Tour de France 2014

Normally I shoot wildlife, but next year the opening stage of the Tour de France is passing right by the village where I live in the UK, so it would be too good an opportunity to miss not to get some cycling shots.

Having never shot sport before I was looking for some tips on getting the best out of the event. Do I apply wildlife techniques i.e. get as fast a shutter speed as possible? Or is there something else I should do?

FYI I only have a 7D & 100-400L lens to work with.

TIA,

Richard

Find a shutter speed that gives some motion in the wheels. If you freeze the action it will look like the bike is standing still. A few of mine from Arctic Race of Norway.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/radarfoto/94929​79272/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/radarfoto/94901​79451/

I suggest that you shoot some other bike races first, THAT will be the best way to learn some techniques, and in my opinion, not EVERY shot needs to have blurred wheels.

Richard G wrote in post #16360036
Normally I shoot wildlife, but next year the opening stage of the Tour de France is passing right by the village where I live in the UK, so it would be too good an opportunity to miss not to get some cycling shots.

Having never shot sport before I was looking for some tips on getting the best out of the event. Do I apply wildlife techniques i.e. get as fast a shutter speed as possible? Or is there something else I should do?

FYI I only have a 7D & 100-400L lens to work with.

TIA,

Richard

Using only a long lens, of course, carries the mixed blessing of limiting you to only images that are framed to isolate individual riders or small groups.

Examples:

Biffbradford wrote in post #16365155
not EVERY shot needs to have blurred wheels.

That´s true, but then again : You can photograph cycling with all focal lengths using all kinds of shutter speeds. It all depends on what you want to show with the photo. I prefer to get a blur in the wheels to show motion (Except from in straight-on photos and finish-line photos) but that´s my personal preference.

If you want to get some good ones of the Tour, then as said above try out on some races before and find what works.
This should help
Depending on how close you are to the road, then a short lens will be fine (24-105mm).
I only use a long lens for head on shots down the road.

Thanks for the replies so far, will take on board what you've all said.

The only other lens I have available is the standard kit lens, 18-55mm zoom, and I'm not going to be in a position to get anything better before July unless I come into a bit of a windfall!!

Don't waste your time shooting tight shots of riders going by. Plan for one good overview shot encompassing a landmark or something. Scout out a great landscape shot and let the riders roll into it. That type of shot will mean more to you then a bunch individual shots of riders you don't know.