Gerald Emmerich Jr, HonFPSA, GMPSA/P  


"Recumbent Racers" by Gerald Emmerich Jr, HonFPSA, GMPSA/P

July 2017 - "Recumbent Racers"

About the Image(s)

This photo was taken at the 2017 “Tour of America’s Dairyland” series of bicycle races. The America’s Dairyland tour is held on eleven courses in June each year in eleven locations in southeastern Wisconsin, including Kenosha, East Troy, Grafton, Waukesha, West Bend, Schlitz Park, Port Washington, Shorewood, Bay View, eastside Milwaukee, and Wauwatosa. The races are held on public streets closed off for the race. This photo was taken at the race around the “square” in East Troy, the small town near our house.

The course in East Troy is very “photographer friendly.” The village square and neighboring streets form the course, and spectators (and photographers) can view the race anywhere along the course. The races in East Troy are usually held in East Troy on a Friday, and the races run all day into the early evening. There are men’s and women’s races, professionals and amateurs, team races, kids’ races, and “recumbent cycle” races, with the professionals racing at the end of the day. There’s always plenty of room along the course to set up and get virtually any perspective on the races. I like to sit at the end of a curve, where the racers have slowed to make the turn; and I like the low angle to capture the expressions on the faces of the racers.

In “Recumbent Racers,” I was sitting on the ground and was holding my camera right on the curb of the road and pointing up slightly. Since I was not able to look through the viewfinder or use the live view screen, I just learned the timing and the angle through trial and error. I took the photo with my Canon 7D Mark II, a crop-sensor camera, and a 17-40mm zoom lens at 24mm. The settings were f:8, ISO 400, at 1/4000 sec under a late afternoon sun. As usual, I’d like to know if you think this image is “acceptable” in PSA-recognized Photojournalism Division international exhibitions.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
4 comments posted




Karl Hokanson   Karl Hokanson
Surprised to see handcycle racers (paralyzed participants) but when I checked TOAD I saw they didn't race in all the TOAD races (definitely didn't race Port Washington which I photographed). Was East Troy primarily a flat course?
I like the faces and clarity. Only things better would be background blur, spinning wheels and more racers grouped together.
Should be a winner in S4C or any open or sport PJ class.
Oh. in the title don't use recumbent bike which is a different bicycle. I had one for a short time and now just have the steel plate in one lower leg left.   Posted: 07/24/2017 20:32:11
Gerald Emmerich Jr   Gerald Emmerich Jr
My camera was right on the ground, and the handcycles were only about 5 feet away from the camera, sometimes even closer. From that range, the most racers I could get in the frame was two -- more than that was just too confusing. I was just guessing on the composition and when I should trip the shutter, and panning would have been even more difficult. The East Troy course is very flat.

Thanks for the comment on the title. Is the correct name "handcycle" or is it something else?   Posted: 07/24/2017 21:09:02



 
The facial expression is nice, but my problem with it is that they look like they are sitting still, not moving. Panning would certainly help, but I don't know how you could do it from the postition you described. I feel it is an OK shot, but does not excite me to much. You might also crop off from the bottom a little more and make sure you inlcude the mirror on the front cyclist, it gets a little destracting seeing it cut off.   Posted: 07/29/2017 12:07:16



 
I'm very intrigued by this image ... I particularly enjoyed your description of the effort necessary to capture this image. Your description also served as a reminder to me to use the Live View mode more than I do.
I really like the placement of the two bikes ... particularly the position of the second rider's face just behind the rear wheel of the first bike. My first impression of this image was that it might be cropped too closely ... an odd thought for me since I tend to want to crop in all the time! I'm sure that you were eliminating distractions beyond the yellow fence line.
Then I kind of wondered what would happen if we cropped in even closer? I was trying to emphasize how close the riders are to each other.
This image is somewhat out of the ordinary ... I certainly think that it would gain acceptance or more ... on a regular basis ... in PSA PJ competition.
Also ... my compliments to you on the depth of your image descriptions and comments/responses to the other members of DD-59. Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of our group!   Posted: 07/30/2017 01:23:33
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