20K Road Race photos

[maderito]

Just posted some photos at PBase from the Labor Day mini-marathon in New Haven CT: http://www.pbase.com/maderito/nh_roadrace

All were shot with the 10D and a 70-200mm f/4 L lens, handheld in AI Servo mode. Although most of the images have acceptable shaprness, they're not tack sharp at higher levels of magnification. The 10D AI servo mode just isn't quite up to the task.

This is one example from the gallery. Comments/critiques welcomed.

http://www.pbase.com/maderito/image/33545158/original.jpg

[Leighow]

Woody .. nice record shot. Technically fine. Not sure that it conveys much sense of competition.

Good camera .. needs you to stir your creative juices and make us all want to don the jogging shoes.

[JLS Photo]

Woody -

Perhaps I'm a novice, but I think that is a wonderful picture. The fact I can read the time on her watch makes me think on this one photo the 10D is quite well.

I like the composition and the bokeh.

Nice job. I bet she'd like to have a copy.

[maderito]

Thanks Howie and JLS,

This mini-marathon came through my neighborhood on a beautiful day. I just took out the cam and started shooting. In retrosepct, I should have given some thought to what I wanted to capture - competition, colors, pain, victory, etc. I ended up just trying to get reasonable angles and lighting on the individual runners (there were thousands) as a kind of workout for my 10D AF system. I took about 100 shots and was happy with over half. Next year I'll probably try to capture different aspects of the race: the start, of course the finish, the steep hills, the joyful downshill sprint, the volunteers, the crowd, etc.