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John C.
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
Posts: 1738
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 Posted Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:08 pm |
Although I don't usually buy them the ones of me on last years FW were the best ones of me I've seen , smiling and grinning at the top of the pass after the first feed stop and with a stunning backdrop, and then one of me hunch shouldered at the top of Hardknott, totally spent. You don't have to buy them, and I like looking through them.
http://www.ripon-loiterers.org.uk/
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Hills are just a matter of pace |
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bristolpete
Joined: 09 Apr 2009
Posts: 178
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Posted Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:19 pm |
As a photographer myself, I have to say that sadly most 'event' photographers are not actually capable of the job at hand. I have had more than my fair share of event photographers at events both nationally and internationally. Questions like 'who am I shooting for' with the assumption that I am a random bloke walking through a field without actually stopping to think...
Shame, everyone likes a photo of themselves really, but I agree that a lot of the stuff for sale on line is utter garbage....
Here is the sort of stuff I shot over the last few months. Its not that hard....
http://www.titanimages.co.uk |
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DubaiNeil
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 18
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Posted Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:38 am |
As a keen semi-pro sports photographer (i.e. I choose to photograph sports, and sell photos - but it is not my main job) I would suggest a few things, that maybe have not been considered:
1) If the face isn't in the shot - it doesn't sell. Now, you may not want your face to be displaying a grimace, but at least for an uphill shot the photographer is above you, and you are generally looking up, so easier to capture the face. Downhill, all/most/some riders [well me anyway  ] tend to look down, and s photo proudly showing the top of a helmet doesn't sell so well 
2) Single rider shots sell best - Cyclists climbing "tend" to be more strung out, so making it easier to capture a single rider without other riders being in the same shot, and causing clutter, distraction or (at least) more difficulty cropping. As a caveat however, a poor background is due to lack of thought and planning by the photographer...
3) Is the photographer trying to tell a "story" with the shot? In which case a smiley, happy descent shot doesn't convey the effort and strain required to conquer the climb. The second option shows the personal challenge of the event.
For motor racing (in my experience) the "banker" shots of practice and qualifying are liked by the teams & drivers for web-site and sponsorship package use, rather than a newspaper sports section back page special of a spectacular incident during a race.
4) Does the photographer understand the sport? There are a number of "generic" sports photographers in the market who have invested in a large quantity of equipment and wish to recover its cost. They will therefore attend numerous different sports events to widen their market. In my experience (again) I know that I am "best" at photographing sports I know well, and less effective (and probably less "original") at capturing sports I am less familiar with as I do not necessarily understand the nuances of that particular sport.
5) Have you contacted the photographers in question and suggested a new approach? I personally would be happy for any participant in a sport to provide feedback on my work and positive criticism can help make the photographer more money! This would be particularly true of a large event where there may be more competition for the photographers, so anyone showing a bit of vision and creativity could succeed over the rest.
All that said, GBP20 for a download does seem a bit steep, but maybe there is a new lens the photographer wants
Neil
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blorg
Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 712
Location: Ireland
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Posted Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:01 pm |
| Quote: | | Is the photographer trying to tell a "story" with the shot? In which case a smiley, happy descent shot doesn't convey the effort and strain required to conquer the climb. The second option shows the personal challenge of the event. |
I think this is key, the uphill shots actually portray the effort involved in the thing.
At the Marmotte there were photographers on the descents but I would have preferred a few of me on the climbs. Unfortunately I had my helmet on the bars for the climbs so that obscured my number and that is how they do them.
The money is ridiculous all right, I don't know how many people spend that. I'd happily spend a small amount but have never bought a photo at the high prices asked. My feeling is that if they slashed the price they would sell more and make up enough in volume... but maybe for many people doing sportives it is special enough for them to shell out that much on a photo. I don't deny if there was a good one of me going UP on the Galibier or the Alpe I would have been tempted.
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Attica
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Clevedonia
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Posted Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:35 pm |
at the New Forest Challenge this year they had one photographer half way up hill getting grimaces and then another about 200 yards on, resulting in this
I have to say that my biggest disappointment was with the photos from the UK Cyclosportive a few years back (The London to Canterbury tour stage one), I could have paid a princley sum for some photos of myself riding down a high street, truly rubbish.
