Last week when I was showing you some of the photos that I took at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic and I said that I had more.  I realised that the photos that many of you seemed to enjoy the most were the ones of them cornering.  They are probably amongst the hardest to get, and require good panning and a lot of nerve, especially to get really close ones.  Guess what I have for you today?

With this image I was behind a barrier.  It is still scary.  I had the camera almost on the ground through the barrier, and was moving it with the riders.  So I wasn’t looking though the viewfinder.  Ones like these are nearly always done blind, so to speak.  I have been doing them for some time, so I am getting a lot better at getting them in focus.

This image was done in the same place using the same technique.  I had to use my 18-105mm lens for this, as wide as I could get.

This one was taken from the same corner but this time I was using the 24-70mm lens and I was standing up behind the barrier.  I pan with them until they are in front and then click.

Same place and same technique as the previous one.  I love the way they look like they are coming straight at me.  They weren’t of course.  But they are cutting the very sharp corner.  I am very close, so close that I could put my hand out and touch her, not that you should ever, ever do that.  That would be very dangerous.

At the end of the course was a corner that did have barriers, but the barriers were back a bit so those with the accreditation vests could get on the corner and take photos without the barriers.  This is one, though it was taken low to the ground, blind, and me panning the camera with the rider.

This is where you really need some nerve.  It would be easy for them to come down.  The biggest problem is that they end up looking a lot closer to you that they actually are, especially if you are using a telephotos lens, or it is deceptive because you don’t realise how close they really are because you are using a wide angle.  You have to stay alert and you have to be ready to run if they come down.

Here is another lot going around that same corner.  I was looking though the viewfinder with this one and panning with them.  They go so fast, and you pan, click, go further back, pan, click, you get the idea, well it can make you pretty dizzy turning your head that much.

This is one that was taken after they came around the corner and were putting the speed on.  They are also getting ready for the corner that was featured in the first few photos.

I hope you haven’t minded me showing you more of the crit photos.  I have been quite proud of some of them.  I just had to show off some more.

Announcements

I need to let you know some stuff.

Buy Now

I have included some “buy now” buttons on the page for the Notes I have written for people who want to learn how to use their DSLR, In the Beginning.  I thought it would be easier to purchase them that way rather than having to go to my website.

I have heard back from someone who has read them and she said they were great and helped her to remember a lot about her camera.  That was great to hear.

Classes

My copy of Photoshop Elements 11 has finally arrived so I am now ready to start teaching people how to do their editing with it. I am thinking of starting the first class next week on Tuesday at 10am my time, you can use the World Clock Time Zone Converter to help you work out what time that will be in your time zone.  Remember Australia is ahead in time to most other countries, besides New Zealand and a few other places.

There will be more classes announced on the following page.

ColorHug

Part of my Christmas present this year, along with the new monitor was the ColorHug.

The ColorHug is an open source display colorimeter. It allows you to calibrate your screen for accurate color matching.

It arrived not long after Christmas and last weekend I finally got around to playing with it.  It is really easy to use, but I think you need to be using Linux for it to work.  I am just confirming with my husband that that is the case.  Yes you do.  Apparently you can use the live CD and then save your colour profile and use that if you don’t have Linux.

To use it was easy, and it did take some interesting improvisation to hold it against the screen for so long.  You get a little square thing that you have to hold against the screen that creates a colour profile.  You have to hold it there for about 10 minutes.  You also have to hold it still.  We were going to lie the monitor down, but in the end we used tape, a long piece that went from the top of the monitor to the colorhug and then to the bottom.  The tape could not touch the screen.

It is a great little device and not that expensive.  The only problem I had with it, is that the instructions weren’t great for using it to start with.  I don’t know Linux and I didn’t understand a lot of the steps.  It was really confusing.  I am thankful my husband was here and did understand.  He is a programmer and he is the reason I have Linux on my computer.  Perhaps I could make a recommendation to the owners of this great product that I could help them write the how to use it for dummies version.

The end result was good, and I didn’t realise how off the colours were on my monitor.  The screen is quite different.  Though the photos have been turning out really nicely.  My next step is to get some images printed and then compare them with what is on the screen.

It is reasonably priced, which is always a bonus.  The company that produce is fairly small so I wish them all the best for their product.

If you would like to check out the product here is the link, ColorHug.

Nikon Releases

I have received a few press releases from Nikon, it seems that the Nikon 1 J3 and S1 series camera has been refined for high-speed performance.  I didn’t realise that you could get interchangeable lenses for it, and two new ones have been released for it as well.  I might have to check it out for fun.  Apparently there is a new waterproof case for it as well.

Nikon is also launching two new Coolpix S series cameras, the S6500 and the S2700.  If you would like to check them out and see the press releases then please go to your Nikon site.

As An Aside

I don’t know how many of you have seen the news for Australia and the heat wave we have been having, but apparently the bureau has had to come up with some new colours as some parts of the country have hit record temperatures, thankfully not where I live.  In Birdsville, in the outback, they have had temperatures of 50 to 52C, that is 122 to 125.6F.  I couldn’t imagine being in heat like that, you would just melt.  I am so glad I live south.