Motorsport 1

[Yisehaq]

Thanks MA.

I've shot thousands of this type of photo and a good flash is a must. Don't be afraid to use the flash more strongly either. My intention was to light up the face and eyes, even behind helmets and glasses.

I presume, you need much more power of flash to show the faces. Wouldn't that have effects on the other part of the subject? If possible could you upload on example with the Exif? I really would appreciate if I can get to show the faces too.

[Mad Aussie]

In bright light like you had there, it would take ALOT of flash to ruin other parts of the photo. In most cases the flash wouldn't be strong enough to out do what the sun was doing. Looking at the shadows I see under the helmet and on the clothes etc I can see that more flash would have been fine and lit up those faces better.

I'll look though my old shots from an event with some bright sun and see what I can find.

[Mad Aussie]

Here's a couple from some cycling events I shot with my old 400D. These will do and save me digging through CD's of shots.

In both you'll see that where there would normally be plenty of shadow under the helmets making the faces difficult to see, the flash has removed the shadows and even cut through the glare of the glasses. On full sized versions of these you can seethe eyes clearly which I found very important to my sales.
The flash also added a little catch-light to the glasses. Sometimes, if the flash is set a bit bright, or the subject very close, you will see small hotspots where sweat lights up etc but overall the result is much better than strong shadows I think.

EXIF for 2nd photo (of rider 63)

Camera Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Image Date: 2008-04-13 11:36:18 +1000
Focal Length: 55.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure Time: 0.0050 s (1/200)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Average
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (enforced)

[Yisehaq]

Thanks a lot MA! Very good examples. That was what I needed.

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks a lot MA! Very good examples. That was what I needed.

Hope it helps

[Marko]

Yes MA - excellent examples indeed making for a good teaching thread

[Mad Aussie]

Yes MA - excellent examples indeed making for a good teaching thread

Thanks Marko.

[Iguanasan]

Have any of the competitors complained about the flash blinding them? I've always worried about using flash photography at a sporting event because I don't want to blind the competitors.

[Mad Aussie]

Have any of the competitors complained about the flash blinding them? I've always worried about using flash photography at a sporting event because I don't want to blind the competitors.

Well I was official photographer for mountain biking around these parts for many race promoters for several years and took thousands and thousands of photos. The only time anyone ever said anything was at night and I think they were joking because I had a reflective sign that I put up the trail a few metres so they had prior warning. I also wore a reflective vest so their saw me before they saw the flash.

I've shot triathlons and adventure races, and a car race event as well, and never had any complaints about the flash. In most cases the competitors are simply used to seeing flashes.

When I shot a Rodeo I didn't use a flash though because ... well it's obvious really I guess

[Iguanasan]

I'm going out next month to shoot the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life on June 10th. These are fund raisers and not athletes per se but I wouldn't want to tick them off with the flash. Especially since it runs 7:00pm to 7:00am though I doubt I'll make it through the night.