Shooting a Mountain Bike Race

Hi All,

I have the opportunity to shoot a XC mountain bike race and was wondering what would be recommended to take in terms of gear/lenses? I'm not the "official" photographer for the event so there's no pressure to do anything but learn. That said, I do want to make the most out of the opportunity, and if the pics turn out well, I might be able to sell some to pay for some new gear.

I currently have a friend who will come shoot with me on the course at a different location, and possibly a 3rd person as well. All of us wanting to learn and work on our photo skills.

Currently, I have a 50D with kit 17-85, and am quite tempted to buy or at least rent the 70-200 f4 IS for the event.

Any other tips would be much appreciated as well!

Also, would I need to have any sort of photo release waiver?

Thanks in advance!

I think probably your lens is sufficient.
As always the most important think is a good position so you can take the best action.

Note:
For the waiver i think depend of your Countries.

Take and use a flash, and shoot low down. You need to lighten the face under the helmet. Have a look at my site at the cyclo-cross photos,
www.grahamrobins.net

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I agree with Graham. Flash first then worry about different lenses. With that lens and a shoe mounted flash you should do fine. I like to set the exposure to slightly under expose the back ground and set the flash M at 1/4 to 1/2. Watch your histo and dial in the flash as needed.

j27lee wrote in post #8088818
Hi All,

I have the opportunity to shoot a XC mountain bike race and was wondering what would be recommended to take in terms of gear/lenses? I'm not the "official" photographer for the event so there's no pressure to do anything but learn. That said, I do want to make the most out of the opportunity, and if the pics turn out well, I might be able to sell some to pay for some new gear.

I currently have a friend who will come shoot with me on the course at a different location, and possibly a 3rd person as well. All of us wanting to learn and work on our photo skills.

Currently, I have a 50D with kit 17-85, and am quite tempted to buy or at least rent the 70-200 f4 IS for the event.

Any other tips would be much appreciated as well!

Also, would I need to have any sort of photo release waiver?

Thanks in advance!

Wheres the race at?

Just Google up other MTB pictures, see which one's you like best, and try to duplicate!

Good luck and have fun!

slow it right down, 1/15th of a second, pan them from fairly close so they fill the frame, keep the exposure 1/3rd to 2/3rd's of a stop under, then use second curtain sync to freeze the motion and get a semi interesting picture, in stead of just a flat drap fairly static looking picture.
Play around with color balance and filters on the flash to add another depth to the image

Have some fun

*edit* that above is assuming your shooting in a fairly shady place and can get a low shutter speed with out a stupid f stop

j27lee wrote in post #8088818
Hi All,

I have the opportunity to shoot a XC mountain bike race and was wondering what would be recommended to take in terms of gear/lenses? I'm not the "official" photographer for the event so there's no pressure to do anything but learn. That said, I do want to make the most out of the opportunity, and if the pics turn out well, I might be able to sell some to pay for some new gear.

I currently have a friend who will come shoot with me on the course at a different location, and possibly a 3rd person as well. All of us wanting to learn and work on our photo skills.

Currently, I have a 50D with kit 17-85, and am quite tempted to buy or at least rent the 70-200 f4 IS for the event.

Any other tips would be much appreciated as well!

Also, would I need to have any sort of photo release waiver?

Thanks in advance!

Your 17-85 should be fine, as long as you can get close to the course. I typically shoot XC and DH races and use a 24-105 most of the time. While I do use a 70-200 on occasion, over 90% are taken with the shorter lens. Just recently, I've started to use a 17-40 (I get real close to the course).

Some recommendations for the first race:
1. Try to keep the camera below the riders faces. This may involve sitting, kneeling, lying on the ground next to the course. Check for Poison Oak / Ivy, stickers, ant colonies, ticks and horse / dog poop prior to lying down (long stupid stories on all of those). Allot of times most racers have their heads down gasping for air and that makes for some great photos.

2. If you have some time either before or during the race, walk around and look for different places to shoot. At long races the sun will move and I try to have the sun on either shoulder to light the rider. I always try to find the top of a climb (no matter how small), a downhill section and a turn to shoot at. This will give three completely different shots of the racers during the race, since most XC races have multiple laps, use the time between the fastest and slowest rider to move around. (Hint, if the course marker tape is tied together alot in one spot, it typically means there have been crashes in that section)

3. Allot of times MTB races will break up in to really small packs rather than one really large one (like road races), this gives you the option of single rider vs. group photos. Very important; set and use your camera's focus points, try to put the selected focus point over the rider face to insure that the face is in focus. This greatly increased the number of keeper photos, rather than letting the camera decide on what to focus. This will also help in the panning action needed to keep the rider in focus and background out of focus. Just put the focus point over the riders face and move the camera to track the face. If after the shot, the point is still over the riders face, you have the panning speed perfectly. (This takes a little practice, but once you get it, it is easy). Decide if you want to control the Shutter Speed (TV mode) or the Aperture (AV mode), don't use the green box. if you are going for depth of field use the AV mode, stopping motion the TV mode.

4. Try to shoot in RAW format. This will allow you more latitude in processing (either the shadows or highlights) and bring more memory than you think you will use. Practice does help developing the skills for shooting races, actively looking and culling the photos after the race is a learning time of what worked and did not work.

5. Remember that the riders have the right of way and don't get in their way. At the end of the race, they are tired and may not have quick reactions, so stay out of their way and always look up-course before crossing the track.

6. Have fun, every race I meet new prople and have yet to find anybody I did not like. These people are out doing what they want to do and typically having a lot of fun (it may not look like during the race).

While there is more stuff to talk about (Flash, High speed vs second shutter sync, using depth of field to isolate the rider, ...), shoot a race, go through the shots with a careful eye, every race is a learning curve. enjoy the process.

Hopefully, I have not confused you while being long winded. Here is a link to the latest series of races I have shot. http://bikeguy.smugmug​.com …CCX%20MTB%20Rac​e%20Series

Any questions or issues, please feel free to contact me.

Regards
Rick

^ ^ +1

Thank you all for the tips! Some really great photos there Graham and Rick. I've gotten some good ideas on angles to shoot from.

It's good to hear i'll be ok with the lens I have as I'm a bit short on cash right now, though secretly i was hoping that the 70-200 was a necessity

The race is out at the Canmore Nordic Center just south of Banff, AB. I think the course is a mix of treed and open areas, though I haven't seen the exact route myself. I plan to head out there a few days before and actually ride the course for fun, and to be able to scope out some locations, but as with everything else these days, time is a factor.

Thanks again!