USPRO Cycling-Philadelphia PA

[robekert]

Hi,
Went to the Wachovia USPRO Cycling Championship Series race in Philadelphia on Sunday the 6th. The race is a 156 mile race that winds through the city. There is a concurrent Women's race that runs a similiar but slightly shorter course. I chose to go to the Manuynk section of the city. This section of the race is where the famous "Wall of Manuynk" is located. "The Wall" is a 17% grade and it is a killer to walk up with all of my gear let alone ride a bike. By the time the riders hit the wall their thighs have to be ready to burst. This is also the "party section" of the race. Many college students and young adults call this section of town home.

Last year was the first time I attended the event. This year, and last, I seemed to get better shots of the women......go figure. I recognized some of the riders from last year. I guess they are like old friends now. I used my 1D Mark II with a 300mm 2.8L (non IS). Some are with a 1.4X TC. Most are handheld. I took a wider lens (24-70) but I never switched to the shorter, wider lens.......maybe next year. I shot about 5GB of RAWs and this is the cream of my crop. I like Photoshop CS2 more and more each time I use it. I was a C-1Pro user in the past. PSCS2 is made for the photographer and tailored to digital capture. This is starting to get good. Thanks for looking.
Rob Eckert

#1
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_1.jpg?5676

[robekert]

#2
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_2.jpg?1422

[robekert]

#3
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_3.jpg?5267

[robekert]

#4
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_4.jpg?1739

[robekert]

#5
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_5.jpg?6219

[robekert]

#6
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_7.jpg?7515

[robekert]

#7
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_8.jpg?2440

[robekert]

My companion for the day was my daughter

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_9.jpg?2701

This is one of her shots.........I think she is better than me :)

Canon G1m (modified for Infrared)

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/15092005_Pro_Cycling_10.jpg?1207

[despot]

Great looking images Rob.
Looks like photography is in the genes ;)

Andy

[robekert]

Great looking images Rob.
Looks like photography is in the genes ;)

Andy

Thanks for the kind words Andy. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess
:cool:

Rob

[deedas]

Nice shots. I covered a race recently (my first really) and I made the mistake of not taking any head on shots. It was a great learning experience though. I was using a shorter lens which kept me from zooming in from a point ahead in the road. That was my first mistake I think.

[robekert]

Nice shots. I covered a race recently (my first really) and I made the mistake of not taking any head on shots. It was a great learning experience though. I was using a shorter lens which kept me from zooming in from a point ahead in the road. That was my first mistake I think.

Thank you. There is a reason that the Pros who cover the race have multiple bodies and lenses. Most of the official photogs I saw had at least 3 bodies and lenses. As you know everything happened so fast. I like the head on shot. I am not a big fan of the panning shots. I guess you have to mix it up though. I am not a pro or paid, so I have no one to answer to but myself. I made the decision to work with a longer lens.....and I got what I got. It was fun. Well there is always next year.
Rob

[gmen]

Superb stuff robekert! I shot my first cycling event last weekend (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=77605) often using the same lens and extender combo that you were using. I'm really impressed with your images particularly as it looks like you were up against some pretty harsh lighting.

I have to say I did dabble with some wide angle, slow sync flash and panning shots, but my preference is still for the longer focal lengths - the ability to isolate the subject from the background often makes for the best results.

Oh yes...and your daughter's shot is peachy too!

Thanks for sharing these pics ---- Gavin

[robekert]

Superb stuff robekert! I shot my first cycling event last weekend (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=77605) often using the same lens and extender combo that you were using. I'm really impressed with your images particularly as it looks like you were up against some pretty harsh lighting.

Thank you for your kind words. I have long been a fan of your work. The lighting was pretty harsh. It was a brilliant sunny day. I made things harder by my choice of location for some of the shots. I was standing under a train trestle on one of the curves. The scene transitioned from sun, shade, sun then back to shade. Metering was very difficult. I guess I was setting myself up for too big a task.

I have to say I did dabble with some wide angle, slow sync flash and panning shots, but my preference is still for the longer focal lengths - the ability to isolate the subject from the background often makes for the best results.
Oh yes...and your daughter's shot is peachy too! Thanks for sharing these pics ---- Gavin

I did not want to use a flash. I did not know what the protocol was. All of the official race shooters had flash units on all of thier bodies. I did not see them use flash during the race. Maybe they used the flash for the winner portraits after the race................I will pass along your praise of my daughter's shot, to her.
Thanks again for your comments,
Rob