Sports photography at night: Hi to you all. I am going to Paris in July to see the last stage of the Tour de France which is being held in early evening /night this year to celebrate...

Greyman Loc: Hayling Island

Hi to you all. I am going to Paris in July to see the last stage of the Tour de France which is being held in early evening /night this year to celebrate the 100th edition. Anyone got any good tips? Should I use flash, tripod ??????

Where are the riders?

Tight knit bunch

wheel change

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Greyman wrote:

Hi to you all. I am going to Paris in July to see the last stage of the Tour de France which is being held in early evening /night this year to celebrate the 100th edition. Anyone got any good tips? Should I use flash, tripod ??????

If you plan to get the riders, I think using a flash might get you into trouble. There will probably be other people watching the race, so a tripod would not be a good idea. If you're good at handling a monopod, that might work. I'd think a wide angle would be good, depending on where you will be watching, and that wouldn't be as sensitive to movement as a long tele.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Greyman wrote:

Hi to you all. I am going to Paris in July to see the last stage of the Tour de France which is being held in early evening /night this year to celebrate the 100th edition. Anyone got any good tips? Should I use flash, tripod ??????

I like that first blurred shot. The second - compressed - shot is good, too.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

If there is a huge crowd and pretty much everybody is blasting away with a flash and there are no strict rules against using one, I expect you could use one in which case try panning with a slow shutter speed with flash for an interesting effect.
I'd not bother with a tripod.
Maybe try getting low with a super wide angle lens and experiment with different settings. Got a fisheye? Try that.
Try fooling with a custom WB for different looks.

I like your first shot but I would pay $100 to not have that tree in the picture.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Swamp Gator wrote:

I like your first shot but I would pay $100 to not have that tree in the picture.

Sounds like a job for Captain ContentAware! :D

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Greyman wrote:

Hi to you all. I am going to Paris in July to see the last stage of the Tour de France which is being held in early evening /night this year to celebrate the 100th edition. Anyone got any good tips? Should I use flash, tripod ??????

Greyman, if you take me with you, I'll tell you everything I know. Any bets on Cavindish going for four?! How evening IS it. By all means use a flash and maybe look into a "Better Beamer". Do you have a fast prime?
My best advice is to buy a cheap 3 foot step stool that you can leave there and use it. I shoot lots of cycling. Have lots of fun and will look for you on TV.

Greyman Loc: Hayling Island

Thanks - there will be a lot of people there. I do have a monopod and a wide angle lens so will try them both out. The streets will be lit anyway but 3 years ago I last went and although it was daylight but overcast a lot of my shots were grainy with noise even though it was a 12 mega pixel DSLR (Samsung GX20)