Well after being here for 8 years I finally made it to the Tour de France for my first live viewing. Yes, Lance maybe be a team rider now but it was still amazing to see him in another Tour and this time up close.

Here are some photos I managed to snap (I wasn't looking through the view finder hardly, shooting with my MkIIn at high speed). Just wanted to share more than anything else since these are the best set-up shots. I should also mention these are straight out of camera.

Tour Director

Those look pretty nice to me! I would love to be able to follow the TDF one year in person. Now if those lottery numbers just come through.........

Nice work ... they tie in the spectacle and popularity of the event showing the interest of all around that are there to witness the event .... thanks for sharing.

Yes!

Harry I've been sitting here waiting patiently, hoping that someone on FM would share some Tour' photos. Thanks very much for sharing them. The colours are impressively rich.

Regards

D

tres manifique !

The ambience coupled with great photographic color makes this a really nice series.

Considering the crowd and how limited the vantage points are, I see a few very nicely done shots! Especially the ones of big George and Lance. *thumbs up*

disci wrote:
Yes!

Harry I've been sitting here waiting patiently, hoping that someone on FM would share some Tour' photos. Thanks very much for sharing them. The colours are impressively rich.

Regards

D



+1

Thanks everyone for the kinds words.

Truly the riders are the main event but the spectators are just as fun. The crowds are cool and controlled for the most part and really make the experience that the Tour is, without the fans on the sides of the streets it surely would not be the same.

I would of really liked to chase them from stage to stage if i had time off from work as the many different stages really seem to provide many opportunities to capture the riders with some great surroundings and people.

As a cycling fan and photo buff - I love these. You aren't on the back of a motorcycle, and these pictures have a much different feel that makes the riders look more vulnerable (if that makes sense).

Great colors - and I'm still new at this, but if anyone has any tips for getting colors to pop like this, I'm all ears. I know you have to start with great light, but just wondering if anyone has any secrets - and I promise not to tell

Well for anyone that knows what the weather was like during Stage 14 it was not great at all and very unfriendly to the spectators. Weather was overcast during each time I stopped to see the riders. Being overcast it provided a nice even and soft light with no harsh edges/shadows. Since I'm far from pro I was taking many 'sample' photos way before the riders showed up just to see what kind of shots I was getting and not only checking focus points and composition vantage points but also seeing what the histogram was telling me. It was surely a bit of trial and error before the riders showed up.

dang I did not know the spectators were that close! lol That has to be hard to ride through at times