Parkrun Experiment

There are times when I'm out snapping runners, that I'd like to keep the same "background" composition.

What normally happens: As the runners approach me, I'm quickly assessing where in the frame I want them to be. It might be in the middle as in the image below.

If there are a number of runners heading my way , I'll shift the focus point to the runner on the right-hand side of the frame (or left). I've learned to do this almost instinctively. See them coming, think about the composition, move focus point and snap. Next runner/s, repeat the process. The number of runners in focus will depend on the aperture chosen and how far back the other runners are from the one at the front.

Hopefully I'll be able to attend Penistone Parkrun in the morning, straight after a visit to the doctors for a flu jab. The camera will be set up on a tripod, keeping the composition exactly the same in each photograph. Using a remote camera release, I can look at the composition without having to peer through the viewfinder and just snap!

Looking forward to the possible success or failure of this trial.

Saturday morning post flu jab.

Quick bit of shopping, snatched brekkie, flu jab and then off I went to position myself at the turning point of the Penistone Parkrun. Tripod set up and camera aimed fairly and squarely at the bollard and a very helpful marshal. Focussed on him and then set the camera to manual focus. Remote control ready in hand awaiting the first few runners to see how things would pan out. Snap. Snap. Snap.

It was a heck of a lot easier than it normally would be. No having to hold the weighty camera and lens. No adjusting the focus point or changing the background. Surely this has to be the future?

Loading the images onto the computer is still a slow process, as is loading the finished photographs onto the hard drive. A real pain but my set up can't go any faster.

Edited the first image and then copied the settings onto the other 300+ photos. It took less than 10 minutes to complete the process. WOW!

Did I find it to be a creatively satisfying? Not really. I suppose it could be useful in certain situations where 100's and 100's of photos need editing and people are happy with the result. It certainly doesn't satisfy my urge to improve my skills base.

Messed about with a couple of possibilities in Photoshop.

Photos from this mornings parkrun can be found here.