EDIT I did buy a great photo of myself descending round a hairpin on the North Cornwall Tor this year but can't remember my race number so can't find the pic
EDIT Found it here
"Stick it in my big ring and pretend it doesn't hurt"
I am Bertie Armstrong
bastardised singlespeed FCN 5, leg hair and baggies on order. |
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Shepley
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 11:27 pm |
As a cyclist and ex-fell runner who is also interested in photograhy I was also surprised by the tendency of event photographers to stick with fairly basic shots of uphill riders. However I have now tried the delicate art of the panning shots on riders descending Holme Moss in the recent Tour of the Peak and got a better understanding of the problems! (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ShaunP050/TourOfThePeak800px?feat=directlink)
It is far easier to get a reliable, saleable image of all/most riders on the uphill sections than when they are travelling at speed and possibly in groups on the descents. The wonders of digital photography allow you to take a lot of shots but the 'keeper' rate on my attempts was quite low - as a professional enterprise this just would not be acceptable. Hats off to those that can master the technique!
As others have mentioned if you give some feedback to the photographers and event organisers hopefully they can improve the service they are attempting to provide.
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oldnewbiker
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 24
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Tue Nov 3, 2009 2:24 pm |
| Shepley wrote: | As a cyclist and ex-fell runner who is also interested in photograhy I was also surprised by the tendency of event photographers to stick with fairly basic shots of uphill riders. However I have now tried the delicate art of the panning shots on riders descending Holme Moss in the recent Tour of the Peak and got a better understanding of the problems! (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ShaunP050/TourOfThePeak800px?feat=directlink)
It is far easier to get a reliable, saleable image of all/most riders on the uphill sections than when they are travelling at speed and possibly in groups on the descents. The wonders of digital photography allow you to take a lot of shots but the 'keeper' rate on my attempts was quite low - as a professional enterprise this just would not be acceptable. Hats off to those that can master the technique!
As others have mentioned if you give some feedback to the photographers and event organisers hopefully they can improve the service they are attempting to provide. |
Interesting user name how did you happen by it.??
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gsk82
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 47
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Posted Tue Nov 3, 2009 3:26 pm |
i dont get why they always go on the outside of bends either. surely a shot of you leaning towards them would be better!
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Shepley
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 12:45 pm |
Oldnewbiker wrote :
Interesting user name how did you happen by it.??
Happens to be a street name in Glossop from where I used to organise a fell race - I always struggle to come up with usernames but I can see why it caught your eye having looked at your profile! Apologies for any confusion caused.
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oldnewbiker
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 24
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:17 pm |
| Shepley wrote: | Oldnewbiker wrote :
Interesting user name how did you happen by it.??
Happens to be a street name in Glossop from where I used to organise a fell race - I always struggle to come up with usernames but I can see why it caught your eye having looked at your profile! Apologies for any confusion caused. |
No confusion just interest ,I wondered if I had discovered a cycling cousin.
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oldnewbiker
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 24
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:50 am |
Well I ordered a couple of pictures me taken on the Pendle Pedal very reasonable @ about £7.00 ,they arrived yestrday ,seems I have changed sex and pastime as I got pictures of a young lady finishing a marathon ,she will get a shock
when she gets pictures of me. 
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Nickwill
Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 2031
Location: United Kingdom
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oldnewbiker
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 24
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:50 pm |
| Nickwill wrote: | | oldnewbiker wrote: | Well I ordered a couple of pictures me taken on the Pendle Pedal very reasonable @ about £7.00 ,they arrived yestrday ,seems I have changed sex and pastime as I got pictures of a young lady finishing a marathon ,she will get a shock
when she gets pictures of me. |
Last time I saw you, I told you those performance enhancing drugs would do you no good in the long term!  |
Yeah and I still take ages getting up hills .
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andy_wrx
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2091
Location: Cheshire - soft underbelly of the North
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