Tips on Shooting a 5K Race

Video on how to shoot a 5K Race




See link below to see photos from this shoot.

http://cazillo.com/articles/37-photography/225-event-photography-5k-race-in-philadelphia.html


Tips on Location and Settings

http://www.rt2photo.com/blog/2013/1/how-to-shoot-a-race


Tips on Location

• Getting to the right spot is essential.
• The common "finish line" shot is a LOT harder to get than it seems, and folks will look at their absolute worst during the final sprint to the finish.
• Once the start has gone, walk backwards into the course and look for a spot about 1/2 mile in that will be photographic as a background, but also thin the runners out a little - a long straight shoot down a road for example. For a 5k road race, you've got about 15 minutes before the winner is going to be coming by - don't delay.
• Once you have your spot, find a piece of course and go and sit on it. Get inside any barriers, move cones - do whatever you have to to be between the public and the runners. Once you have your stool, monopod and zoom lens out - folks will leave you alone.
• Park your butt on the stool, attach the monopod, set a shooting angle so you're shooting UP at the runners, not directly at them, and patiently wait for the lead guy.
• Pick a shady spot for the runners to come through, or get the sun to the front and side of them.
• Use  flash for those moments when you find the course is putting the sun to the runners backs and you've got a terrible problem with back lighting.

Tips for Settings

• Single point auto focus - this will let you put a single dot on the runners face/body and focus on it. using group focus modes will focus on their arms as they swing forwards, or the traffic cones in the middle.
• AI Servo - this will then track that focus point, and lock your focus down. Note - there are a bunch of custom functions that let you control the sensitivity and speed of this mode, and until you know what they do, ignore them.
• Shoot in JPG - controversial, as most pro photographers will recommend RAW all day every day. This is the exception. You may be taking LOTS of photos in quick succession, and you need the write speed to your memory card. You may also want to consider reducing the resolution your camera is shooting in, again - smaller files mean faster write speeds. Of course, shooting in JPG means you had better get your white balance and exposure correct before you even start shooting.
• Manual mode - be careful. Set your aperture, set your shutter speed, but be aware of changing conditions and cloud cover. Slightly over expose if possible, and be wide open if possible. 1/400th should be the slowest shutter speed you go for. f/4 or wider if possible. ISO is where you have the flexibility.
• Single Shot mode - the best way to spot someone who doesn't know what they are doing is to listen to their camera. Does it sound like a 12 frame per second machine gun any time someone passes them? Then they are praying like hell they get a shot. Don't be this guy. Instead, get the running in your frame - let them get closer. Lock your focus point on them and track them. Let them fill the shot. Click. Now move to the next runner and repeat. When you have large packs of runners coming at you, this process is no different, just quicker.

Akins 5K and Festival Info

http://akins5kandfestival.com

Race Map

http://akins5kandfestival.com/5k--fun-run.html

Photo Club Contest

Check the details to enter the Akins Photo Club Contest.

Bluebonnet Photo Tips

Blue Bonnet Photo Tips

http://photographyblog.dallasnews.com/2016/03/tips-for-getting-the-perfect-bluebonnet-family-photo.html/

• For bluebonnets, it’s about that time of year. Here are a few tips for getting that photo of your family and or friends with bluebonnets.
• Try to fill the frame with subject and bluebonnets. No need to see cars passing by or any other unwanted objects in the frame unless you really want to.
• Use the light to your advantage. Shoot during the early and late afternoon hours of light to get the best light (before 10 am and after 5pm).
• Dress in a solid so the subject pops out from the pattern bluebonnets create.
• Get variety in your photographs. Shoot loose, medium and tight. Shoot with a low and high angle. Variety is your friend.
• A tripod doesn’t hurt but you can make do without one.

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2016/03/texans-could-soon-see-miles-and-miles-of-bluebonnets-thanks-to-rain-in-prior-months.html/

Printing Tutorial

Overview: It's time to learn how to use a portable photo printer used at events.

Step 1: Find TWO of your favorite photos you have taken this year in class.

Step 2: Save the two photos to an SD memory card.

Step 3: Insert the memory card in a photo printer and print your two pictures.

Step 4: Pin one of your photos to the Bulletin Board in the back of the room above the couch. Keep the other print for yourself.

YouTube access Tutorial

Overview: The school district and Google have changed the way they manage access YouTube. For students to have more access to certain videos on YouTube they must first login to YouTube using  their AustinISD Google Account.

Read these directions to learn how to access more YouTube content:

• Most students will not know their AustinISD Google Account username so they must sign-in to the AustinISD Cloud first and then search for “Mail” on the search field.
• When the Google Mail window opens they can see what their Google Account username is by clicking on the “Avatar” in the top right corner. They should see their username displayed when this tab opens. Write it down.
• Student usernames all end with @stu.austinisd.org.
• Then go back to YouTube, and either click “Add Account” or “Sign In” and then use your Austin ISD username and password to login to YouTube to access SOME, but not ALL YouTube content. 
• This content is still filtered so not everything will play, but it might help.

Lightroom Adjustment Experiment Assignment

Overview: While you are waiting your turn to take photos in the Studio for your poses, it is a good time to experiment with tools in Lightroom. Review the tutorials listed below and see how you can make your photos look better using various Lightroom tools.

Tutorials:

Learn how to use Spot Removal Tools in Lightroom:
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/lightroom-healing-brush-visualization.html?set=lightroom--fundamentals--retouch-photo

How to Color Correct Photos in Lightroom:
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/color-balance-photos.html?set=lightroom--get-started--essential-beginners

How to Correct Parts of a Photo in Lightroom (using Adjustments Brush)
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/dodge-burn-adjustment-brush.html

How to use Radial Filter
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/introducing-radial-filter.html?set=lightroom--key-techniques--advanced-photo-editing

How to use Tone Curve to adjust Color
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/lightroom-adjust-tone-curve.html?set=lightroom--key-techniques--advanced-photo-editing

More Info on Enhancing Isolated Parts of an Image (using Radial and Gradient tools)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fUvfUfdfGU#t=36

More Tips on using Adjustment Brush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lplFkS1RJCA#t=183

Assignment: 

Step 1: Select TWO IMAGES from your catalog to work on.

1. One with color problems
2. One with exposure (light) problems

Step 2: Use Lightroom tools to enhance your images. 

• Try using the Radial Filter
• Try using Gradient Tool
• Try using Adjustment Brush
• Try using Tone Curve

Step 3: 

• Export your images and post them to your blog in a new entry titled "Lightroom Adjustment Experiments."
• Write a brief explanation of what you did to each photo to active the final image.

Sample Poses Assignment

Overview: It is time to submit your pose example shots for the pose selection guide we are making for Military Ball.

Directions:

STEP 1: After you are done shooting, save your groups photos in the Poses folder on the CPhoto Drive.

Save your photos in an appropriate folder for your group. Pick a number for your group.

STEP 2: Find your shots saved on the CPhoto Drive and place your best poses in the Folder called BEST SHOTS with your name on it in the Poses folder.

RENAME the files with the following names:

• SingleMan_YourName
• SingleWoman_YourName
• RomanticCouple_YourName
• Friends_YourName
• Family_YourName

You have 30 minutes to finish saving your photos in the right folders. I will begin displaying the photos about halfway through class so we can begin the process of voting on favorites. 

I will use Adobe Bridge to rate the photos on the overhead screen. 

We will make a multi-page PDF with the best shots and then do a  final voting next week.