Racers running straight toward you

[Mike Buckley]

This past weekend I was an official volunteer photographer for the fifth time at the American Heart Association's annual fundraising event, the Lawyers Have Heart races and fun walk. About 6000 runners started the 5K and 10K races at the same time. The 10K race is the largest in Washington, D.C. This time I decided to try capturing a perspective I had never captured.

Don't be concerned that I was endangering myself or the runners. In fact, I might have been protecting them. I positioned myself immediately in front of a pedestrian crossing sign that was smaller than me and, thus, more difficult to see. Though that sign is flexible, I was concerned that the runners could hurt themselves on it. If a runner had hit me, I was in a crouched position low to the ground that would have allowed me to simply roll. Whether a runner had hit me or the sign, it's possible that runners could have been injured. Even so, I'm sure injuries could have been at least as bad if not worse if I had not been there and they had run into the sign.

Please click to view in the Lytebox to get the best impact of the racers running straight toward you.

[RBSinTo]

Mike,
Well done! And brave of you to take the vantage point you did.
Just curious if you got any with the camera actually resting on the ground?
Robert

[Donald]

Excellent, Mike. That's the great thing about having an 'official' status at events like this. It lets you get into positions that others cannot.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, guys!

Just curious if you got any with the camera actually resting on the ground?

No. Once I got the vantage point that I had planned, I immediately stood up and raised one of my arms to make me appear bigger and more obvious to see. Even so, I had to yell to a couple runners who might not have seen me in time because they were looking down.

Next year I might position the camera closer to the ground using a tabletop tripod and/or this device that I backed in a crowdfunding campaign that is designed to allow me to adjust the angle of the camera remotely. I might also use my wireless tether that releases the shutter using a laptop computer or smart phone. Lots of options to think about with regard to runners' safety, my safety and the camera's safety!

[thetraveler]

Both quite nice with the second having even more possibilities.

Would you consider motion blurring the runners to either side and darkening those sides.
That makes that one runner in the center just pop out at the viewer.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Lew!

I'm always open to anything. I have already darkened the sides, so it's just a matter of personal taste as to how much to darken them. In this case, I probably wouldn't add motion blur during the post-processing mostly because I envisioned a particular amount of motion blur and achieved that vision during the capture. My point is that once I strongly envision a particular look such as the degree of motion blur before releasing the shutter, it's difficult for me perhaps to the point of being a weakness to go with a change that is not consistent with that vision.

[thetraveler]

I hadn't noticed the name on the post.
Name and Virginia location - it must be the Mike Buckley from Nikongear? , Nikoncafe?

This is actually a small world.

[Mike Buckley]

Yes, Lew, the same Mike Buckley.

Are you still a moderator at Dallas's website or still participating there?

[thetraveler]

No, Dallas went, afaic, a bit nuts, started a new site and merged the old Nikongear into it. (Fotozones something). I left after a kerfluffle with him about homophobic remarks he made.

Bjorn re-started Nikongear and it is chugging along with very good shooters but not the kind of stuff I enjoy.
I was at Thephotforum for years, accumulated 18K posts but either I got better (which is not too likely) or the average shooter there got worse so I left for a quieter less tense place.

[John 2]

A couple of good captures Mike and Lytebox makes a huge difference to the first one. I gains significant impact. Not so much so for the second but both nice shots. Good thinking on the POV.

[Mike Buckley]

Dallas went, afaic, a bit nuts,

He was always that way in my mind. I overlooked it until I couldn't take it anymore. Once I stopped following his site, I came here and have never looked back. That was more than four years ago. I hope you enjoy it here.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, John! I agree that the Lytebox has far greater impact on the first photo than the second photo.

[rpcrowe]

Great captures - especially #1; which is super! The overhead really frames this shot!

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[terrib]

You are much braver than I for getting in the middle of that! Great job. I especially like the second one.

[Rita]

#1 in Lytebox almost gives the impression that I am about to be trampled. Gives a sense of the race, it is a great shot. #2 I do like the perspective but it doesn't quit have the same impact on me as as #1.

[purplehaze]

Great shots, Mike.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

I agree, Rita, that the two images are different enough that the viewer has different impressions.

[Sergio M.]

Just wanted to add that I really do like the perspective on these. Well planned and done, Mike.

Sergio

[Dave A]

That second image is so dramatic. Very nice Mike.

Dave