Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

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Archive 2007 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

MichaelKirk
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p.1 #1 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

This weekend was the Crank Brothers US Gran Prix Cyclocross race in Trenton NJ. Two complete days of racing. This is a race where all the top Pro's will be there looking for race points for World Cup Standings.

Saturday was greeted with partly sunny skies which made for some nice lighting, Sunday was a slight rain all day so I ended up shooting around 1000+ ISO most of the day. Funny thing was I was just looking last week at some rain gear for my camera system - I guess I should have bought it.

As always I was the photographer out gunned (equipment wise) by the "Big" Pros that travel around the world shooting cycling events. I only had one body (D200)...and with out the battery pack so I really looked like the Prosumer

Most of these guys were using 2 and 3 bodies. Heck one guy had his Nikon system go quirky on him so Saturday after the race he went to a local camera shop and bought a complete Canon system, Mk III, 300 2.8, etc.

Anyway, here are some samples for C&C. If you like - take a look at my website home page slideshow www.MLKimages.com I have around 80 "Best of the Best" images set in a slide show for easy viewing from the weekend of racing.

#1

Michael

Edited by MichaelKirk on Nov 20, 2007 at 05:26 PM GMT

Nov 20, 2007 at 02:12 PM

Mike Discenza
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p.1 #2 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

You may have looked like a prosumer with your set up, but the pictures look great. I really like 3 and 6, also 2 has great color.

Nov 20, 2007 at 03:49 PM

Scott Mosher
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p.1 #3 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

I'm surprised some of the big mags haven't come knocking at your door asking you to shoot for them. They're all fantastic

Nov 20, 2007 at 07:10 PM

veeral
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p.1 #4 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

G'day Michael,

Nice set of images, especially the last one. Funny you mention the pro-photographers. I've had my share of mingling in with the pros. Some pros think they are pros because they have a 400mm lens, and when you look at their end result not as impressive as their gear they use.

I really enjoyed these set of images in constrast to the previous set you posted last month I believe.

You said you had problems panning right, I have a solution for that provided you have an outdoor velodrome in your area. If you do, take your camera gear and a few mates with bikes and go practice.

Riding a muddy cyclocross event would be as close to getting muddy in the Paris-Ruobbaix race.

cheers
Veeral

edit:
I had a look at your website, you have a few very well composed images, its like landscape composition for cycling action. Congrats on your magazine shots as well.

Edited by veeral on Nov 21, 2007 at 05:22 AM GMT

Nov 20, 2007 at 07:17 PM

MichaelKirk
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p.1 #5 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

Scott,
It's hard getting into a "Big" mag. I have been trying hard to work with VeloNews (which is athe big cycling mag. I've had some smaller images published, but nothing worth noting. They actually asked me (since I was local to this race) to shoot the race for them - which I thought was my big break.....go and find out there were two other photographers at this race shooting for them as well. These guys were the "Big" guns so I am not holding my breath.

It's a slow and tedious process breaking into magazines on a continous basis, but lets have this conversation a year from now and hopefully it will have changed for the better.

No complaining on my end though - I really only started shooting sports photography this past spring so I'm still a newby in the game. I have had some recent photos published this month and next month - 2 photos were two page spreads and a cover next month - but it's with a smaller mag that pays less than most.

Thanks,
Michael

Nov 20, 2007 at 07:18 PM

mlavander
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p.1 #6 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

Some of the color is over saturated, especially #2.

Fill could be toned down a little in #5, but the composition is sweet! I love the caution tape over the camera and off to the right for some reason.

Great angle on # 7.

Overall, excellent shots and good mixture...not the same angle, different rider in each shot.

Have you been published yet? I got one in Velo News back in 2005 (the worst shot I had of course, in my opinion), you should see who is at the races to write and needs photos.

Nov 21, 2007 at 05:03 AM

MichaelKirk
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p.1 #7 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

mlavander
Thanks for the feedback. Regarding the Saturation, I do have saturation set a +1 in camera as cycling is so colorful with the variety of team kits - I love the POP of color. I actually had it set on +2 for quite a while which I loved even more, but it often made faces overly red - so I backed it down.

The angles you see are pretty much the way I shoot. I am always looking for that "different" angle to shoot from as well as constantly moving around and changing lenses. These Cyclocross races last from 45min to an hour and I will use a minimum of 3 different lenses (sometimes 4 if I use the fisheye) and shoot from 5-7+ different spots on the course just trying to keep images different.

Photo #5 was almost a delete. Flash was too strong so I was ready to delete the file, but loved the composition so I thought I would try some different PP to see if I could salvage the photo. I like the way it turned out so I thought it was worth posting here for some C&C.

VeloNews - I've had a few very small thumbnail size photos published in the Mag. This race was "supposed" to be my big break as they wanted me to shoot the race and they were looking for a possible Cover photograph!! I show up to the race only to find there were two other guys shooting for VeloNews as well - these were the "Big Guns" so I am not holding my breath that I'll get anything from this with VN, but the did download a few images from my galleries so one never knows.

Thanks again,
Michael

Nov 21, 2007 at 01:59 PM

martini.ss
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p.1 #8 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

Michael, as I've said on RBR(unclefuzzy), I love your images. I think its only a matter of time before you start getting consistent orders for shots in the mags. Have you tried getting something into the new Cyclocross mag? I know there's only one issue out, and I haven't even seen it yet...but still. Favorite shot? #9. I love the focus in the riders eyes.

Nov 21, 2007 at 07:31 PM

MichaelKirk
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p.1 #9 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

The new Cyclocross mag is only contributions right now - not paying for photos. I had one picture in the back of the 1st magazine and am working with them about the cover photo for the next issue - again though they are not paying since they are a start up.

The last image is something I have been working on - trying to capture that 2nd or 3rd rider in a line with the head sticking out or shooting "thru" other riders.

Still not the best with my timing, but working at it as for some reason the other racers do not cooperate

Here are two other quick examples.

Michael

Nov 21, 2007 at 09:11 PM

pappawheely
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p.1 #10 · Cyclocross (bike racing) - US Gran Prix - New Jersey

Very nice shots. Equipment helps but they are all just a box with a hole in it. Artistry cannot be taught.

Nov 22, 2007 at 06:25 AM

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