Thread: Bike Race action - X-Pro (and OMD)

Did some shooting at our local criterium last night, which has become something of a major regional event. The first few were during an early race when there was still enough light to shoot with longer lenses and stop the action, so I shot them with the OMD and longer lenses. The first is with the 45mm and the second and third are the 75-300 at full extension. I was shooting with the 4fps burst mode for these. Just sort of standard freeze action shots that get at the participants a bit but don't convey much of the feel of the event. Then for the later race the light was getting pretty sketchy, so I pulled out the X-Pro and 18mm and just did some panning and motion blur shots at slow shutter speeds. I did a bunch of similar shots at last year's race with the X-100 and sort of lucked into them - this year I was doing it with more of a sense of purpose and an idea of what I was doing... Processed with the Polaroid Transfer filter in Color Efex Pro to get the ripped and shredded borders which I really like with the sense of movement and mayhem in this event. Having done a very small amount of racing many years ago (not well, I should add!), I have a vague idea of what it feels like in the middle of these things and I think the X-Pro shots get at it a bit more than the freeze action shots.

For the motion blur shots, the OMD would have done at least as well, if I'd had the right lenses with me. For the panning, I'm not sure how the OMD would have worked - the IBIS might have been at cross purposes with it and I /really/ love the OVF for panning - nothing like real time light pass through without any electronic confusion!



















-Ray

Ray, very cool images, love the motion ones

Ooh, I love those last two!

The IBIS shouldn't cause an issue for panning on the E-M5. There are the IS modes 2 and 3 for horizontal and vertical panning, or otherwise just turn it off altogether.

Thanks for posting. I particularly enjoy the sixth, and also the last. They really convey the atmosphere.

Great stuff Ray

Ray, great to see the Xpro used for action.

Thanks everyone!

I'd like to try the panning and blurred shots with the OMD - no reason it shouldn't do just about as well. It just might have run out of light a little sooner. Its the more capable camera for the straight reportage - I used just the X100 for this event last year and the straight "here are some racers" shots weren't nearly as good as the OMD with a long lens. But the Fuji just makes me want to try different stuff for some reason. I think that's part of what I've always liked about cameras that are more limited in some ways - they can't do as much so you just have to try stuff, throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. It almost forces creativity...

-Ray

Originally Posted by Ray

I think that's part of what I've always liked about cameras that are more limited in some ways - they can't do as much so you just have to try stuff, throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. It almost forces creativity...

-Ray

Ha, I like this theory. A bit like trying something with a camera just because you've been told that you can't...

great combination of freeze frame and action.

Great images! Especially love No. 4 and 5. What shutter speed did you take those at?