I end up shooting almost as much of the location at cyclocross races as I do of the race itself. The Luray caverns cross race has some very cool buildings and old farm equipment on the property. Lots and lots of character and textures. Just really cool to shoot there.
And that, folks, is how it’s done.
Having some fun at the Rocktown Cyclocross Festical today in Harrisonburg, VA
When I started shooting (both video and stills) I would just shoot anything and everything. I had no vision and real purpose for what I was shooting. I shot because, well, I could. I see so many people these days shooting video and stills and I always wonder what they do with it. My philosophy these days is “why shoot if you’re not going to do anything with it.” It doesn’t have to be posted on a social media site. It doesn’t have to be on broadcast TV. It could simply be shared with friends around the kitchen counter, but do something with it, otherwise it was pointless to shoot it in the first place. IMHO.
I choose to share mine online. My original intent for purchasing an aerial camera was to shoot cyclocross racing. So here’s a first look at a couple of cross races I’ve shot this season. I actually plan on putting together a piece for the Psycho Cross race – a sort of promo of sorts. Order a print of the featured image here.
I’ve shot here for several years now at the annual Psycho Cross cyclocross race and I look froward to it every year. I enjoy shooting cycling, no doubt, but I really enjoy shooting this property. And this year I have a new angle of view! Just a little preview of what I’ll be shooting tomorrow.
One of the open windows at the Warfield Complex in Sykesville, MD. | Order a print of this image.
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all my sports shooting it’s that high-speed burst shooting should be used very sparingly. I think it was last year that I came home from shooting Winchester Applecross with close to 7,000 images. Three 0’s people! Sure the high-speed bursts have their place, but for me I’d rather come home with images that were shot purposefully as opposed to images that are simply part of a series of high-speed bursts where maybe one is decent. I don’t want to be that photographer who tries to impress people with the sound of their shutter rapidly firing off 20 frames at a time in a couple of seconds. So how, then, do you get the good images you might ask? Anticipate the action and know the sport you’re shooting. I still came home with a crap ton of images (2k but that’s a far cry from 7,000).
Winchester Applecross coming my way.
I spent the day at the local city park shooting cyclocross. I don’t race cyclocross and never will. My license plate even indicates that I’m a road cyclist. Anyway, I don’t know what the cyclists were complaining about all day – that Belgian wall looks pretty flat to me. Easily rideable.
The Belgian Wall at the Applecross cyclocross race in Winchester is approximately a 45° angle, which is eliminated with this top-down, mapping view.
Who thought I would ever be looking forward to cross season as much as I am this year? Cyclocross season, that is. I’ve shot cycling now for several years and am always looking for new ways to differentiate myself from other shooters. A definite difference, IMO, is the fact that I shoot both still and video. I’m leaning more toward the still side these days, but I produce both and I have a great time doing it. I certainly created a buzz when I shot an aerial video in Page County earlier this year and plan to do more like it. But what’s crazy to me is that when I look at a new piece of gear these days I find myself thinking “wow, that would be awesome for cross season.” So, I may never race during cross season, but at least I’m out there supporting it. That’s a start, right? Can’t wait to put the new iPhone 6 through it’s paces this Sunday at the annual Winchester Applecross race.
Granted, this is a video of my dog, but think of all the amazing race footage I can get with it!
Cedarmeade Studios 