Tour de France

The Tour is coming through my village this year, so my question, where is the best place to be?

1. The start line is only 15min's away from me.
2. Be lazy and stay around the village.
3. The finish line.

It's a shame I can't travel to all three, so any tip's would be great, I'm leaning towards the start line but it will be packed chock a block.

I only have the gear in my sig to use, so any advice on getting some impacting shots would be great, it's not until the 17th so I have a little time to practice.

Thanks

Steve

superstes wrote in post #5844372
The Tour is coming through my village this year, so my question, where is the best place to be?

1. The start line is only 15min's away from me.
2. Be lazy and stay around the village.
3. The finish line.

It's a shame I can't travel to all three, so any tip's would be great, I'm leaning towards the start line but it will be packed chock a block.

I only have the gear in my sig to use, so any advice on getting some impacting shots would be great, it's not until the 17th so I have a little time to practice.

Thanks

Steve

You could always hire and fly myself and one other lucky photographer to come over and help. That way you would cover all 3 positions!

Sounds like a good plan.

I'm just popping off to shake the sofa, back in a moment...............

Well, would 56cents cut the deal

Steve

the 70-200 would be nice to keep the shots tight on the rider(s).

I've also seen that most of the cycling shots I like involve tracking (something I'm no good at yet), so you might want to practice with cars before the race gets to your village.

alphonsis wrote in post #5844524
so you might want to practice with cars before the race gets to your village.

Where I live it's horse and carts, tractors or Tour de France nut's, the Ariege hasn't quite got the hang of progress yet

Tracking, is this the same as panning?

Steve

superstes wrote in post #5844589
Where I live it's horse and carts, tractors or Tour de France nut's, the Ariege hasn't quite got the hang of progress yet

Tracking, is this the same as panning?

Steve

Yes, tracking = panning.

At the '96 Olympics in Atlanta, I enjoyed watching and photographing the mens' road race. Since these men-on-bikes can go really fast, I positioned myself:
1) near the top of a long hill (they stand up and ride slower, thanks to gravity)
2) on the inside of a curve for some great panning shots
3) up high, so I could shoot down as they approached
4) down low, so I could emphasize the bike and wheels
There are so many different angles, I would just move around if possible to get a variety of compositions. Think ahead to what effects you want and have fun! Don't forget the crowds, the support vehicles, the crashes - more entertaining images are possible when you include them.

dig-it-al wrote in post #5845567
At the '96 Olympics in Atlanta, I enjoyed watching and photographing the mens' road race. Since these men-on-bikes can go really fast, I positioned myself:
1) near the top of a long hill (they stand up and ride slower, thanks to gravity)
2) on the inside of a curve for some great panning shots
3) up high, so I could shoot down as they approached
4) down low, so I could emphasize the bike and wheels
There are so many different angles, I would just move around if possible to get a variety of compositions. Think ahead to what effects you want and have fun! Don't forget the crowds, the support vehicles, the crashes - more entertaining images are possible when you include them.

great tips

Which stage will it be? The start would be interesting if you can get some 'behind the scenes' pictures of the riders and mechanics getting ready. You know that there will be 100 photographers getting a shot of the finish, so try the start or some where along the course. What an excellent opportunity !!

I would definitely recommend somewhere near the finish line. By placing yourself there, you can photograph any break away groups as well as the entire pelaton. I think that would be your best chance to be able photograph more action. Although if you line up at the finish line, sprints to the finish must make for some great pictures. As well as the celebration shots, and the placing of the jerseys.

It seems so obvious now you have pointed it out Thanks

11 Medium mountains Wednesday 16 July Lannemezan Foix 166 km
12 Plain Thursday 17 July Lavelanet Narbonne 168 km

Looking at the stages, I could get some road shots between Lannemezan and Foix, fantastic mountain scenery, be at the start line in Lavelanet, then take the autoroute down to Narbonne for the finish line, East coast sun and sand, it will be hot

As this will be the last of the three photo opportunities, I should have warmed up

Cheers everyone so far

Steve

Just make sure you post lots of photos-have greatt fun, wish I was there but it will have to be TV

troutfisher wrote in post #5846540
Just make sure you post lots of photos-have greatt fun, wish I was there but it will have to be TV

I'm really starting to look forward to it, I love events with a good buzz. keep an eye open here around the 19th, should have a few shots to post.

I'm thinking I might have to buy a few more cards, I've only got five GB at the moment and I like to shoot RAW so thats around only 492 shot's.

I suppose I could switch to small jpeg for the web photo's, the start and finish lines will be shot in RAW though.

Steve

Edited to add: is there a good small device I could download RAW files to in the field,????

I think you have to ask yourself what kind of photos do you want: shots of riders, sprinting, group shots? The start will be very busy and you may not to be able to capture what you want. Passing through your village will afford individual shots while the finnish will give you great action shots of the riders in fast sprints.

Pilotboat

Hi pilotboat

I think the finish line would be the most dramatic too, the first is in Foix on the 16th and Narbonne on the 17th, plenty of time to cover both.

I would think the 70-200 should yield some good shots, I'll get a friend with his wifes shopping bike to practice on

Welcome aboard BTW

Steve