FAST Cyclists!

Today I worked on a number of shots to get to my stock house in Milwaukee. So I had to post a few more cycling shots from this weekend. Sports photography is fun for me. It gives me an opportunity to PLAY with my camera, flashes and various settings and then even more magic happens when I digitally enhance the image. My friend, Tony Sweet, told us in his Smokies workshop that your success with photography will depend upon what you can do with the image AFTER it's captured. I agree wholeheartedly with his assessment.

This image, which was rather ordinary right out of the camera, came to life after a little digital manipulation. I guess learning various software programs and their updates has paid off! Who needs crossword puzzles to keep the grey matter active? I've got software programs that stretch my neurons!

When I made the image, I was close to the riders and could feel the wind blow by me as they rounded the corner. Can you feel it too?

Cycling Techniques

Wow! Did I have fun last night at the Downer Classic cycling race! Took my new Honl system out for a spin and just played with some shots I had envisioned, as the hunky, heavily muscled cyclists zoomed around the Downer Ave. neighborhood. People have lawn parties and watch the racers blur by. If they drink a little too much, they probably really see the blur! As I walked around the course I ran into about 20 people I know. So it's a fun, summer evening for visiting and taking in a great cycling event. Did I mention that it's free?

So I share with you a few images that I liked from my experimentation. I love the Nikon wireless flash system - so versatile and lightweight. While I hand held these or hand someone hold the Honl snooted flash for me, the successes came when the flash was pointed dead on a cyclist I was attempting to capture. The blur was all fast panning with a shutter speed of about 1/15th of a second.

Another cycling event is due on Downer Ave. the third Sat. evening in July. Stay tuned!

Batter Up!

What can be more fun that watching a Little League game on a warm, summer night? Photographing one!

Little League baseball had it's official "opening" last Friday night, when the thermometer actually hit 80 degrees! What a joy to sit outside in shorts and a short sleeved shirt to photograph my 3 young neighbors who all play on the same team - the Pirates! It was great fun to follow them through the camera lens and record them throwing, running and batting. They are growing up quickly!

There was one particular rule at this level of Little League that I thought was interesting. If the ball was in the infield, you could raise your hand up (if you had the ball) and that meant 'time out.' Every movement stopped to allow the kids to process what had happened and think through to the next batter and what might happen - i.e. where to throw the ball to get an out.

"WOW," I thought, "wouldn't it be great if in real life you could throw your hand into the air for a little 'time out' to get your bearings and go on with your life?" "Stop everybody! I've got the ball and my hand is up in the air! STOP!" Just then, this young, talented boy stepped up to the plate and swung his bat like a pro. He snapped me back into reality as I made this shot.

It was fun to be a kid again, if only vicariously.