tomglass Loc: Yorktown, VA

I'm shooting pics at my son's cross country meets this fall (after night soccer in the summer, thank goodness for an afternoon sport!) and am looking for some ideas... I've shot runners at the starting line, at several spots along the course and at the finish line. But I'm looking for some ideas to get something different from what I've already been taking (the obvious). Have a bunch more meets this year and hate to keep taking the "same ol' pics" every week. Any ideas?

Here is a link to the pics from the last meet I did:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskk6fWt2

Thanks for any thoughts or ideas you may have!

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Shooting where they are still in a pack.

Shooting where in the course of the run they are at a point just before getting their second wind.

Shooting just after the race is over, i.e. just beyond the finish line.

Shooting before the race begins

scootersurfs Loc: Buckeye, Az

If you can figure out a way to get above the pack and shoot down(High Tree, Ladder, Building, Cliff, whatever) I think that would be an interesting perspective. Easier said then done I think.

tomglass Loc: Yorktown, VA

Thanks for the input. I especially like the idea of getting high for the start...

btbg

Shooting from ground level gives a different look.
Shooting with your lens wide open and only focusing on one runner can work.
Panning with the subject gives a totally different look.
Look for the cleanest backgrounds you can find to isolate the runners.
Also setting up at or near the top of hills will show stress on the runners faces.

tomglass Loc: Yorktown, VA

Thanks for those ideas. I especially like the top of a hill thought! I'll try that this weekend, if the race has any hills!. Thanks!

kruchoski Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I wish I'd noticed your query when you'd first posted it. Alas, the season is already over -- at least here in New Mexico. Probably there, too, huh?

Is it just a Flickr thing (landscape orientation, that is), or do you shoot all yours that way? I rarely shoot landscape, but occasionally crop to landscape. Just my opinion, but portrait orientation seems better suited for running sports. (However, I usually have to 'straighten' the images because I don't quite get the shots level.) With a portrait orientation, you can get a closer-in image of a runner's full body, then crop as much or as little as you want to show.

I shoot with a wide-open aperture to minimize any distractions in the background, drawing the viewer's eye to the runner as much as possible. (I almost always shoot in aperture priority.) The wider aperture also results in faster exposures that help to minimize blurring of the moving subjects.

You didn't mention what camera and lens you use. While I'm not an equipment freak, I admit there are some advantages to DSLR vs. point-&-shoot types, and optical zoom is a definite advantage (IMHO) over digital zoom. I use (an inexpensive) zoom telephoto, to get 'closer' to each runner, but not too close that I can't later straighten & crop to get a relatively pleasing composition. (Rule of thirds, running 'into' to the frame, rather than out, etc.)

I like the suggestion to be at the top (or over the crest) of a hill. Likewise, I look for curves or 'corners' in the course to show the jockeying for position/passing, and constricted areas that force runners into a very pleasing line, especially if you can use depth of field to your advantage.

Again, the suggestion to shoot from a low vantage point can create some dramatic effects, especially if your background is also appealing.

So, despite all this, there's a certain 'sameness' to all sports photography (as there is for birds in flight, which I simply can't get excited about). I've been shooting my sons' cross country teams for 14 years now. The special quality I look for is the RUNNER him/herself: I want them to each have a good, memorable action photo for their Facebook page, grandma's Christmas gift, mom & dad's mantle.

If you're going to continue shooting XC next year, and you want to do something different, you could take a look through some of my pics, find one you like, ask what I did to capture it, then try it yourself next year. (Hopefully my answer won't be, "Umm, it was an ACCIDENT!!" There are a lot of 'so-so' pics among mine, but the kids love them nonetheless.))

http://picasaweb.google.com/kruchoski/

kruchoski Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Here's a link to three of my recent XC posts: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-349750-1.html

And one of my others is here (#2): http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-346189-1.html

And finally this one (#20, almost 2/3 down the page): http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-194489-1.html

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

I was going to suggest that too.......having the camera on the ground looking up. I visited the website to see your photos........WOW! When I grow up I want to shoot like YOU! Those were excellent photos. With your new ideas you are getting like from Steve shooting from above looking down that would be really cool. Do you have access to a Drone? That would be the ultimate above shots looking down!

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

I was going to suggest that too.......having the camera on the ground looking up. I visited the website to see your photos........WOW! When I grow up I want to shoot like YOU! Those were excellent photos. With your new ideas you are getting like from Steve shooting from above looking down that would be really cool. Do you have access to a Drone? That would be the ultimate above shots looking down!

tomglass Loc: Yorktown, VA

Thanks! ...if you were talking about my pics! Our CC season is over... :( and I never had the opportunity to try any shots from a real high vantage point - hopefully next season! I also want to try some from on the ground...

picsman Loc: Scotland

Look for obstacles and jumps, corners, overtaking with one racer looking at the other, racers looking back, racing through water, running through trees, zoom in for facial expressions, zoom out for background e.g. tall trees, shoot in portrait, kook for natural frames with bushes tress etc., over rocks, up slopes, over the racers shoulder at the field ahead.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Good luck this weekend. Be sure to send your photos.