Penistone Parkrun, wasn't sure whether to run it or snap it. Having had a 10k hilly training run on Friday, I decided that I'd take photographs instead. Quick bit of shopping and shocked at the price of some items at our local supermarket. FOUR SQUID for a 500g tub of Lurpak. Back to marg in future!
Photographing starts is never a good idea. You can take a hundred images and maybe one of them might be of any use. I'd put on a 35mm lens, not as sharp as I'd like it to be, hoping to prove myself wrong. Out of the twenty or so photographs I snapped, a handful were reasonable.
Where to go next. Exit from the skatepark?
YES
NO
YES
NO
They'll end up being rubbish and you'll spend ages trying to get something reasonable out of them. And that's what's happened. The idea isn't at fault, it just doesn't work as well as I hope it will. Tried one or two images but gave up on them, just a waste of time and effort. Plus they weren't a patch on the TPT shots.
Update: had a go at editing and although the composition isn't much, they'll do for mobile phone use.
Thursday: After pedalling home on a bike purchased from Penistone Cycles, I spied a possible composition for the forthcoming parkrun. Bearing this in mind, I set up shop just after the bridge. The leaves on the ground were fairly thick, undisturbed by the wind and passing humans. I knew that the leader wouldn't be too long in his return, so I quickly changed to my 85mm f1.8 lens. If I was only allowed one lens for sports photography, it would be this one. It's brilliant.
If there is a solitary runner, I try to stand directly in front of her/him and shout, "Don't worry, I'll move out of your way!" The path on the TPT isn't very wide at this point and I needed to be quite nimble on my feet.
A train of runners calls for a different strategy; wait for the lead runner to enter the right hand third of the frame, focus point on them and click. This composition is quite effective, as the runners create a "human" vanishing point. Anyone who is too close to the person in front unfortunately misses out on a photograph. It's impossible to capture them when they are so near to me. The focal length of the lens can't cope with runners in close proximity.
I also kneel, sit or squat whenever I can, so that the runner/s become more dominant than I am. It's bloody hard getting back up though, old age creeping in.
Composition dilemma:
I'm always torn between, including as much of the landscape as possible, or cropping an image closely. Most people will view the photographs I take on their mobile phone. All of my editing takes place on a reasonably large monitor. An image such as the one below is great on a large screen, but not so effective on a mobile. Ian Roberts Fell Race, with the runners trying their best to tackle the large tufts of spiky grass. There is an obvious contrast between the bronzed foreground and the lushness of the golf course. Looks nothing much on a mobile.
Maybe I should forget about the landscape and just crop as close to the runner as Barnsley Chronicle editors do on their sports pages. Still believe that the surrounding landscape is an important part of the photograph, especially on the trails and hills.
Thoughts anyone?
Next weekend:
It's Barnsley's 500th parkrun next week and unless something drastic turns up, I'll be snapping away at different points around the course. I attended the trial parkrun at the beginning, yet I've only notched up 20 runs in total. Can't remember how many I've taken photographs at. Way more than twenty.
On Sunday morning, it'll be snap time at the Penistone Hill Race. A local one with plenty of climbs for the runners to ascend. Bought a bike recently and I'll be pedalling up there instead of taking the car. Photographer on a bike. Hopefully I'll be fit enough to ride to the local races and help to save the planet. Not sure about two wheels when I go over to Bradfield for the Percy Pud though. An e bike would be nice for those sorts of venues.
Raising money for search and rescue dogs:
As most of you know by now, Sal and I lost Willow in June of this year. Her passing has created a massive vacuum in our lives, the shorter days are even more painful without her. Those four walks a day, for the last eleven years, had become so much a part of my routine. It's been hard to adjust.
I decided that I needed to have a "dog" purpose in my life. I came across the search and rescue website that supports the fantastic work that these 4 legged friends and their handlers do.
If you can find it in your heart and your wallet/purse to donate just a couple of quid from time to time, that would be fantastic. In return, I'll try to encourage you at races, probably forget your name (I'm losing it), as well as turning out some reasonable photographic memories for you.
I can't change the donation amounts on the site, just IGNORE them. A couple of quid is fine.
Don't donate any monies for parkrun event photographs as it's against the rules. I don't want to get into trouble.
Massive thanks to those people who have already donated. You are STARS!
See you soon. Mozzie.
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