MTB- Ultimate Pursuits Downhill

[LMP]

A few from 'The Ultimate Pursuits Downhill' race earlier today. All taken with the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and a borrowed 580ex flash..

#1
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386609.IMG_4859_web.jpg

#2
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386648.IMG_4916_web.jpg

#3
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386660.IMG_4948_web.jpg

#4
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386665.IMG_4950_web.jpg

#5
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386784.IMG_4963_web.jpg

#6
http://i.pbase.com/v3/31/575531/1/49386800.IMG_4975_web.jpg

For those of you that shoot MTB on a regular basis can you suggest the best way to set the flash up, as it was only borrowed last night I had no time to read the manual so spent ages faffing about trying to fathom it out.

[peacock]

really cool images , the faces being filled by the flash really brings the images to life.

[transcend]

Those shots are great. Normally i would setup the remote flash off to the side a bit, facing into the riders face as much as possible top remove visor shadows and add a little bit of drama from the off camera flash shadows. You absolutely nailed the exposure and focus on those shots, good job!

[Tau]

They look great, wish I'd come down for that now! What settings did you use?

[despot]

Nice shots Marc. Being able to see the intensity (or in the case of #5 the fear) on the riders faces really make the shots.

Andy

[BottomBracket]

Great job! Flash may be too strong on some pics though, as some appear a bit flat. Try some shots while dragging the shutter - that is, choosing a low shutter speed (1/60, 1/30 or below), panning and using flash. It might give interesting results.

[LMP]

They look great, wish I'd come down for that now! What settings did you use?

Typically :

Exposure Times 1/200 - 1/350 sec
Aperture f/2.8 or f/3.5
ISO Equivalent's 400-800

I also underexposed by 1 stop as recomended in the other thread.

[LMP]

Those shots are great. Normally i would setup the remote flash off to the side a bit, facing into the riders face as much as possible top remove visor shadows and add a little bit of drama from the off camera flash shadows. You absolutely nailed the exposure and focus on those shots, good job!

Interesting you should mention a remote flash as there was a guy (from a magazine I assume) using just that setup. He was using Canon gear...maybe he comes on here ?

[Tau]

I just got my 580ex today :D Need to go into the woods and try again. I thought I'd do better with me 17-40 than my 70-200, but the pics i took with the 70-200 came out a lot better... nowhere near as good as yours though.

How did you focus btw? Did you lock focus on a point on the ground, then release shutter when rider reaches that position? Or actually lock focus on the rider and release? I was trying the former without much success, but you seemed to have nailed it first time!

[LMP]

I just got my 580ex today :D Need to go into the woods and try again. I thought I'd do better with me 17-40 than my 70-200, but the pics i took with the 70-200 came out a lot better... nowhere near as good as yours though.

How did you focus btw? Did you lock focus on a point on the ground, then release shutter when rider reaches that position? Or actually lock focus on the rider and release? I was trying the former without much success, but you seemed to have nailed it first time!


Congrats on the 580ex, I want one myself now. It seems like there are no more events at aston hill for a while so I may hold off on it till after xmas though.

Re the focusing ...I focused on the riders with a kind of panning motion through the trees which seems to work ok. I'm not sure how many photos I took that morning but these were definatley the pick of the bunch (maybe one or two others). I guess the trick is to get these near enough each and every time ;)

[gmen]

Good work marc... in difficult conditions as well by the looks of it. The fill-in flash certainly makes the difference under the tree cover and you've achieved some nice tight crops as well.

I particularly like #2 for the sense of movement it conveys, but the other shots are all good as well.

Time to get some Pocket Wizards and get a flash or two off-camera for some more fun!

---- Gavin

[PEACHMAN]

Wow !! Thanks so much for posting those...all doubts are gone regarding crispness of the Sigma..You really stopped the action, great color, great captures....THANKS!

[Stav_98]

Great Shots! Taken at Aston Hill by any chance?

[LMP]

Sure were, I take it you know Aston then given your location :)

[Stav_98]

Indeed I do. I used to ride the cross country track quite a bit until a man with lots of scars and no teeth decided to wipe me out. A cracked collar bone and couple of broken ribs later I decided it wasn't for me. I live just the other side of Tring so it's nice and local. Are there any more events up there this year? I had a ganders at the website but it's not so clear.

[PhotosGuy]

Good ones!

[LMP]

Indeed I do. I used to ride the cross country track quite a bit until a man with lots of scars and no teeth decided to wipe me out. A cracked collar bone and couple of broken ribs later I decided it wasn't for me. I live just the other side of Tring so it's nice and local. Are there any more events up there this year? I had a ganders at the website but it's not so clear.


Ah Tring, your just down the road from me then (Aylesbury) so I know what you mean about 'local'.

AFAIK there are not any more events this year, I know the guy that runs Aston Hill from back in my biking days when we were kids so I will contact him from time to time to see whats going on. If I come up with anything good I'll give you a shout.

[Stav_98]

Ah Tring, your just down the road from me then (Aylesbury) so I know what you mean about 'local'.

AFAIK there are not any more events this year, I know the guy that runs Aston Hill from back in my biking days when we were kids so I will contact him from time to time to see whats going on. If I come up with anything good I'll give you a shout.

Thanks mate...appreciate that