Tour of Utah Test Pictures

[PharmD]

Here are some pictures I took to get some practice for the Tour of Utah this Friday. I was using a 50mm lens that I borrowed from a friend. The practice was for Friday when I will be renting a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Tell me what you think and any improvements that you have. I have limited experience with editing software- just played around with ViewNX2 that came with my camera. It was a horrible time of day to take pictures: 2-4pm!

 

[powasky]

I post this in almost every thread where someone talks about limited PP knowledge: GET LIGHTROOM! LR is easy to use and intuitive; I was a complete hater on PP until I purchased LR and saw what it could really do.

Remember to try to keep the sun towards your back. Use a larger aperture to separate the bikers from the background, and try not to include anything distracting in the image (such as the car directly behind the biker in images 2 and 3).

 

[PharmD]

There was really no way around the cars- each rider had a car following them up the course. I also tried shooting at wider aperature- f/2.8 and my camera kept saying it was too bright...anyway to get around this in the future?

 

[powasky]

There was really no way around the cars- each rider had a car following them up the course.

I understand how bike races work, and there are plenty of ways you could have avoided them. For example, in the 2nd and 3rd images you posted, you could have positioned yourself differently (on the other side of the road, perhaps) and avoided including the cars in the shots.

You could also position yourself in areas where the cars will have to slow down (such as tighter turns) so that they aren't so hot on the riders' tails.

 

[PharmD]

OK here is one worked up a little more in Lightroom- I like the colors a lot more.

 

[PharmD]

Few more shots.

 

[powasky]

I like the second set much better, especially the riders whose clothing stands out from the background a lot. I would say that the first one is slightly overexposed. The third is my favorite.

EDIT- Were you shooting at ISO 100? You could try an ND filter as well to get the larger aperture.

 

[PharmD]

Here's that overexposed photo edited down one stop.

 

[Kerbouchard]

There was really no way around the cars- each rider had a car following them up the course. I also tried shooting at wider aperature- f/2.8 and my camera kept saying it was too bright...anyway to get around this in the future?

Only one way to get around it. If you are already at your lowest ISO, your fastest shutter speed and increasing your aperture is causing your photos to be overexposed, an ND filter is about the only option.

 

[PharmD]

Here's another just 'cause he is a famous cyclist. Dave Zabriskie- national time trial champ. There are so many photos to look through and evaluate! Took over 400 shots.

 

[PharmD]

Another shot that I like

 

[cpeay]

I have to help with traffic control this weekend for this race