These are not as EPIC as the photos I posted last time
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/826135/0?keyword=epic#7664003

but thought I would post some samples from Saturday's "Beacon Cyclocross Race", held in Bridgeton New Jersey. After my race, I only hung around for the next 2-3 races to shoot then my wife called to come home and help get the kids (3) ready for Holloween so I had to leave early.

Had a few things in mind, but didn't quite pan out like I wanted:

#1
Here I was using the 14-24 f/2.8 lens and just wasn't thrilled with the almost "fisheye" look - so I ended taking it off and using the 24-70 f/2.8 you see in the next 2 images.

I started out using 3 strobes - 2 leaning up against the barrrier and the other was hand held. I was having some recycling issues with the one flash (bogus batteries) as well as I didn't really like the placement of the one flash you see in the image so I ended up removing the one flash.

Nice job again Michael. I didn't get to make it to Beacon or HPCX this weekend, ended up having to shoot Rutgers football and soccer for work instead.

I really like the look in #2, but do you have any like that where the rider's eye is open?

Thanks for sharing.
-Will

I always look forward to your bike photos excellent job lighting the first few

Michael: Always nice to see something a bit different. Thanks for posting. Not that I know much about this type of shooting, but my eyes are drawn to 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Hey I like these a lot especially the first three were they concerned at all that you were using flash? Was this a USA sanctioned race?

great shots, really like the range
strobed ones are nice, as are the others

Michael,

I saw "Beacon" mentioned and it brought back memories of a rainy crit I did in Beacon, NY back in the 1990's...crashfest in every corner!

Cyclocross..the worse the weather, the truer the sport. Let the mud fly! Each image you posted has its own merits and are terrific! The first 3 jumps out, because I have an interest in your flash MO, and have the look.

#1) Maybe the flash silhouette could have continued all the way up the edge of the riders back, giving better definition against the black background & maybe "portrait" mode would have been a better choice. But, either way this image works. What was your ISO & other significant settings? We've got about 6 more weeks of 'cross season out here in CO, w/a couple of courses I'd like to try multiple flash units with slower shutter speeds.

#2) easy. Great shot!

#3) I like the B&W. I don't like how the flash unit was caught "inside" the front wheel. I am starting to think placement of "that" flash unit out (left) approx 4ish feet may have worked at bringing out some of the bike detail a little better.

#4 to 6) you caught lots of detail in the riders face. I like the framing in #6. There is some graininess in some of the images? Curious. Still, sharp images.

You know, unlike a crit or RR, I think it is important to capture the details in the riders faces in cyclocross because there is never ever a restful moment. You're always in duress and the body wants to just plain shut down after 30 minutes. I think you did a good job exposing the facial expressions!

I got a few I'll be posting from the recent UCI races this past weekend.

DejanS,
Thanks for the detailed write up and critique. I appreciate your time and comments.

DejanS wrote
Michael,

I saw "Beacon" mentioned and it brought back memories of a rainy crit I did in Beacon, NY back in the 1990's...crashfest in every corner!

Cyclocross..the worse the weather, the truer the sport. Let the mud fly! Each image you posted has its own merits and are terrific! The first 3 jumps out, because I have an interest in your flash MO, and have the look.

#1) Maybe the flash silhouette could have continued all the way up the edge of the riders back, giving better definition against the black background & maybe "portrait" mode would have been a better choice. But, either way this image works. What was your ISO & other significant settings? We've got about 6 more weeks of 'cross season out here in CO, w/a couple of courses I'd like to try multiple flash units with slower shutter speeds.

Camera setting on this image:
1/50 f/8.0 ISO100
This was one of the first few images i had taken so I was still playing around with settings, camera orientation and flash positioning and exposures. Generally I'll shoot some horizontal and vertical just for a variety. Some real loose and some tight just to cover a whole basis of options and variations.


#2) easy. Great shot!

#3) I like the B&W. I don't like how the flash unit was caught "inside" the front wheel. I am starting to think placement of "that" flash unit out (left) approx 4ish feet may have worked at bringing out some of the bike detail a little better.

I agree with the flash being "in sight" - I do not like it there. My original intention was to have the two flashing set up agains the barrier to be cack lighting and out of sight, but after I too a few shots of the first few racers coming thru I hated the look of the image and ended up taking my 1st series liek you see, with the flash in sight. I ended up removing this flash for the next series. I think for my next time out I'll only use 2 flashes - one hand held for the face and the 2nd for back lighting with will be agains the barrier out of sight.


#4 to 6) you caught lots of detail in the riders face. I like the framing in #6. There is some graininess in some of the images? Curious. Still, sharp images.

You know, unlike a crit or RR, I think it is important to capture the details in the riders faces in cyclocross because there is never ever a restful moment. You're always in duress and the body wants to just plain shut down after 30 minutes. I think you did a good job exposing the facial expressions!

I got a few I'll be posting from the recent UCI races this past weekend.

The grain in a few of the images is from shooting at a bit higher ISO....3200-5000.
All these images I was shooting natural light and no flash. Most were in the deep woods so it was prettty dark. This was a flat course so the riders were moving prettty damn fast so I needed to keep my shutter speed up - I was actually nervous that my SS was not high enough at times and I was going to end up with some soft images from the racing speeds....but In the end I was fine.

again, thanks for the detailed comments,
look forward to you images,
Michael

Thanks for the comments. You gave me an idea regarding flash setup I may use at todays cyclocross. I am not sure what the course is like, but am hoping for a wooded area where there is no direct sunlight, since it can be very harsh at 5600 ft amsl. I got a few I'll post from last weekends races. Good luck at the races!