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On The Road
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 Image
#3 Turf Riders ... Thursday: Horse racing goes on all during
the week at Churchill Downs prior to the running of the
Kentucky Derby on Saturday. There are a variety of assignments
to do each day, but also, there is a little down time during
which I like to make some creative imagery. I love to make
slow shutter speed pan action images, especially of the
turf races. The deep green grass of the turf course and
tall hedge make a beautiful backdrop for the race action
and colorful jockey silks. Nikon D3, ISO100, 1/13 at f32,
Nikon 200-400mm G VR Zoom Lens with TC17E 1.7 Teleconverter,
3D Focus Tracking with 51 Points, WB 7140K, Picture Control
VIVID, Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripod with Wimberley Head, Lexar
8G Flash Card. |
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Image #4 In-Spired Hatter ... Friday: The Kentucky Oaks
Day was a day I especially looked forward to this year as
my daughter, Haley, would be coming up from college to assist
me for the weekend. As a second year photography student,
Haley was as enthusiastic about attending the Derby weekend
as I. To have her help me and to watch her make not only
her own still images, but video for the magazines web site
was a thrill for a proud father. By Friday Churchill Downs
was in full swing and geared up for the weekend of high
stakes racing and the Kentucky Derby. "Oaks Day"
ushers in the tradition of high fashion for the ladies and
hat pictures for all the photographers. Thunderstorms and
high winds pounded Churchill Downs throughout Oaks Day,
but that didn't dampen this lovely race fan from enjoying
the days festivities. Nikon D3, ISO100, 1/13 at f20, Nikon
24-70mm Lens, 3D Focus Tracking with 51 Points, WB 3030K,
Picture Control STANDARD, Two Nikon SB800 Speedlights (rubber
banded together Tandem) each with Warming Gel and a power
output of +0.7, Lexar 8G Flash Card. |
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 Image
#6 Running for the Roses ... After making some beautiful pictures
in the barn area Haley and I went to visit entrance gate #1
where Derby fans gathered for their own "run for the
roses" to the infield viewing locations. Once through
the gate and US Marine security stations, fans raced through
the tunnel that goes under the race course on route to their
favorite spectator spot in the infield. This years Kentucky
Derby boasted over 135,000 fans. Nikon D3, ISO1250, 1/80 at
f4.5, Nikon 24-70mm Lens, 3D Focus Tracking with 51 Points,
WB 5260K, Lexar 8G Flash Card. |
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 Image
#7 Jailbreak ... And they're off! The start gate picture is
my responsibility for the magazine and one of my favorite
images to make. Cool Coal Man at 20-1 odds exploded out of
gate #1 to take an early lead over the field of 20 horses.
Big Brown the eventual winner was on the far outside in gate
#20 and was the sole responsibility of Haley. She handled
the pressure perfectly and captured a terrific sequence of
images of Big Brown breaking away. Nikon D3, ISO400, Aperture
Priority (1/2500 at f6.3), Nikon 14-24mm Lens, Manual Focus,
WB 7140K, Picture Control STANDARD, Two Bogen Super Clamps
with two Bogen Magic Arms, safety cable, Two Pocket Wizard
Multi MAX Transceivers with Nikon N90-M3 Pre-Release Trigger
cord, Lexar 8G Flash Card. My Nikon D3 was used as a remote
camera secured to the start gate above gate #1 using two Bogen
Magic Arms and Super Clamps. |
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 Image
#8 Big Brown Makes His Move ... Once the horses are away from
the start I have about 1 minute to relocate myself for the
4th turn action and top of the stretch images. As the field
of 20 horses thunder around turn 4 my goal is to capture the
action and determine who is going to win as the field of 20
horses enter the stretch. Big Brown was clearly making his
move and was looking strong so I stayed on him. Nikon D3,
ISO640, 1/2000 at f7.1, Nikon 200-400mm Lens, 3D Focus Tracking
with 51 Points, WB 7140K, Picture Control STANDARD, Lexar
8G Flash Card. |
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 Image
#9 Big Brown Delivers ... With power to spare, Big Brown with
jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled away and left all others behind
on their way to a spectacular Kentucky Derby victory. Nikon
D3, ISO640, 1/2000 at f7.1, Nikon 200-400mm Lens, 3D Focus
Tracking with 51 Points, WB 7140K, Picture Control STANDARD,
Lexar 8G Flash Card. |
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 Image
#10 Victory! Big Brown and jockey Kent Desormeaux ... While
my colleagues are securing their positions in the winner's
circle, my responsibility is to remain midway up the stretch
and make some celebration pictures of Big Brown and Kent Desormeaux
as they are paraded in front of the Churchill Downs grandstands.
