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26.01.09

Tips for shooting cycle sports

Words by Adam Tranter

We all love taking photographs in the summer months. But in the darkness of winter, it can often be difficult to persuade yourself to keep shooting. For some great action shooting opportunities during the winter months though, cyclo-cross, a relatively unknown sport, is perfect.

Accreditation isn’t necessary. With most events taking place in parks or on common land, there are some great opportunities for both action and ‘arty’ shots. Do a recce for good shooting opportunities. During an event, there will be many different races, for various age groups and both genders. Cyclo-cross is one of the few sports where you can stick a zoom lens in someone’s face before the race starts.

KIT BAG

I use a 70-200mm telephoto zoom for most of my cyclo-cross photography, but there are moments in tree covered areas where my 50mm f/1.8 prime comes in handy. These spots also tend to have a narrow path and limited space to work in, so a telephoto is somewhat restrictive. A wide-angle zoom would also allow you to get in close to the riders.
My kit bag remains relatively unchanged; it’s worth carrying some sort of waterproofing for both yourself and your camera. With events sometimes lasting five or six hours, a small, portable chair comes in handy too. Some sturdy shoes won’t go amiss either.

Portrait shots on the start line will really catch the emotion of the riders. But be sensible and make sure you’re out of the way before the flag drops, as it can get pretty hectic. Most races have a good supply of descents, forestry and mud pits so move around. Try something different, taking advantage of your surroundings. I often climb trees to get a different perspective. Races are usually close to an hour long, during which time the riders will charge around the circuit more than once. Follow the circuit backwards; you’ll see the riders more.

There’s normally a technical part of the course, which is likely to bring a few crashes; it’s always nice to come home with some You’ve Been Framed style shots. Once the race starts, the pack will quickly disintegrate and the majority of competitors will complete the course alone. You’ll often be taking photographs of single riders so concentrate on framing. Ensure there is a tight in-camera crop unless there’s a good obstacle or descent in the background. Most importantly, be prepared for the finish. Listen out for the bell on the last lap and get there in plenty of time.

Many techniques are useful for snapping cyclocross, and most of these are applicable to other cycling and sports photography. Varying shutter speeds is the most common trick; it’s a very simple way to create effective motion blur. I regularly shoot at 1/250sec, in decent light conditions this gives me a good trade-off between sharpness and a sense of movement. At higher speeds such as 1/500sec, the subject and background will be frozen.

This will give sharp pictures but clutter like barriers may become more apparent. As you drop the shutter speed lower, the sense of speed and movement will improve. There is always a point where an artistic blur turns into a incomprehensible mess, so experiment to find out where that point is for you. Shooting at 1/90sec will normally give you a good amount of ‘keepers’.

Try practising your panning technique, go lower and the results may be even more spectacular. Lighting conditions can change quite rapidly at this time of the year, so try not to be complacent with your set-up, take plenty of test shots and preview them on your LCD. By taking a few moments to ensure your settings are suitable you’ll get more keepers. I tend to use fill-flash for most of my shots as in certain places lighting can be dreadful. Even with faster lenses, areas covered by trees will most likely require flash.

But be warned, some cyclists will have reflective strips on their clothing or shoes, so you may want to post process this out later. When you’re out there on the front line, you’ll pick up plenty of useful tips. Find a league in your area and try out new techniques by shooting weekly. With the scenic surroundings and sheer determination of the sport’s competitors, it’s easy to see why cyclo-cross could be one of the most versatile opportunities for snappers this winter.

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