Cycling and running - which lenses?

Bebop

Bebop

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This might be one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions, but I wondered if any of you have a preference for certain focal length lenses with these sports? Or does it just depend on what shooting position you can get?

I recently shot a cycling race and used my 70-200 f/2.8 as it was a grey day and I wanted to single out cyclists. When it came to group shots I was very rushed fiddling with my aperture for a better depth of field. I noticed the professional photographer went for all wide angle shots.

In a running race, I went for the 24-105 as I imagined a wide angle low shot at the start. I actually got a bit too close I think - hopefully posted below. I then went to the longer 70-200 around the course, though my shots were a little boring :-/


Start of Needles Half Marathon by BuzzleCup, on Flickr
 
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I use 70-200 for the lot.. I ahve a 35m prime if I need to get close to a start or if its a wide field for a start.. but normally 70-200 does and its all about getting yourself in position

BTW High up for race start position not low down... you get more faces in shot high up..
 
Thanks Kipax. I thought it might add a bit of drama going from low and wide, but next time, I will stand back and stand up :)

So, would you change the aperture for group shots versus single cyclists/runners? Presumably you'd want a greater depth of field? - that might be silly question number one! I found with the cycling it all happened very fast - even though they were going uphill and weren't professionals! More practice needed!
 
the more you can get in forcus for a group start the better

as for individual cyclists..really depends on location.. if miles of open scenry in background then you can get away with greater DOF and thus more chance of everyhting in focus.. but if a row of tress 10ft behind then ?

it really depends on the situation..

what you really need to decide is how your going to tkae the picture.., shutter speed more important wiht moving wheels.. if you are too high and freeze the action a bike can lkook static.. topo slow and blurred... panning with slower shutter freezes a rider but blurs the spokes..

theres lots to it.. personally i dont do a great lot of cycling shots as they are boring (all samey samey) so i concentrate on backgrounds

my last cycle shoot was here http://www.kipax.com/gallery/index.php?album=WHEELS/2702

it was a time trial so no big start :( i covered the whole route before finding a good spot. i had to make sure i got decent shots for paper so i didnt pan for slower shutter showing movement.. i had to get every shot so played safe :)
 
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I don't have a preference.
I'll use anything from 10mm fisheye up to 300/2.8 with 2x extender.
It all depends on how close/far away I am and the shot I'm wanting to get.
 
Thank you both. I was just surprised that the professional photographer appeared to only use a wide angle lens. I confess my 70-200 is my only wider aperture lens, so I suppose it wouldn't occur to me to use anything else. It did catch me out on the groups at first as I'd left it at 2.8 - doh!

I would love to have a go at panning but can imagine that it is extremely tricky to get blurred spokes and a sharp rider. I can also see that if you have to get the shots you wouldn't risk it too. I'll have to get my other half out on his bike so I can practice :)

Nice gallery Kipax. Those were the sorts of shots I was trying to take, where you get the rider sharp and you can also see their bike.

I can see what you mean about cycling being samey, and I think it's true of running too. My running shots are so boring :-/ but I gave it a try…. Really I prefer to do sports where there's a bit of gritty one on one action, like football. I'm hoping to try my hand at rugby this coming season too.

My favourite running shot was this one - mainly because of the water in the cup! The light was harsh.

Water station on Needles Half Marathon by BuzzleCup, on Flickr
 
Bebop said:
Thank you both. I was just surprised that the professional photographer appeared to only use a wide angle lens.
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You may be taking professional photogrpaher too far.. just because someone is there officialy doesnt mean he knows what he is doing... he may be a seasoned pro and his "style" of photogrpahy is to do everythign wide... or he may be doing it for the first time and only have that lens.. profesional doesnt mean good and doesnt mean knows what they are doing.. just means being there officialy and hopefully getting paid :)


my point being... if you see someone who is or seems to be a profesional.. dont presume what he is doing is the best way or the only way just because he is a pro


PS replace all my references to "he" with "he/she" :)
 
I think tony has pretty much covered everything in this

my point being... if you see someone who is or seems to be a profesional.. dont presume what he is doing is the best way or the only way just because he is a pro
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And his previous posts pretty much nail it, it depends on a lot of factors, there's no point using a wide angle if your gonna get metal barriers/flurescent stewards in the shot. I just purchased a nikkon 28-70 2.8 and got some nice pics of swimmers transitioning out of water at a tri, but only because the background was nice and uncluttered (and i'd asked stewards not to walk into shot) Thats a fairly affordable lens compared to its 24-70 counterpart if you were wanting to play around.
 
KIPAX said:
proffesional doesn't mean good and doesn't mean knows what they are doing.. just means being there officially and hopefully getting paid
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Can you STOP talking about me - I think you have a complex :D
 
KIPAX said:
my point being... if you see someone who is or seems to be a profesional.. dont presume what he is doing is the best way or the only way just because he is a pro
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Yes I suppose I was assuming he was doing it the right way, and maybe I wasn't. Also as I cycle and love my bike, I was trying to capture their bikes reasonably close up (sometimes they got too close and I missed the opportunity)


KIPAX said:
PS replace all my references to "he" with "he/she" :)
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Understood :) They are mostly 'he' after all
 
Bebop said:
This might be one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions, but I wondered if any of you have a preference for certain focal length lenses with these sports? Or does it just depend on what shooting position you can get?
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Correct about the "piece of string". When shooting marathons/10k I mostly use 70-200 to try and isolate individual runners however if shooting near a well known landmark I may use 24-70 in landscape to capture groups of runners and the landmark in frame. Same for cycling but always go for what the runners/cyclists will buy (unless its for personal use).
 
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I mainly shoot to sell to the participant so it is all about the individual and nice background. I was using the 70-200 it worked and did what I needed when space is tight or not so great backgrounds available. I have reciently started using the 300mm for tri's both bikes and run but only when space and numbers allow it. I use google street view and go down the course backwards looking for places I can get a nice background and plenty of space to see them comming Middle of knowhere with a nice background and and lots of space behind them closer to the end of the section so they are a little more spread out so you can single them out easier. No messing about with zoom its get them where they are yes it does produce a lot of the same shots and not very forgivving if your late spotting someone.

I did shoot the Manchester marathon with a 16-35 though but the brief was from the organisers for publicity shots not for selling so get the landmarks in, charity participants 1st-3rd finishers, it was a great to capture sport in a different way. I probably have photos of snapzz shooting the runners as they came to the finish line :)
 
Little John said:
I did shoot the Manchester marathon with a 16-35 though but the brief was from the organisers for publicity shots not for selling so get the landmarks in, charity participants 1st-3rd finishers, it was a great to capture sport in a different way. I probably have photos of snapzz shooting the runners as they came to the finish line :)
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:lol::lol::lol:
 
Little John said:
I mainly shoot to sell to the participant so it is all about the individual and nice background.
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Yes I can see if you're selling them, the individual is all important!

Little John said:
I was using the 70-200 it worked and did what I needed when space is tight or not so great backgrounds available. I have reciently started using the 300mm …..
No messing about with zoom its get them where they are yes it does produce a lot of the same shots and not very forgivving if your late spotting someone.
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So I discovered too! Even with my 70-200mm I chopped off their bikes because I was too close sometimes :)

Little John said:
I probably have photos of snapzz shooting the runners as they came to the finish line :)
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I am in the local paper this week, caught by their photographer - you can see me from behind, crouched down :D
 
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