Oct 12, 20226 min read

Don't Panic Mozzie

It was 2018 when I last snapped runners at the Sheffield 101010. With autumn holidays clashing with the event date, plus Covid rearing its ugly head and halting proceedings, it was a welcome return to Endcliffe Park.

Doug advised the togs to arrive around 8:30 am. Sounded reasonable. With Tan needing an hour's exercise, breakfast to sort out, multiple visits to the loo ... what time would I have to set the alarm?

A restless night didn't help matters, my mind whirring with negative thoughts about the morning to come.

Would the images be any good?

How long should I stay at the top of the hill?

One camera and two lenses, or two cameras with a different lens on each? If I take two cameras, that'll mean I have to take a rucksack with me. And at my time of life, that could be fatal. On more than one occasion, I've had to run back to a snapping point to retrieve my gear. The joys of growing old.

In the end, I actually took two cameras with me. A 35mm prime lens on one and an 85mm on the other. Zooms aren't my favourite cup of tea, useless in low light conditions. Maybe I should invest in a good 24-70mm for the sunnier events I attend. Don't have the cash at the moment; and while the primes are giving me good results, I'll just have to make do.

Left my mozzie sign at home, too many things to carry around with me and then forget them.

Tan on a walk the previous day. He was well camouflaged in the woodland.

Sunday morning: Up around 6:10am. Time to make a cuppa and watch the news. Best bit of the day and not to be missed. Sal and I finding out what the world is doing, while relaxing in bed, alongside Tan of course. Clothes were ready and waiting to quickly slip into, then out and about with Tan. You can't expect a border collie to manage with a quick walk around a field or two. An hour is the absolute minimum.

Back for around 7:25, loo and breakfast, then bags into the car exactly at the time I'd planned. Estimated travel time was around 40 minutes, taking in Bradfield and Malin Bridge. Parked up away from Riverdale Road. Didn't fancy being stuck in traffic at the end of the race.

I'm on time. Nice one Mozzie.

Doug asked us to take a few images before the fun run. If people are running, I'm not too shabby at taking a decent photo of them. Portraits of strangers? Not my strong point I'm afraid to say. Feel conscious and uncomfortable. If I'm on holiday, that's a different matter altogether. No idea why this is.

Just chilling before the race.

Trail shoes on trial.

Resisted the temptation to boost my caffeine intake yet again. At my age, liquid seems to find its way through the system quite quickly. Growing old has one or two drawbacks. Quick visit to the portaloo and then time to find my way towards the first snapping point. After a four-year absence from Endcliffe Park events, I'd forgotten where the pond was in relation to the start. It took me around 10 mins to find my way and work out what the best composition would be.

Around 150 fun runners, as well as Joe Public walking their kids and/or dogs, parents pushing prams, kids on bikes/scooters etc etc. Which side of the path to take, that was the problem. What line would the fun runners take? Left side, or right?

I wasn't positioned that far from the start, meaning it would probably quite crowded towards the middle of the field. I could take a number of shots from where I was, then move to the pavement to catch the rest on their way back. Snapped a few good ones there in 2018.

I haven't included any shots of fun runners in this blog due to permissions.

The leaders were reasonably well spread out and I stayed there until it became "busy". Quick escape to the pavement and railings ... disaster. A massive ROAD CLOSED vehicle as a backdrop and the sun creating deep shadows. Too late to move back. Worse than that, I'd forgotten to change the settings on one of my cameras. It was on aperture mode instead of manual. The shutter speed was down to 1/60th sec ...blurred photos, which were neither use nor ornament. I've done this once before; why didn't I remember to change it back.

Numpty.

Time to make my way up to the top of "The Hill".

"You've got to be joking!"

No matter how much planning you might do, always be prepared for the unexpected.

A dirty, great big luminous BOLLARD placed in the path of the struggling runners. Apparently, it was a necessary evil, covering the spot where a rabbit or two had decided to excavate a new burrow. ARGH!

Yellow and orange reflective gear is despised by every photographer. It plays havoc with the camera's sensor and stands out a mile in the resulting photograph. Ah well, I'll try to avoid it as much as I can.

Decision time. 85mm or 35mm lens? Change over when needed?

After 100 snaps, I changed from the Nikon D7500 with the 85mm lens on, to the Nikon D7100 with the 35mm lens. This allowed me to capture more runners within the frame.

The D7500 is much quieter and can shoot more frames per second, handy in some situations.

Like a herd of wildebeest, the flow of ascenders appeared to be never ending.

Smiles, grimaces, shouts of pleasure, as well as the odd profanity from some.

Changing the focus point on the camera to hit a specific runner, isn't easy. I was struggling to keep up. How many more bodies are there?

As the sweeper appeared at the bottom of the hill, it was time to take up my next position.

Panic set in.

Do I stay here throughout the whole of lap 2, or do I head down to the path at the bottom of the slope?

And at what point do I make the move?

When the path becomes congested?

A far better chance of snapping an increasing number of runners down there I told myself.

With the leader through and a gap appearing, I checked the composition on the camera display. Looking good. The runners take the higher path where the track splits. I'm on the lower one, allowing me to snap them and any runners behind.

Well, more or less. If the group is too big, I'm unable to capture everyone in the way I want to. The 85mm gave me a narrower frame; the 35mm would have included too much of the woodland in the composition.

I packed up and slid down the bank, literally slid. In hindsight, I should have stayed in the woodland for at least another 10 minutes or so.

Just stay there for the duration next time?

Never mind.

Didn't catch the leader, too fast.

Fairly wide path and fewer Sunday strollers.

Took up my position. No chance of hitting the runners head on, way too many of them.

Set the focus point to the right of the frame. Press the shutter button on the leading runner and hopefully there will be an arc of bodies chasing him/her.

Tired.

And only 40 or so minutes had gone by. Snapping, on average, once every 5 seconds or so can sap your energy more than you think. Shifting the focus point to different spots within the frame can become tedious.

Love it really ...?

I did manage to capture the leading lady - Saskia Huxham of Hallamshire Harriers. HH scored a double with Leo Cossham crossing the line in first place, fifty seconds in front of the next runner.

Moved again towards the gate out of the park. Runners were still streaming up the hill. Should have I just stayed there? Nah, I'd have been bored to death and the look on some of the faces might not be that appealing to either of us.

Another panic moment.

Stay!

Go!

Stay!

Go!

I think it's just the sheer number of runners that becomes overwhelming. You want to provide each one of them with a decent memory of their effort, it just isn't possible.

Another move, back to the pond and shooting with the sun behind me.

Changed from one camera and lens to the other, depending on whether the groups were large or small. Lots of tired but happy faces. Not long before the finishing line would appear.

Another change of position with a few black and white images, just for a change.