyched to see you shooting some bike racing, Terry! The photos look good, too. As for the midday sun? Seems like bike races are always at noon so figuring out how to make that work is part of the deal. I think you did a good job. Looks like you got a lot of reflected light from the track doing some fill for you. That's always a bonus

    The third photo looks out of focus. Did you have problems focusing or is that one a fluke? For Velodrome racing I would almost certainly use continuous AF. This is one of those situations where I think it make a huge difference. Is that how you shot these?

    Had you ever watched Velodrome racing before? What did you think? I love the strategy
    Thanks John. The track's not far (actually, there are two of them within an hour drive), but I never seem to get there to shoot. I raced track a few years ago - made it to Cat4 before I gave up. The racing on Saturday (state champs) was the Kilo, 500 meters, Sprints and Pursuit which we only see during special events. The normal Thursday night racing is pack racing.

    I tried a lot of different things for exposure, but my best was using Manual. Most were set at f/8, ISO=320, 1/800 sec. I used continuous focus with the center spot or zone. I did have trouble keeping on target while trying to think composition at the same time.

    With the sun nearly directly overhead and the helmets, the faces were in shadow from any position. I tried several PP methods on the faces. Nos. 1 and 4 are actually single shot HDR. I think it worked well on #1. #4 is a little over done. Just lightening the faces, whether with selection/exposure or just the using the dodging tool, gave blotchy skin and over white teeth.

    Here is a little cat & mouse during the sprints.

    Velodrome-dsc04320.jpg



    And a wider view with more cat & mouse. (16mm on FF body)

    Velodrome-_dsc5303.jpg



    And this was my track bike when I raced. Better to look good than be good, right?

    Velodrome-pista-800.jpg

    Terry
    Last edited by OldClicker; 07-24-2013 at 06:14 PM.
    -----------------
    I am no better than you. I critique to teach myself to see.
    -----------------
    Feel free to edit my photos or do anything else that will help me learn.
    -----------------
    Sony/Minolta - way more gear than talent.

  5. #5
    Member dl4449's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    San Jose,Ca USA
    Posts
    219

    Re: Velodrome

    Very nice Terry
    There is a Velodrome track not far from my house I checked out the schedule and it look like they race almost every weekend.
    Looks like it will be a fun and challenging shoot.

  6. #6
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Posts
    15,422

    Re: Velodrome

    Quote Originally Posted by dl4449 View Post
    Very nice Terry
    There is a Velodrome track not far from my house I checked out the schedule and it look like they race almost every weekend.
    Looks like it will be a fun and challenging shoot.
    The San Jose velodrome is great! They used to race on Friday nights and it was a great way to spend an evening. I'm not sure if they do the Friday night thing anymore because I think some tweakers stole the copper wire from the lights
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

  7. #7
    Ex-Modster Old Timer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    KY, USA
    Posts
    16,848

    Re: Velodrome

    Very nice stuff Terry. I love the first shot.
    Don't forget about the Gallery. Are your photos there??


    Nikon Samurai #13

    "A photographer is known by what he shows not by what he throws. The best photographers have the biggest trash cans." Quote from Nikon School sometime in the early 1970's.

  8. #8
    Junior Member Luke Skywalker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    28

    Re: Velodrome

    Great job, love the theme

  9. #9
    Member agaduc996's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN United States
    Posts
    61

    Re: Velodrome

    Nice shots Terry. I really like shots 1,4,5. We have the Major Taylor Velodrome here in indy and about 15 min. from me. Back in the day I used to do sprint and pursuit races at this track. While shooting the Indy Crit a few weeks ago a friend asked if I ever shoot at Major Taylor and I told him I have not. Now you post these pics and I am now thinking I am being given a sign that I need to get out there for fast Fridays and shoot. Hope I can come up with some nice shots like you have here. And btw I dig your old Bianchi track bike. Nothing says Bianchi like Celeste Green.

