Welcome to Workshop at the Ranch. Each month I will be writing an instructional article about photography. It might cater to sports coverage, new cameras and gear, techniques with Off Camera Speedlights or Large Strobe Systems, Lightpainting and more. These articles began in 2003. They are archived and available for you to revisit as often as you like. A broad pallet of my images with all camera data, equipment I use, special tricks of the trade, and my personal commentary will drive the content of each article. So, be my guest, settle back and “click” on any image you want to enlarge, and enjoy learning each month here on Workshop at the Ranch. Adios, Dave

Workshop at the Ranch - July 2003 - Approaching the Event

Workshop at the Ranch
July, 2003 Edition

Hi and welcome to the July edition of Workshop at the Ranch. I had a job this month to do one of my favorite sports, track cycling at the Velodrome. For those not familiar with Velodrome Racing, track cycling is quite different from road racing and takes place on a Velodrome oval that is banked in the curves. Here is a look at Approaching the Event.....



Scene Setter/Design. There is a tunnel that goes under the track that the athletes use to access the infield of the Velodrome. This is an unusual scene setter but it reveals to the viewer something they might not know about the venue. I used a Nikon 35mm-70mm f2.8 VR zoom to capture the graphic look and loneliness of the competitor as he arrived early for the days competition. ISO125 and a Nikon D1X camera exposed for the daylight at the exit of the tunnel.
Classic Action/The Moment. There are athletes here that are qualifying for the World Team so classic action and in this case, the moment when victory is secured, is important for my client. Great face, tight crop with my lens choice (a Nikon 400mm f2.8), cool mirrored sun glasses and the champion of the Sprints competition as he takes the lead coming out of the banked curve before the finish help to make this a solid image for the client.

Color/Classic Action Here is more "Classic Action" but with an emphasis on Color, using a shorter lens( Nikon 14mm f2.8) and some Fill Flash, very acceptable in Velodrome track cycling. I underexposed the sky and let the Fill Flash "Fill" in the shadows. I did so by using Aperture Priority and exposure compensation of -0.7 to under expose the sky and concrete of the velodrome. This gives me great color saturation. Now I set the Nikon Speedlight SB-80DX at a TTL, Rear Curtain Sync and dial down the power to -1 as the subject is only 3feet away. The flash "Fills" in the shadows. Shutter speed is 1/500th at ISO125.
Details. I am always looking for the details of sports. The little things that adds flavor to the coverage of the event. I used a Nikon D1X set on Aperture Priority with exposure compensation of -0.7, ISO125, a Nikon 300mm f2.8, Nikon Speedlight SB-80X set at Auto and Rear Curtain Sync powered down to -1.3 for this detail as I am about 10 feet away and there are many reflective objects. Riders exit the paddock area and enter the track at a designated point. I sat near this area and photographed many competitors coming and going for about 45 minutes during practice before the evening finals. Knowing something about the sport, the rules, the habits, the "details" can make a big difference in the images that you make.

Design. I am always looking for the Artistic side of sport. Nikons new 70mm-200mmf2.8 VR zoom lens and a TC-14E 1.4X converter with a Nikon D1X camera. Shutter speed1/15 at ISO125. This kind of image just says Velodrome Racing and can be used in a variety of applications for my client.
Scene Setter/Design/Classic Action. One of my goals is to combine one or more of these categories. Here I have attempted to capture Classic Action, Design, and the Scene Setter in one shot. A Nikon 14mm f2.8 used to pan, and Nikon Speedlight SB-80X set Auto-0.7 were used to show speed and the Velodrome's banked curves during the Final mens Points Race. Nikons D1X Camera, set on manual exposure of 1/50th. At 45 mph and my closest subject only 8 feet away panning can be difficult. It required several tries(10 or so) before I could pan fast enough and compose the picture the way I wanted, and the correct shutter speed and fill flash. I reviewed each image immediately so as to make corrections before the cyclists came by me again. I shot 30 images of which 6 looked good, this one being one of the best as Colors,Pan,Composition,and Flash all came together for a great image.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this months Workshop at the Ranch and Approaching the Event. Keep in mind that only 6 images are showcased here and that there are many more images that are required to complete event coverage. Portraits, candids, award presentations, sponsors etc. are usually required.   The clients needs to dictate what your priority should be but I always try to introduce other images that they might find useful. I look foreword to you questions and comments via email.

See you next month, Dave

Each month I will be teaching techniques and sharing information about photography. I hope to address not only how images are made, but also aspects of business and the industry. I hope you find the time to log on each month here at "Workshop at the Ranch" If you have a question or comment about an area of photography not covered yet in Workshop at the Ranch, contact me to suggest a topic for a future issue.

*For additional examples of photographs using various lighting techniques see the Sports Scene

For another truly unique lighting style with instructions on it's implementation, check out LightPainting Techniques in the January edition of Workshop at the Ranch or for more on artificial arena lighting techniques, see Arena Lighting, February's Workshop at the Ranch.