Cycling - Week 3

[Biffbradford]

Two races this past weekend in the greater Chicago area, both held on automobile road racing courses. Next weekend off for Easter, then the slow ramp up to the biggies in June, July, and August.

First race held at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, IL

1. Obviously a cropped telephoto shot.

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-Burnham-Spring-Criterium/PPIX1336/823231016_CWZdo-L.jpg

2. Yes, still got some dust in my lens. Need to blow that out!

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-Burnham-Spring-Criterium/PPIX0801/823140238_YpqZX-L.jpg

3. This one will be a contender for my personal 'photo of the year'. Sweet post up!

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-Burnham-Spring-Criterium/PPIX1353-copy/820978356_mm5tF-L.jpg

Second race was near Joliet, IL at the Autobahn Country Club (no golf course!)

4. "Chazz Martin". Just 17 years old.

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-COUGAR-Criterium-Joliet/PPIX1930/821990379_2jiam-L-1.jpg

5. This one sold quickly!

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-COUGAR-Criterium-Joliet/PPIX1962b/822883704_L4h4Q-L.jpg

6.

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-COUGAR-Criterium-Joliet/PPIX2085/821995731_5dZiq-L-1.jpg

[Mikeroscope]

#4 is my favorite. The lean really accentuates the action. Are you kneeling or just really short?

[Biffbradford]

I'm 6ft 5in. LOL! I was sitting in the grass on the exit of the turn. Was great fun being able to freely walk around the race course.

[tomd]

any from Kenosha?

[Biffbradford]

Not week 3. I drove to Joliet instead. The most (ahem!) interesting drive so far this year. Haven't seen anyone posting anything from the last Lakeview race yet, but I'm sure someone was there shooting.

It was interesting that at Beloit, two guys with Canon 1D Mk ? and 400mm f2.8 lenses showed up for the start of the Pro 1/2/3 race, shot maybe 3 laps, and then disappeared again. WTF?

[tomd]

I was at Kenosha on Sunday (had the 300 2.8 along). My daughter did the 10-14 race, but she didn't want to stand around til the Cat 1 race, so we left, no pics :(

[X-images]

Someone doing a cheap deal on Powertap units in that town... look at all those yellow head-units!

Great shots!

[Dan-o]

Still looking cold!

[Biffbradford]

Noooo ... see, the grass is turning green! Almost - sort of. http://emoticons4u.com/happy/426.gif

[CousinMadness]

These are very sharp Bill with nice close cropping. Life in the old MkII N after all. ;)


Martin :)

[emtp563]

I think your photography has been elevated to a higher level now that you're using a 1D. Your 40D just wasn't cutting it. #'s 4,5, & 6 look spectacular. Focus, colors, flash, and exposure are spot on. I look forward to seeing your photography this season!

[BenJohnson]

Excellent shots!

Getting pretty warm here in the Midwest :)

[Yusef]

Great shots

[SYOTR]

especially number 4 and 6

[phenom_1819]

Love number 4, great composition! All these are great... nice job.

[JBFIV]

All great shots!! Can you tell us what lenses you were using?? Thanks

[Biffbradford]

It's the Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/SG120400NK_2.jpg

http://www.adorama.com/SG120400NK.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/549247-REG/Sigma_728101_120_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_DG_OS.html

I see the price has come down since I bought this one two years ago. With my 40D I wasn't thrilled with the sharpness, but I do believe it's just that body. I'm getting much nicer results with the MkII N. For shooting cycling, I'm loving the zoom range because I can start out at 400mm and zoom out down to 120mm as the riders come closer (as long as the light is good). These were shot on a mostly cloudy day, so that works for me! ;)

[MICHELP]

some pics are great but are ruined by the ugly/nasty logo on the left lower corner ....

[Biffbradford]

some pics are great but are ruined by the ugly/nasty logo on the left lower corner ....

Exactly! ;)