  10. #10
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Posts
    15,422

    Auto Focus Technique

    Quote Originally Posted by agaduc996 View Post
    btw I dig your old Bianchi track bike. Nothing says Bianchi like Celeste Green.
    I concur! Love me a green Biancheeee

    I've been meaning to get back to this thread to talk about focus. I think shooting bikes is really tricky because there's not a whole hell of a lot to focus on, and they're usually going very fast. My first recommendation is to not worry too much about composition. Don't ignore it but don't let it get in the way of focus - because if you don't have focus, you don't have anything. I generally shoot a bit loose and then crop for the best composition in post. I use continuous AF with a single point (usually the center, but maybe not - as long as it's a cross-type sensor). For these photos I'd try to keep the focus point on the rider's faces or the headtube. The headtube would be tough but if you're careful and stay focused, you can do it.
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

  11. #11
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mundelein, IL USA
    Posts
    4,075

    Re: Auto Focus Technique

    Quote Originally Posted by Photo-John View Post
    I concur! Love me a green Biancheeee

    I've been meaning to get back to this thread to talk about focus. I think shooting bikes is really tricky because there's not a whole hell of a lot to focus on, and they're usually going very fast. My first recommendation is to not worry too much about composition. Don't ignore it but don't let it get in the way of focus - because if you don't have focus, you don't have anything. I generally shoot a bit loose and then crop for the best composition in post. I use continuous AF with a single point (usually the center, but maybe not - as long as it's a cross-type sensor). For these photos I'd try to keep the focus point on the rider's faces or the headtube. The headtube would be tough but if you're careful and stay focused, you can do it.
    Thanks for the FP.

    I tried again Thursday night. Cloudy day and then under the lights. Will be posting a few soon.

    Terry
    -----------------
    I am no better than you. I critique to teach myself to see.
    -----------------
    Feel free to edit my photos or do anything else that will help me learn.
    -----------------
    Sony/Minolta - way more gear than talent.

  12. #12
    NSSA/AIPS
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Park City UT
    Posts
    339

    Re: Auto Focus Technique

    Nice set of photos. I agree with PJ's last comments. I also crank my ISO when possible to get the fastest shutter speeds and a good DOF. #3 looks like maybe it needed a faster shutter speed as to me it looks more like incomplete motion stop as opposed to missed focus. Usually missed focus still give you a portion of the image which is sharp. Tough to call really. I generally use the face and eyes when possible or opt for the chest and count on my DOF to catch the rest.
    It's not about the camera....

  13. #13
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mundelein, IL USA
    Posts
    4,075

    Re: Velodrome

    Quote Originally Posted by agaduc996 View Post
    Nice shots Terry. I really like shots 1,4,5. We have the Major Taylor Velodrome here in indy and about 15 min. from me. Back in the day I used to do sprint and pursuit races at this track. While shooting the Indy Crit a few weeks ago a friend asked if I ever shoot at Major Taylor and I told him I have not. Now you post these pics and I am now thinking I am being given a sign that I need to get out there for fast Fridays and shoot. Hope I can come up with some nice shots like you have here. And btw I dig your old Bianchi track bike. Nothing says Bianchi like Celeste Green.
    Masters Nationals are at Major Taylor this week. - Terry
    -----------------
    I am no better than you. I critique to teach myself to see.
    -----------------
    Feel free to edit my photos or do anything else that will help me learn.
    -----------------
    Sony/Minolta - way more gear than talent.

  14. #14
    Member agaduc996's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN United States
    Posts
    61

    Re: Velodrome

    Terry my plan is to be out there saturday and sunday. Do you plan on coming down for this. Would love to hook up and meet a fellow PR shooter in person.

  15. #15
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mundelein, IL USA
    Posts
    4,075

    Re: Velodrome

    Quote Originally Posted by agaduc996 View Post
    Terry my plan is to be out there saturday and sunday. Do you plan on coming down for this. Would love to hook up and meet a fellow PR shooter in person.
    No, I won't be going. The Northbrook track had 'Junior night' Thurs. since a lot of the Masters were at Major Taylor. I'm going to try to get down to the Tour of Elk Grove Village this weekend. - Terry
    -----------------
    I am no better than you. I critique to teach myself to see.
    -----------------
    Feel free to edit my photos or do anything else that will help me learn.
    -----------------
    Sony/Minolta - way more gear than talent.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •