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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Motocross: Inspiration and Advice Needed
Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 7:17 PM on 06.24.11 |
->> I'm covering the Thunder Valley National tomorrow at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, CO. Are there any regular motocross shooters here that could point me to examples of their work? I'm looking for a little inspiration.
Also, this may sound like a ridiculous question, but what is acceptable attire to wear while shooting a race? It's going to be 90+ degrees tomorrow. I'm not planning on wearing flip-flops and a sleeveless shirt but I would like to wear shorts if possible. Thanks ahead of time. |
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Lee Giles III, Photographer
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Tacoma/Gig Harbor | WA | United States | Posted: 7:36 PM on 06.24.11 |
| ->> Jean shorts that aren't too baggy and capable of falling around your ankles. Hiking boots that will not come off when stepping through mud or climbing up and down jumps. The track may be dry, but the infield always has large pools of standing water. Get a Fox MX apparel baseball cap and you'll look the part. T-shirts are fine. Pro Circuit t-shirt with a Fox hat and you would completely blend. Really wide and fast glass, a fast 70-200 and an intermediate lens like the 28-70 would cover it. Long glass isn't as important as you can roam about where the track twists and turns back on itself. Bring a vest and a small foldable chair if you hate sitting on bales or giant buckled loader tires used as corner markers. Ear plugs a bonus. Don't park anywhere you think a bike could come off of the track and land on your car or truck. (pick-up better vehicle to blend) I hope that helps! Have fun. |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 7:55 PM on 06.24.11 |
| ->> Lee, Thanks for the advice on attire. I was thinking khaki Carhartts and hiking boots for sure. Definitely going to bring ear plugs. I took a 300mm with me last year and i rarely used it. Access is not an issue, I can be right outside the track. I actually wish I would have brought something wider than a 16mm last time. Thanks again. |
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Michelle Hedstrom, Photographer
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Arvada | CO | US | Posted: 8:11 PM on 06.24.11 |
| ->> Since it doesn't sound like you picked up your credentials today, you have a khaki photo vest you'll be wearing over anything you wear, so I'd go with a really thin shirt, and shorts. Since I've shot there before, I'd recommend wearing very comfy shoes to walk in, since you'll be walking a lot. I'll also second Lee, anything over a 70-200 is overkill since you can move around anywhere, but I will also second having a wider lens as well (as I don't have a wide-angle, I used my 24-70). |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 8:15 PM on 06.24.11 |
| ->> Michelle, I picked up my credentials and the vest this morning but didn't get to the media walk through. I was working on another assignment at that time. Good idea on the shirt. Last time I shot there was the Redbull MXON and I wore a long sleeve shirt. I was dying in the heat from the heavy vest. Thanks. |
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Lee Giles III, Photographer
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Tacoma/Gig Harbor | WA | United States | Posted: 8:21 PM on 06.24.11 |
| ->> I use all Canon stuff. Having fast camera rates is key. I still use two 1D Mark IIs, a Tokina 11-16 F 2.8, a 70-200 F2.8 IS and a 24-70 F 2.8 with a 40D I hardly will use the 24-70, but a couple shots will pass you by if you don't sling it. You probably won't use a flash, but there are always shadowed areas late in the day as the tracks meander in and out of shade. Carrying a Camelback with chow and water will help a ton. You just don't have a lot of time between motos to run two and a half miles back and forth to hydrate and eat. I just plan to camp and stay along with bursts of running around. I wear Keen hiking boots. They're light and durable with a good lacing system. Sunblock too! No shade in the good vantage points. Good luck! I look forward to seeing what you come back with! |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 9:15 PM on 06.25.11 |
->> I second the advice on earplugs. Really good ones. It's amazing the noise those things produce. And you get a bunch of them together and it's truly deafening, especially at the starting line.
And a good strong stomach for the smell of exhaust. There's something about motocross cycles that produces a nauseating exhaust odor. Ugh, it's one of the reasons I don't do it so much any more. |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 4:12 PM on 06.27.11 |
| ->> Thanks to everyone for all the ideas, advise and inspiration. I updated my page with a few photos from Thunder Valley. |
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