I've taken literally thousands upon thousands of photos while riding, not to mention quite a few
taken off of the bike. If you take enough photos, you'll eventually end up with a few decent shots.

My all-time favorite isn't a very good picture technically, nor is it what most would expect from
me (images of Sonora Pass, both mental and pictorial, tend to dominate my site!), but it's the one
that I keep coming back to... a shot of a very old guy and a very young kid together at the '03
Tour de France.

I've put up a page showing the picture and giving the background story, as well as a mini-
tutorial on how you can try to make something reasonably decent out of a nearly-hopeless photo.
You can see it at

http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm

(I should point out that this is my favorite of the photos that I've taken; I most certainly am in
awe of the works of "real" photographers, and don't pretend to be in their class!)

--Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member

Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles wrote:
> I've taken literally thousands upon thousands of photos while riding, not to mention quite a
> few taken off of the bike. If you take enough photos, you'll eventually end up with a few
> decent shots.
>
> My all-time favorite isn't a very good picture technically, nor is it what most would expect from
> me (images of Sonora Pass, both mental and pictorial, tend to dominate my site!), but it's the one
> that I keep coming back to... a shot of a very old guy and a very young kid together at the '03
> Tour de France.
>
> I've put up a page showing the picture and giving the background story, as well as a mini-
> tutorial on how you can try to make something reasonably decent out of a nearly-hopeless photo.
> You can see it at
>
> http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm
>
> (I should point out that this is my favorite of the photos that I've taken; I most certainly am in
> awe of the works of "real" photographers, and don't pretend to be in their class!)

Very, very cool...thanks!

Bill "permission to forward?" S.

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" <MikeJ@ChainReaction.com> wrote
in message news:Az1Nb.665$oN3.595@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
> I've taken literally thousands upon thousands of photos while riding, not
to
> mention quite a few taken off of the bike. If you take enough photos, you'll eventually end up
> with a few decent shots.
>
> My all-time favorite isn't a very good picture technically, nor is it what most would expect from
> me (images of Sonora Pass, both mental and
pictorial,
> tend to dominate my site!), but it's the one that I keep coming back to...
a
> shot of a very old guy and a very young kid together at the '03 Tour de France.
>
> I've put up a page showing the picture and giving the background story, as well as a mini-
> tutorial on how you can try to make something reasonably decent out of a nearly-hopeless photo.
> You can see it at
>
> http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm
>
> (I should point out that this is my favorite of the photos that I've
taken;
> I most certainly am in awe of the works of "real" photographers, and don't pretend to be in
> their class!)
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com IMBA, BikesBelong, NBDA member
>

Cool photo, and a good story to go along with it. Thanks.

Any words of wisdom on taking photos of the Tour? I've got reservations for the second half of this
year's Tour, and will be there with my bike (it will be my first time, and I am so stoked!).

I haven't taken thousands, but I have taken a few, and here's one of my favorites:

http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0042.htm

It was taken last summer on the summit of Mt. Evan, Colorado (elevation 14,264 feet). I was so
hypoxic from the climb that I didn't even realize that there were cyclists in the shot...sometimes
it's better to be lucky than good, I guess.

--
~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

In article <Az1Nb.665$oN3.595@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com>, MikeJ@ChainReaction.com says...
> I've taken literally thousands upon thousands of photos while riding, not to mention quite a
> few taken off of the bike. If you take enough photos, you'll eventually end up with a few
> decent shots.
>
> My all-time favorite isn't a very good picture technically, nor is it what most would expect from
> me (images of Sonora Pass, both mental and pictorial, tend to dominate my site!), but it's the one
> that I keep coming back to... a shot of a very old guy and a very young kid together at the '03
> Tour de France.
>
> I've put up a page showing the picture and giving the background story, as well as a mini-
> tutorial on how you can try to make something reasonably decent out of a nearly-hopeless photo.
> You can see it at
>
> http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm
>
> (I should point out that this is my favorite of the photos that I've taken; I most certainly am in
> awe of the works of "real" photographers, and don't pretend to be in their class!)

This one would be right up there with the best I've ever seen in the "human interest"
category, though!

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

> Any words of wisdom on taking photos of the Tour? I've got reservations
for
> the second half of this year's Tour, and will be there with my bike (it
will
> be my first time, and I am so stoked!).

Gary: The best places to get photos at the Tour de France will be on the nastiest parts of the big climbs. I've
found that it works well to ride up the climb to the summit and think about where *you* might launch
an attack (assuming that you suddenly acquired Lance's legs). Then head back down to that section
and find a good place to shoot from. Look for backgrounds that aren't too busy, or you'll have to
try and optimize the depth of field so that just your subject (the cyclists) are in focus. That's a
tough task when things are happening fast!

If you're shooting digital, you have the advantage of being able to practice ahead of time, using
other cyclists climbing the hill as stand-ins. Keep in mind that you'll be VERY close to them as
they go by! Also note that, if you're taking pictures, you won't be able to enjoy the action as
much. You really have to make a choice; are you there to get "the shot" or to be a part of it all?

You should cruise through our various pages on France and the Tour de France at
www.ChainReaction.com/france.htm, and specifically check out www.ChainReaction.com/tdfwatching.htm

> http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0042.htm
>
> It was taken last summer on the summit of Mt. Evan, Colorado (elevation 14,264 feet). I was so
> hypoxic from the climb that I didn't even realize that there were cyclists in the shot...sometimes
> it's better to be lucky than good, I guess.

