[Leica] IMG: Davis 4th of July Criterium pro race

[imra at iol.ie (Douglas Barry)]

Adam, as a photo essay, it's very good, but lacks finish, as in there is 
no finish shot. That said, as a former triathlete, and owner of seven 
bikes, I love bike racing, and you caught some good images of some nice 
equipment and the huge amount of effort that goes in to ride it fast. I 
particularly like the second one as the local home town boy goes for 
early glory by attempting a break to the amusement of a couple of the 
chasing pack.

Douglas


On 05/07/2018 18:29, Adam Bridge via LUG wrote:
> Here in Davis the bike club blocks off most of downtown for a street race. 
> It?s been going on just this side of forever. Mostly it?s run in 
> temperatures that range from low 90s to near 110. This year we made it all 
> the way to 80 with a breeze. Just about a perfect day for bike racing.
>
> And a perfect day to poke at the art of photographing a bike race. I set 
> up at Turn One which is at the end of the longest straight on the course. 
> I chose my Fuji X-T2 coupled to the 100-400mm zoom. In retrospect, except 
> for a couple of shots, I would have been better off with the 50-140, I 
> think.
>
> I?ll just share a few of my favorite shots and maybe you?ll get excited 
> for the Tour de France coming up on the 7th.
>
> The starting instructions:
>
> In the lead at the first turn:
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-JVQVG5d>
>
> ?Jump to Lightspeed?
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-tDhGD69>
>
> Course marshal at work:
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-kWCdNp6>
>
> The breakaway:
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-B6Xw4xS>
>
> Team CLIF
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-M6kfNPg>
>
> How I imagine it all feels:
>
> <https://adam-bridge.smugmug.com/Sports/Cycling/2018-Davis-4th-of-July-Criterium/i-bdPb5hN>
>
> I have come away with a new respect for the photographers who make super, 
> tack-sharp, photos of bike races. It was fun. There?s plenty of light but 
> it?s a huge test on autofocus systems. I think the Fuji with the 100-400 
> wasn?t really up to the task. Or I wasn?t sophisticated enough to make 
> best use of its settings. I should have taken the Sony A7R3 with the 
> 70-200 to see if it did any better. I know the A9 would have worked 
> wonderfully but I don?t shoot sports for a living. It?s like buying 
> Leicas. Well, okay, maybe half a Leica.
>
> Thanks for looking and, perhaps, reading this far.
>
> I?d welcome critique on the shots I?ve shared or on the entire sequence 
> (some of them are for local guys on our club team)
>
> Adam Bridge
>
>
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