Advice for covering a half marathon

tarmac_chaser

tarmac_chaser

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Carl
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I fancy taking some photos at a half marathon next week, has anyone got any tips?

I'll be using a Canon 40D with 70-200 F4 lens. Not sure on weather conditions yet, likely to be overcast though I'd imagine at best.

I'm going to stand at the top of a hill, so would a shutter of 1/250 be enough or something closer to 1/500? I want to freeze the action.

I'll be running the lens at the maximum F4, and will adjust ISO accordingly, as well as using AI Continuous focusing and partial to spot metering depending on the lighting as I'm hoping for shots of single runners most of the time
 
If the light is constant take a reading and shoot manual, this will stop the meter being fooled by all the different coloured tops from the runners. If it's variable take two readings and switch between the two as the light changes. You won't have time to change the EC to compensate for each runner's choice of clothing.

Find a spot a couple of miles in so the runners have spread out but are still looking fresh and position yourself at a bend so they run down towards you and turn away. I generally shoot from a crouched position which gives the runner a more powerful pose in the frame. A folding chair can also be useful if you can be bothered to lug it around, in bad weather I can strap a brolly to the back and keep dry as well ;)

Select the top focus point only and use AF servo, track each runner with the focus point on their head for 1/2 a second before shooting. Alternatively centre point on their chest works well as their bib number makes a good target for the AF to lock on to. Finally, try and catch them as they're lifting off the back foot rather than touching down on the front.
 
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