Panning technique follow-up (Bike race!)

Hey everyone,


As promised, I have pictures from the evening bike race this last weekend here in Boise. First, I want to share a little from my experience:


1) As a reminder, I use the 450D and the 17-55 f/2.8 IS. I don't have a filter, but I do have a hood.


2) It was killer hot! 106 degrees F on Saturday. Standing on the cement with my camera bag over my shoulder next to a bunch of people was the peak of comfort. At least I got to stand in the shade, though.


3) It was discouraging! I started out at f/5.6, ISO 200, 1/60s. But the light just kept leaving, and I found myself forced to use higher and higher ISOs and stopping down. I tried to avoid f/2.8 as long as I could (and high ISO), but I eventually had to use both.


I kept trying to get the technique right, following the riders, but my LCD wasn't showing many keepers. I ended up with about 130 shots, and I feared that I only had 1 or 2 keepers. But I was pleasantly surprised the next day when I got them onto my computer!


Here are some of the best....sorry, there are a few. Please give me your thoughts!


f/4.5, ISO 200, 1/100, 49mm- This is Kristin Armstong, the Olympic gold-medalist from Beijing.
She's a local gal, racing in her last race in the US before retirement.


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f/4.5, ISO 200, 1/100, 55mm- Got lucky and captured a spill in this one (the rider ended up being fine)


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f/4.5, ISO 200, 1/60, 55mm


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f/4.0, ISO 200, 1/60s, 54mm- getting the men was hard, because they were averaging 32 mph per lap, and I was on the sidewalk....they were literally 3 feet from me when they passed. The wind from the passing pack felt nice!


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f/3.5, ISO 800, 1/80s, 55mm


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f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/100s, 55mm


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f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/100s, 40mm


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I hope you enjoy them, please let me know what you think....


Alex

I think all the shots are great! I shot of a national competition team doing practices in town a few years ago. I shot for fun but your pictures are way better. You captured a sense of drama with your selective use of focus and depth of field. On other shots, your panning was great, a blurred background but the subject in sharp focus. Nice shots!

Nicely done!

Dude... you did a great job. All pictures are great, but the are few that I like the most.

Thanks guys, for the responses, very pleased that you like them!


Any critiques?

Lower perspectives on some would have been a little more dramatic. If it was even possible at that event.

I like the 4th. If it was a little bit lighter, it was perfect. And 130 images, for something like this are not many