Shooting marathon runners - best light direction?

[Stagecoach]

Next week I have the opportunity of shooting a 1/2 marathon and am presently planning for this challenge.

There's lots of helpful and useful articles on the web but one aspect I am considering is the best direction of the light which I have not found advice on.

Initial thoughts are that it would be preferable from behind the runners to make them stand out more against a lighter background, is this a reasonable assumption?

Having an idea of this will help with planning locations to shoot from.

Grahame

[JR1]

Don't forget that a decent flash will provide fill light, far too many people use flash outdoors

[Shadowman]

If the sun is shining best to have the sun behind your back; even on overcast days it helps somewhat. I've photographed marathon runners from every direction and each gives an obviously different look. Backlit runners create the most problems, especially if you are trying to get a decently exposed image.

[Mike Buckley]

far too many people use flash outdoors

I think you meant to write that far too few people use it.

[Stagecoach]

If the sun is shining best to have the sun behind your back; even on overcast days it helps somewhat. I've photographed marathon runners from every direction and each gives an obviously different look. Backlit runners create the most problems, especially if you are trying to get a decently exposed image.

John, I agree that backlit subjects are going to be harder to get an overall acceptable exposure but am wondering if this difficulty will be compensated by a result with more impact.

I need to find some subjects to trial with.

[Stagecoach]

Don't forget that a decent flash will provide fill light, far too many people use flash outdoors

I think you meant to write that far too few people use it.

Flash is certainly something I am considering because for the start of the full marathon which is exactly at sunrise and the start of the half one just 30 minutes later.

Looks like a planning visit to the start location to measure light levels at the planned times is on the cards.

[Shadowman]

John, I agree that backlit subjects are going to be harder to get an overall acceptable exposure but am wondering if this difficulty will be compensated by a result with more impact.

I need to find some subjects to trial with.

Grahame,

The one good thing about shooting backlit runners is you've got the opportunity to turn around and catch the runner from the other side.

[William W]

You mention that the race begins around sunrise.

I would take the opportunity to find camera viewpoint(s) on the route which provide hard side sunlight, whilst the sun is low.

These are not a marathon runners, but should give you the idea that I am conveying.

I think that hard, low aspect sunlight provides good impact for sports work; typically usually better than both backlit and front-lit light.

Here:

Mid-morning about 1000hrs, winter 34°S



Late afternoon about 1700hrs (DST) summer, 34°S

WW

[Stagecoach]

Thanks for the advice Bill.

I'll take this into account for planning my locations that I can use on the route. If cloudy weather, positioning will not be such a concern but with the very bright sun here I'm trying to plan for the worse condition.

[JR1]

I think you meant to write that far too few people use it.

what a twit, yes sorry

[skilsaw]

Here are a couple of marathon pictures (Actually the run in Ironman Canada)
In the first picture, sunlight from the side seems good.

In the second picture, light from a slightly overcast sky works.


I pick a spot well into the course where the runners will not be bunched up.
Frustrating to have your subject lost in a crowd as they go by.

I use a 70-200mm lens on a Canon 7D so I'm able to stand out of the way, but zoom in close.

[Stagecoach]

Thanks for sharing these two examples David it gives me a good idea at the two focal lengths. I'll have a 70-300mm f4/5.6 and also a new toy acquired today a 28-75mm 2.8 for the low light starts.

I have done a bit of experimentation with my flash to determine use-able ranges for the low light part, some tripod trials to see it's feasibility with runners coming towards me and a lot of reading in preparation.

[george013]

Thanks for sharing these two examples David it gives me a good idea at the two focal lengths. I'll have a 70-300mm f4/5.6 and also a new toy acquired today a 28-75mm 2.8 for the low light starts.

I have done a bit of experimentation with my flash to determine use-able ranges for the low light part, some tripod trials to see it's feasibility with runners coming towards me and a lot of reading in preparation.

How do you plan to use the flash? You will be restricted to the sync-speed.

A position in the bend of the road gives you the opportunity to shoot them straight in the front coming to you and from the side when passing you. Don't look at the quality, I made progress in the mean time. Amsterdam marathon 2010, half way, full of winners.



George

[Shadowman]

Nothing like just getting out there and seeing the lighting conditions for yourself, but this might be of some use.

http://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php

[Stagecoach]

How do you plan to use the flash? You will be restricted to the sync-speed.

The plan for the flash is at the start line (and before if anything of interest) when the light will be very low at sunrise, if it starts on time. I can sync at 1/320s and whilst this is low it may be the only option if light is not enough to enable a use-able ISO and aperture alone.

As for the course it's great because the full length of 44Km is four laps (eight lengths) of the road along the foreshore with turning points at each end.

[Stagecoach]

Nothing like just getting out there and seeing the lighting conditions for yourself, but this might be of some use.

http://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php

Thanks John, I use the 'Photographers Ephemeris' for all this data.

But more useful is that I know this location extremely well from all my early morning shooting along this foreshore area, just that I'm normally shooting in the other direction, looking out to sea.

[Shadowman]

Thanks John, I use the 'Photographers Ephemeris' for all this data.

But more useful is that I know this location extremely well from all my early morning shooting along this foreshore area, just that I'm normally shooting in the other direction, looking out to sea.

Grahame,

Haven't tried the Ephemeris site yet will have to give it a browse. The thing I like about the SunEarthTools site is that you can zoom in on the map and see what the cast shadows look like for a particular block. Haven't tried it in real time yet but would be interesting to see if I can select a potential shooting location from a web based map.

[Stagecoach]

Grahame,

Haven't tried the Ephemeris site yet will have to give it a browse. The thing I like about the SunEarthTools site is that you can zoom in on the map and see what the cast shadows look like for a particular block. Haven't tried it in real time yet but would be interesting to see if I can select a potential shooting location from a web based map.

John, I think you will find the Ephemeris site far superior due to its ease of use with all needed info on the screen rather than having to scroll the page.