Shooting the Olympics in 4x5

[Brian Moore]

I thought I had posted this link yesterday but I don't see it now. (If I am double-posting I apologize.) Anyway, take a look at this link (which I came across in a Flickr posting.) The images are quite amazing.

David Burnett's Speed Graphic Photos of the London 2012 Olympics

 

[Pete Askew]

I don't think so but I remember seeing something about this but not with as many photos. And what photos they are. A really different look: but I think he might have overdone the reverse tilt toy-town look a bit. But super stuff anyway, especially the one of the athletes stretching. And using an Aero-Ektar too by the sound of it - I bet he failed to mention the radioactive bit!

 

[Brian Moore]

I agree about the toy-town look, Pete. But some of those other images are fabulous. For me, the one with the two runners crossing line is masterful. How he got the lead runner in crystal-clear focus while the second runner, just a few feet away is a OOF is beyond me,...unless it was just luck. But I son't think so.

 

[Pete Askew]

Wide open and with a touch of swing, that lens would deliver a very narrow plane of sharp focus.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I like them, but the equestrian shot is very toy town, a bit too much. Some good shots there, though, and I agree with Brian about the two runners crossing the line. Luck or logic, it's a great shot.

 

[Brian Moore]

Wide open and with a touch of swing, that lens would deliver a very narrow plane of sharp focus.

That's my point, Pete. Did he pre-focus on the winner's lane--just guessing that would be the lane of the winner? Perhaps Miss Sarah bestowed upon him a gift.

 

[Pete Askew]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear was I. If you look at the lines after the finish boundary they are fairly sharp from front to back. So I think he pre-focused on a point on the finish line and used a front clockwise swing to extend the focal plane to cover most of the line. Does that make sense? So all he had to do was wait for a runner to cross the line at some point and press the shutter release.

 

[Brian Moore]

Yeah that makes sense, Pete. Thank you.