Cycling - Criterium in SoCal

[Going Baroque]

Some criterium shots taken on Valentine's Day. I was very happy with the variety of shots that I was getting that day, but for some reason I had a difficult time getting images in focus. Keeper rate was a lot lower than usual, and I suspect the problem is a combination of the harsh sun (with no filter) and user error. By the way, if there are some experienced nikon guys reading this, please message me. I have some questions regarding technique and AF settings.

1.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2529_12&file=dsc_2529_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346142

2.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2332_12&file=dsc_2332_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346135

3.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2478_12&file=dsc_2478_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346140

4. Love the concentration here. Blew the shot, hence the B/W. lol
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2225_12&file=dsc_2225_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346134

5. Up until this week, I've been very much against tilting the images. I see a lot of it in motorcycling and hate it for some reason. Then I accidentally tilted this one while cropping in lightroom, but for some reason I liked it. Go figure.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_1948_12&file=dsc_1948_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346132

6.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2643_12&file=dsc_2643_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346143

7.
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2681_12&file=dsc_2681_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266346145

8. Some guy crowding one of the resident shooters on here. I blew the shot big time but that's not the point. The point is it was VD and this guy figured he would try and get in the spirit. lol
http://tomshaophoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=dsc_2382_12&file=dsc_2382_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/12&touched=1266468878

[justinalamode]

Ah! The Roger Millikan Memorial criterium! Do you yourself ride? Dominguez Hills criterium this weekend!

[emtp563]

Danny Munson is THE MAN! Nice shots b.t.w. I have to pick up a couple of ND filters myself for the upcoming season.

[Ferds]

NICE!

[Going Baroque]

Ah! The Roger Millikan Memorial criterium! Do you yourself ride? Dominguez Hills criterium this weekend!

My first race this year will probably be Ontario at the end of the month. You people with cameras should bring them and get some 4/5 carnage. :p

Thanks, guys!

[justinalamode]

Agreed... 4/5s have a LOT of contact and if you catch things at the right moment, you'll see a lot of "oh s*&# faces" to accommodate the elbow bumping, lol.

[Dan-o]

Good seeing you down there Tom and good shots. I was going to race this Sun. but I think I will wait until Ontario as well. That is my favorite course and have won there 6 times but that was a long time ago :lol:

[e02937]

Excellent stuff, cycling for the win...

[escapeartist]

Good to see other folks who ride here!

[justinalamode]

Hah indeed. Cyclists speak up now! :D

[yagimax]

Nice series! Looking forward to my racing starting in April.

[900spg]

Very nice series.

[Going Baroque]

Thanks again for the comments, guys. So I did a training ride on the Ontario course Tuesday night with a couple buddies, and I'm glad I didn't register in time. lol Still no top end. It's my favorite course too, so luckily there will be plenty more before the season is over.

By the way, Danny has been holding out on us. I saw his most recent highlight gallery and there's some interesting stuff in there.