Cycling: More Tour of California (Stage 3)

[__Tango]

Hi folks, this is my first time posting pics on the site. I've always been too chicken to post my own photos.

Anyway, i've have a 20D and up until now, i had a 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM lens from 10 years ago that i've used with general happiness but always felt that lots of my shots were soft. There's a whole backstory to that which i may cover in more detail if folks are interested, but to cut to the chase, I recently picked up a 28-70 f2.8 L used and i'm VERY happy with it.

Here are some pics from Wednesday's stage of the Tour of California. I was sitting on the inside left hand turn from Taylor to 2nd St. in San Jose. This was just at the 2Km to go marker.

These were all shot on my 20D, 28-70 f/2.8L, 420EX flash to fill, ISO 200, Raw, and i used Adobe Lightroom to process.

I humbly await any C&C.

Thanks.

...alex...


Levi Leipheimer, current leader of the tour in the lead pack (Av mode, f/4, 1/1250s)


Robert Gesink from Rabobank, just seconds off the lead group. (Av mode, f/4, 1/1250s)


A group of riders a few minutes back. I moved to a new location right on the apex of the turn. I was sitting tucked right up on the edge of a sidewalk curb, so i knew i wouldn't get hit, but man, were they close! (Tv mode, 1/2000s, f/4.5)


The sprint leader Allan Davis even farther off the lead. This was taken whlie standing (the others were taking sitting on the sidewalk) in P mode with a flash, so it set the exposure to 1/250s, f/6.3, which wasn't the greatest for that "stop" action i was getting earlier. Oh well, i still like it.


Thanks.

...alex...

[thekufan]

I like 3 the best. Great color.

[ZL4life]

three is great, i would like to see a little more of the bike and a little less of the sky though. and i don't think you need 1/2000 to capture the action. if you had a slower shutter speed you could have a more closed apperature and get all of the cyclest in focus. - just and idea

[mtbkanata]

Peleton shots are crazy hard to get.. you always get the first guy, then maybe some side riders in the middle.. until a break happens, it's all basically photos of the same rider!

Is f/4 your largest apature? Might want to increase your focal length if you can, to separate the rider from the background.

Nice colours though!

[sonnyc]

I like the color too. Very nice and sharp.

I was at Sierra road yesterday and it was packed. Way more people this year than last year now that the words are out. People were jumping out in front of the racers and made me miss some shots.

[rhodopsin]

All very professional shots - very crisp and colourful.

Try knocking the shutter speed down in TV mode which will make you pan more with the Riders and will force some movement into the images.

[DwightMcCann]

Very nice. I shot the AmGen from one spot last year and wasn't pleased with my 300mm f/2.8 images ... now I have a 400mm f2.8 but I have to work as they whiz through Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos ... but they all trained right here in SIDEWAYS country to I've seen most simply riding in packs around the valley since the first of the year. I think rhodopsin (ain't that a pigment?) hit the nail on the head.

[__Tango]

Thanks very much folks. I'm glad that you like them.

Since i haven't had a particularly fast lens in the past, i have a lot of photos that show more movement and panning. I was interested to see if i could get things to stop and be clear. Honestly, i'm not sure why i set the Av mode to f/4 instead of f/2.8. Probably because i wanted to have a little bit of "fudge room" for the focusing. These guys were moving SO FAST, i wasn't sure if i would be able to get everything to focus correctly.

things i did like about being out there this time (from a photo perspective) was that I sat on the sidewalk, which i think makes for a nice cycling angle, and I also brought out the 420EX flash, which was good since the sun was behind the riders.

Again, thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

...alex...

[Adam T]

Nice one, I wish I could make it over to Cal, it looks a good race!

Have you done much cycling photography? It's easier on the back of a motorbike!