I can only imagine what it must be like to ride at 14,000ft+! Was Mt. Evans included in the Tour of
Colorado? Sounds like fun (in my own twisted sort of way).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 07:48:46 -0500, David Kerber
<ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote:

>In article <Az1Nb.665$oN3.595@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com>, MikeJ@ChainReaction.com says...
>> I've taken literally thousands upon thousands of photos while riding, not to mention quite a
>> few taken off of the bike. If you take enough photos, you'll eventually end up with a few
>> decent shots.
>>
>> My all-time favorite isn't a very good picture technically, nor is it what most would expect from
>> me (images of Sonora Pass, both mental and pictorial, tend to dominate my site!), but it's the
>> one that I keep coming back to... a shot of a very old guy and a very young kid together at the
>> '03 Tour de France.
>>
>> I've put up a page showing the picture and giving the background story, as well as a mini-
>> tutorial on how you can try to make something reasonably decent out of a nearly-hopeless photo.
>> You can see it at
>>
>> http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm
>>
>> (I should point out that this is my favorite of the photos that I've taken; I most certainly am
>> in awe of the works of "real" photographers, and don't pretend to be in their class!)
>
>This one would be right up there with the best I've ever seen in the "human interest"
>category, though!

Yeah, it's quite good, but, haha, you can't tell it's an "old man" - look at those quads!!

-B

"Mike Jacoubowsky/Chain Reaction Bicycles" <MikeJ@ChainReaction.com> wrote
in message news:E16Nb.10292$1h6.3356@newssvr25.news.prodigy.com...
> > Any words of wisdom on taking photos of the Tour? I've got reservations
> for
> > the second half of this year's Tour, and will be there with my bike (it
> will
> > be my first time, and I am so stoked!).
>
> Gary: The best places to get photos at the Tour de France will be on the nastiest parts of the big climbs.
> I've found that it works well to ride up the
climb
> to the summit and think about where *you* might launch an attack (assuming that you suddenly
> acquired Lance's legs). Then head back down to that section and find a good place to shoot from.
> Look for backgrounds that aren't too busy, or you'll have to try and optimize the depth of field
> so that just your subject (the cyclists) are in focus. That's a tough task when things are
> happening fast!
>
> If you're shooting digital, you have the advantage of being able to
practice
> ahead of time, using other cyclists climbing the hill as stand-ins. Keep
in
> mind that you'll be VERY close to them as they go by! Also note that, if you're taking pictures,
> you won't be able to enjoy the action as much.
You
> really have to make a choice; are you there to get "the shot" or to be a part of it all?
>
> You should cruise through our various pages on France and the Tour de France at
> www.ChainReaction.com/france.htm, and specifically check out www.ChainReaction.com/tdfwatching.htm

Thanks for the tips and the links! The tour I'm signed up with will be staying 3 nights on Alp
d'Huez, about 1km below the finish, so I should be able to get some pretty decent shots. This year,
ADH is an individual time trial, so I'll be getting a LOT of shots from there.

Yes, I shoot digital...a Canon Digital Elph S330 (which fits nicely in a jersey pocket), but I'm
lusting over the new Digital Rebel.

>
> > http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0042.htm
> >
> > It was taken last summer on the summit of Mt. Evan, Colorado (elevation 14,264 feet). I was so
> > hypoxic from the climb that I didn't even
realize
> > that there were cyclists in the shot...sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, I guess.
>
> I can only imagine what it must be like to ride at 14,000ft+! Was Mt.
Evans
> included in the Tour of Colorado? Sounds like fun (in my own twisted sort of way).

Yes - that was an optional side trip on last summer's Bicycle Tour of Colorado route
(http://www.bicycletourcolo.com). I've ridden BTC each of the last 3 year's and really enjoy it.
Lots of beautiful scenery, plenty of climbing (and, descending!), and good support. Plus, if you go
with the camping option, it's one of the cheapest tours I've found.

As for "fun"...I was really glad I made it to the summit, but it was one tough climb (roughly 7,000
feet over 40 miles), with the elevation being the hardest part. Only about half of the riders
attempted it, and only about half of those made it to the top. Some were turned back by snow and
sleet about 45 minutes after I summited. Others were turned back by altitude issues. I had every
symptom of hypoxia - shortness of breath, dizziness, tingling fingers and lips, headache, upset
stomach, and tunnel vision. I apparently rode right past a family of mountain goats standing in the
middle of a right-hand switchback, but I didn't see them. Good thing I got that lucky shot of the
mountain goat at the summit!

> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com
>

--
~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

Maybe it isn't a technical masterpiece but it's a great photo, Mike. The only words that were
necessary to explain how special the moment was were, "2003 Tour de France parade led through Paris by man and
boy". The picture told the rest and isn't that what pictures are supposed to do? Great photo.

Regards, Bob Hunt

>The only words that were necessary to explain how special the moment was
were, "2003 Tour de France
> parade led through Paris by man and boy".

That is absolutely true. I felt funny writing all that drivel about it, but I was getting so many
questions, and the number of people who were interested in high-res version... well, seemed like I
needed to explain why there wasn't one. Outside of what's in my head, of course.

It's funny that my best picture of the '03 Tour de France didn't show a bike racer. Not a current one, anyway!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Hunrobe" <hunrobe@aol.com> wrote in message news:20040116001146.13560.00000055@mb-m24.aol.com...
> Maybe it isn't a technical masterpiece but it's a great photo, Mike. The
only
> words that were necessary to explain how special the moment was were,
"2003 Tour de France
> parade led through Paris by man and boy". The picture told the rest and
isn't
> that what pictures are supposed to do? Great photo.
>
> Regards, Bob Hunt