Local Half Marathon

This isn't something i've photographed before, so any pointers would definitely be appreciated..

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Scott
Nice shots. The guy in #5 must be mad, he must have been boiling by the end.
#6 makes me think why have I just signed up of a half marathon but nice shot anyway

adrian5127 wrote in post #7894317
Scott
Nice shots. The guy in #5 must be mad, he must have been boiling by the end.
#6 makes me think why have I just signed up of a half marathon but nice shot anyway

Cheers Adrian.

I didn't see #5 finish, but i didn't stick around too long, as i'd filled all my cards up..
Yeah #6 was pretty gross. I could understand vomitting, but yacking up blood's pretty grim!

Nice shots, but seem a little underexposed. I shoot marathons, too and wait til you see someone bleeding from their nipples. It's an interesting sight. As far as advice goes, I like running shots at or below their level. That requires sitting or kneeling. Also, crop tight on runners. That eliminates cluttered backgrounds.

Cheers for the tips Kevin.

I was kneeling for most of the finish line shots, but i was trying to get the banner in as well.. Would you advise against trying to get the banner in, and just concentrating on the runner?

The "Finish" banner is a nice touch. It would have been better, even more marketable, if the finish time clock was there and in the shot. Everyone wants to know what their finish time is. They don't make a clock long enough for my finish time. I hate driving 13.1 miles, let alone running it.

asysin2leads wrote in post #7895768
The "Finish" banner is a nice touch. It would have been better, even more marketable, if the finish time clock was there and in the shot. Everyone wants to know what their finish time is. They don't make a clock long enough for my finish time. I hate driving 13.1 miles, let alone running it.

haha!

Some of my shots have the clock in, but to be honest the clock isn't that accurate. All the runners had sensors on their laces this year, to get accurate times from the start line to the finish line.

I run at this distance and shorter and have a couple of general comments/tips for mid-size to smallish races. Big races are a different story:

1) Depending on the field size and security at the race, you may be able to get right in there at the edge or just in the crowd pre-race, up to a few minutes before the gun. UWA or WA is perfect. Just get out of there when you hear the starter's command...

2) Pre-race, you will get your serious "game faces" in the first few rows. Don't encroach too much up there or you might be wearing your lens hood for a hat. Your joyful comaraderie improves working your way back in the crowd. Your hammed-up antics, costumed runners, and "personal goal" first timers want to be documented. Just depends what you are looking for.

3) The first half of the race provides you with your "prettiest" runner shots. The last 25% of the distance in the race provides you with the same beautiful form and stride from the leaders, but diminishing from there back into the field to grit and determination; to distress; to pain; to suffering, to body function failure, etc. Shoot what you want to say about the race.

4) The finish line provides you with the same emotional ops, but everybody wants to look good for you if they know you are there. If you can stake out a spot to capture the clock and expressions, you are golden. Hard to do that though, unless the race is large enough to have multiple clocks in the finsihing area.

5) Don't forget candid shots at the awards ceremony.

Scout_Pete wrote in post #7906872
I run at this distance and shorter and have a couple of general comments/tips for mid-size to smallish races. Big races are a different story:

1) Depending on the field size and security at the race, you may be able to get right in there at the edge or just in the crowd pre-race, up to a few minutes before the gun. UWA or WA is perfect. Just get out of there when you hear the starter's command...

2) Pre-race, you will get your serious "game faces" in the first few rows. Don't encroach too much up there or you might be wearing your lens hood for a hat. Your joyful comaraderie improves working your way back in the crowd. Your hammed-up antics, costumed runners, and "personal goal" first timers want to be documented. Just depends what you are looking for.

3) The first half of the race provides you with your "prettiest" runner shots. The last 25% of the distance in the race provides you with the same beautiful form and stride from the leaders, but diminishing from there back into the field to grit and determination; to distress; to pain; to suffering, to body function failure, etc. Shoot what you want to say about the race.

4) The finish line provides you with the same emotional ops, but everybody wants to look good for you if they know you are there. If you can stake out a spot to capture the clock and expressions, you are golden. Hard to do that though, unless the race is large enough to have multiple clocks in the finsihing area.

5) Don't forget candid shots at the awards ceremony.

Hi Pete, thanks for taking the time to comment and leave tips etc.

Shots 2 and 3 are WA at the start of the race. Once they'd lined up for the race, there was definitely no getting in there as they were crammed together like sardines!!

There was only one person that i saw in fancy dress, to be honest. Everyone else was taking it quite seriously.

I only shot the start and finish of the race, as they close too many of the roads, and i was worried about not being able to get back for the leaders finishing. It was a bit of a last minute decision to shoot this race, so no planning was done unfortunately. I'll know better for next time hehe!

As for them wanting to look good for me at the finish line. Trust me, they had no interest in me whatsoever. The guy coughing up blood, practically vomitted on my feet. Well, okay he wasn't quite that close, but that shot's not cropped, and it was with a 50mm. I was on the left of the finish line, inside the fence, and the pro tog was on the right.

I didn't stick around for the awards ceremony, if there was one; i didn't even see the end of the race. Once my 6gb of memory cards were filled up, i left. I'll either have to get more memory for next time, or be far more selective...

I'll definitely be shooting more sporting events, and hopefully i'll get to a level where i can start earning money from the shots, for that next photographic purchase.. Lots to learn in the meantime though, so thanks again for the tips.