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