dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

When shooting marathons I switch between a 70-200 2.8 and a 17-70 2.8-4. The choice depends a lot on race conditions. I do shoot finish lines. If I have a pass, I use a ladder between 30-50 feet back with the 70-200 at f2.8. If not and shooting from the side I use the 17-70 from as close as I can get and wide enough to get the finish arch and timer in the shot at f4 to 8 depending. If you are shooting from the spectator side, a long lens may force yo too far back and result in poor sight lines. I also may use a shorter step ladder that doubles as an equipment cart in these cases and when shooting on the course. I use single shot and single point focus with focus priority for shutter release. I also shoot races that start early. Some races have an alternative early start in addition to the regular start with the early start being well before dawn. I use fill flash for (most of) those early starts as the light around the start is usually behind the runners when they start.
Often you do not have a choice on positioning. It is always nice to shoot in line with the finish as long as you are not interfering with finisher traffic.
In most cases, a shot that includes the runners feet will be better than one that does not. So, if your camera can handle it, choosing a focus point in the upper half of your frame is a good idea. If you choose the center spot and focus on the runner's face, you will either miss the feet or end up with a lot of wasted frame in the top half.
Side note, you may need to take several shots to avoid the ending up with a shot of the finisher looking down to stop their watch. When I run, which I do, I start my watch 15 seconds after I cross the start and stop it 15 seconds after I finish.
I have shot over 100 marathons a couple dozen 10Ks and an unknown number of halves. I have run three marathons, 25ish halves and a few shorter races. Most of this as my wife was racking up running 125 marathons including all six majors.

Kalina54 Loc: Flagstaff, AZ

It looks like the focus at f4 was in her hands. Next time try and set your focal point in her eyes.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Thank you for taking time for this advice. Completing 3 marathons is incredible as I just can’t get past a 1/2 myself. As for your Wife, WOW is all I can say. She must be an amazing lady. I have got into doing more race day photos in the smaller races that would have no one while I’m trying to get both feet better, PF in one and a bad strain during a 10k trail race in early October in the other. I still get to enjoy the race and help out for a good cause. I have quickly found out there is a learning curve to this type of photography and everyone here has really helped.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

I use the 7Dii and 300 f/4L with spot focus and often have similar results. In a series of shots the focus shifts/hunts a bit. I figure it is a result of the tiny focus spot hitting a low contrast patch, perhaps smooth cheek or a swatch of sweat shirt with low/no contrast. Canon lenses are quite silent so the result is the only clue to its hunting, as the motor can't be heard. I have tried using the 5 point pattern and still have to reckon with the instances when it picks the tip of her nose or beak (with a bird for instance.) I just have to shoot rapidly to get a selection that includes one or two "right-on" for my taste.

I remember going to our local newspaper many years ago to select a slide from their chief photographers shoot of a sailboat race. Each tray of 36 slides had one or two decent ones. I was amazed, as I have a higher keeper rate likely because I had a tighter budget. Lesson was not to be so hard on myself and shoot more! Digital makes that possible.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I thought I was shooting center point focus and was aiming for her face but I had somehow got to set to a group of points and the camera grabbed her neck and shirt. It was a cold 20deg and I was froze.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

This picture looks good all around. What did you expect that you didn't get?

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Face isn’t in focus as good as I though it should of been. It was pointed out earlier in here that I wasn’t shooting single point focus like I thought I was and the camera grabbed her shirt and neck with the expanded focus points. Made me feel better about my gear. I think at 20 deg I was to cold to think lol.

no12mo

Agree. If the camera could have been set to aperture priority and then the f stop set to, say, to f16. Both the runner and the banner would have been in focus.

I agree with the shutter speed at 1600'th sec was overkill to stop motion coming at the camera. Good point about the exposure also. I did play with the highlights PP and bringing them down just a tad helped, in my view, with the overall facial highlights.

My oversight: the ISO was at 100. That could have been bumped up to get the f stop / shutter speed just right.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Your camera should have the capability of AI Servo focusing. That might help. By using standard focusing on a subject running directly toward you, by the time the shutter clicks, it will be out of focus. Using the AI Servo makes the camera adjust for the motion of the subject. Try it. You'll like it!

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I have my camera set up for dual BBF, one being single shot & the one beside it is set on AI Servo which I used for about every shot. Pretty much figured out that my focus points got shifted.

no12mo

Is there place on this forum where the neophyte can look up alliterations such as "dual BBF?"

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

There is the search function in the forums. Honestly, I would search for "how to setup up dual bbf for XXXXXX camera", or "back button focusing for XXXXXXXX camera".


I found it much easier to understand and setup up watching videos for my specific camera.

Bison Bud

To possibly oversimplify, I think the biggest problem was that she was running directly at you. Even with auto tracking focus there is a slight delay and by the time it focuses on her face, she has already moved again. Tracking should stay close and apparently did so, but it will probably never be the tack sharp focus you are looking for here. Might I suggest trying to manually pre-focus on a specific spot, then try to catch the runner there with a burst of frames as they pass over that spot. There will be some luck involved, but you might get better focused shot as well. Good luck and good shooting to all.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Sorry about that, it means Back Button Focus where we remove the focus part from the shutter button and assign it to a back button. I guess were even, I had to look up neophyte, never heard that word in 51 years.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I like the idea of multiple shots but on this day I was froze, had been out in 15-20 deg weather for around 2 hrs before the first runner had finished plus I was trying to take one shot of each runner as there were close to 75 and being a volunteer event and working all weekend I didn’t want to spend a ton of time on sorting and editing, not a good excuse I know but it’s the only one I got. As for them running straight at me, the setup of the finish line left me very little options on this one. The timing guys were constantly where I didn’t want them.