Tour de France & marathon

[spako]

The next few weeks will be very interesting over here in Luxemburg.
Next sunday there will be a night marathon in Luxemburg-city with lots of animation (hot air balloons, music aso).
As this event will be starting in the evening I would really appreciate some advice on what settings to use for shots of the runners, the balloons and the musicians...


A few weeks later (3. and 4. of july) the Tour de France will come to my hometown. There will be an arrival (3th) and a departure (4th).
Now I was wondering which one you would suggest to attend... I will have to take a day off from work and wouldn't want to miss 2 days in a row, so if anyone has an idea on what day would be the more interesting ... (I never attended the Tour the France on an "Etappe")

What lens do I pack?

Many questions I know :blushing: But your help would be much appreciated!

 

[LilmaK]

I wish I were in your position to have the opportunity to shoot Tour-de-France events...
There's only ONE problem with your post. You have "3th" and 4th instead of "3rd" and 4th. kinda funny though...must be ur excitement

 

[spako]

It's more likely that it's because my english s**ks

 

[ThomThomsk]

A few weeks later (3. and 4. of july) the Tour de France will come to my hometown. There will be an arrival (3th) and a departure (4th).
Now I was wondering which one you would suggest to attend...

The TdF is the only sporting event that I watch on TV, so that would be my preference. However, on the 3rd they arrive in Luxembourg at the end of a 223Km stage, and on the 4th they leave on a 216Km stage. No time trial in Luxembourg, so you would need to plan carefully where to stand, because otherwise all you will see is the peloton shooting past at 40Km/h.

 

[2framesbelowzero]

Mass departure would be quite photogenic. The first arrivals and
some candids immediately after that stage could be good. Mixing with crowds and see if you can find a place overlooking the route in the town.
I like the overhead shots of the TV coverage...you may get something similar from a building in the built up area.

For a typical SLR carry it with a 35mm lens fitted,
plus a 24mm & a 70-300 tele in the bag too :thumbup:

what camera will you use ?

 

[spako]

I have a Canon 350D with the kit lens 18-55mm, a 70-300mm EF lens, and a 28(?)-70mm EF lens... I almost always carry all of the lenses in my bag, but don't really use the 28-70 very often...I was looking at the sigma 18-200mm lens... maybe sometime I'll buy that lens, seems pretty interesting for what I'm shooting at the moment!

I guess I'll take the day of departure of...so I can see when they start, plus I get the opportunity to go to the "village" of the TDF...