Nikon D3, ISO400, 1/1000 at f6.3, Nikon 200-400mm Lens, 3D
Focus Tracking with 51 Points, WB 7140K, Picture Control STANDARD,
Lexar 8G Flash Card. |
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Image
#1 Night Riders ... Tuesday: I like to arrive early to the
race track each morning of Derby week. If I can beat the
sunrise by 45 minutes or more, I'm happy. Sleepy, but happy.
I have made this picture before, but never with the noiseless
image quality that the D3 offers. Overcast skies made for
some wonderfully moody images including this picture of
exercise riders entering the race course for morning workout
before dawn. I chose a shutter speed of 1/2 seconds on purpose
so the night riders on the left would have some motion yet
still freeze the Outrider on the right. Nikon D3, ISO1600,
1/2 second at f2.8, Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Manual Focus, WB
3850K, Picture Control STANDARD, Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripod
with Gitzo Ball Head, Kirk "L" Bracket, Nikon
MC-30 Cable Release, Lexar 8G Flash Card.
Image
#2 Barn Walker ... Wednesday: The barn area of any race
track is a source of great picture making potential, and
Churchill Downs with all its history and tradition is
no exception. Early arrival before sunrise again provides
some interesting lighting conditions as an exercise rider
hot walks his pre dawn mount through the barn. Nikon D3,
ISO1000, 1/8 at f2.8, 24-70mm Lens, WB 7690K, Lexar 8G
Flash Card. 
Image
#5 Morning Star ... Saturday: The first Saturday of May
hosts the the "Run for the Roses", the "crown
jewel in the quest for the Triple Crown," the 134th
Kentucky Derby. As with each morning of the week I arrived
early, and with Haley by my side we made some wonderful
images. Pre dawn rain showers left the barn area glistening
and perfect for some slow shutter pans. The sun had not
yet broke the horizon as the clouds cleared to reveal a
single morning star (upper right hand corner) when this
thoroughbred slowly walked by us. Nikon D3, ISO800, 1/2
second at f2.8, Nikon 14-24mm Lens, 3D Focus Tracking with
51 Points, WB 7140K, Picture Control STANDARD, Lexar 8G
Flash Card. I hope you have enjoyed this months article and
my illustrated recount of this years Kentucky Derby. This event
offers so many picture making opportunities that I have also made
this months Workshop at the Ranch a pictorial account of the week
with images and text featuring 7 photography techniques I used
during Derby week at Churchill Downs.
Being together with my daughter Haley made this Kentucky Derby
a very special event for me. She was a great help to me and to
others at the magazine as well. It was a real joy watching her
grow in her photography and enjoy this great event the same way
I do. Please indulge me for a moment while a proud father showcases
some of my daughter's images from this year's Kentucky Derby Day.
 Image #1 ... Big Brown Breaks Away |
 Image #2 ... Boys in the Paddock |
 Image #3 ... Morning Workout |
Hope you enjoyed this month's images and text ................... See you next time On The Road. Adios, Dave
WORKSHOPS and PRESENTATION ScheduleAugust 15-17 ..... American PHOTO Mentor Series Trek: New Jersey www.mentorseries.com August 26 ... ASMP Atlanta: Presentation of Images with Commentary and Q&A. Atlanta, Georgia ... (non-members are also welcome) www.asmpatlanta.org September 21-25 ... Rich Clarkson's Adventure Photography Workshop
in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. www.richclarkson.com
April 14-22, 2009 ... Photo Quest Adventures, The Netherlands. www.photoquestadventures.com |
August,
2008 (click here)
Camp Life
July,
2008 (click here)
Lightpainting the Southwest
May,
2008 (click here)
A Southwest Tour
April,
2008 (click here)
The Endless Winter
March,
2008 (click here)
PMA Show in Las Vegas!
February,
2008 (click here)
At the Ballet
January,
2008 (click here)
One Week of Work
December,
2007 (click here)
A Look Back at 2007
November,
2007 (click here)
Traveling
with the New Nikon D3
October,
2007 (click here)
High Country Journey
September,
2007 (click here)
Walking
On The Road
August,
2007 (click here)
Speedway
Thunder from PA
July, 2007
(click here)
"Arlington National
Cemetery"
June, 2007
(click here)
"Kentucky Derby Day"
May, 2007
(click here)
"Mexico Trek"
April,
2007 (click here)
"Egypt Trek"
March,
2007 (click here)
Transit Mix
"Images From the Air"
February,
2007 (click here)
Ice Climbing in Ouray
January,
2007 (click here)
2007 Year in Review
People of Willoq, Peru
Lexington, Kentucky TREK
Training for the Mr USA Title
"The International Golf Tournament"
"Tour of Champions Documentary"
"Northern California, the FBI and Clint Eastwood ..."
"The 2006 Kentucky Derby"
"Off the Road Picture Sales"
Ladies Olympic Figure Skating
Torino Italy and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
"Hey Dave, are you going to the Winter Olympics in Torino and What Equipment Do You Take?"
The Holiday Tea with Tchaikovsky
presented by Colorado's Classical Youth Ballet
Landscapes at Pebble Beach:
a look back at 2005
Lightpainting Landscapes
NFL Football
3 Day Photography Workshop
Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Michelle Kwan
International Gymnastics Camp
the Men's US Open Golf Championships
The Kentucky Derby
Nevada Photojournalism Day
John Bolin's "The Thorn"
Indoor Track and Field
UC Irvine's Paul Spittle and
the Sports Shooter Academy
with Nikon's new DX2
Broncos Football:
Denver vs Indianapolis
the US Figure Skating Nationals
Portland, Oregon
College Basketball:
Colorado State vs Air Force
Broncos Football:
Broncos VS. Dolphins
Assignment work:
Wrestling
A look back at 2004
Rich Clarkson's Photography at the Summit Workshop &
Moose Peterson's Digital Landscape Workshop Series
Whitewater Kayaking
Gymnastics and more
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games
Athens, Greece
A look back at some wonderful Olympic moments
USAFA Graduation flyover
US Olympic Training Center - Swimming and Gymnastics
Last Month the Masters, this month The Kentucky Derby......I love my job
Masters at Augusta National
The American Cup Gymnastics
NIKON COLLEGE WORKSHOP
Indoor Track and Field
Women's Freestyle Wresting
Rhythmic Gymnastics Nationals
The Glass Flower Ceiling at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas
College Basketball
Women's Waterpolo
Olympic swimmers on their way to Athens
NFL Football
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals
A look back at The Greenbay Professionals
Monday Night Football the Sports Shooter Workshop and Luau in LA
Photography at the Summit workshop
Portraits to workshops to stock image sales
Lightpainting in Banf
The World Gymnastics Championships
International Gymnastics Camp
Thunderbirds
Gymnastics
The Sports Photography Workshop with Rich Clarkson
Velodrome Cycling, More
The 129th running of the Kentucky Derby
White water kayakers
The Champions on Ice tour
PBR Rodeo
Chris Shivers and Little Yellow Jacket ride for $1 Million
Nikon's featured speaker at PMA in Las Vegas
American Cup Gymnastics
USAFA Women's Basketball
USAFA Swimming
USAFA Boxing
NCAA Fencing Championships
USOC's Titan Games
Air Force Basketball
Pro Football Pre-Superball Stock Sales
Swimmers train at the Swim Flume at the USOC
Much more!
Diving at the Air Force Academy
Denver Broncos VS. The Arizona Cardinals
Olympic Hopefuls Lenny Krayzelberg and Tom Molchow practice at the USOC
