How to shoot a bicycle race?

OGUL wrote on 4/27/2013, 3:46 PM

https://vimeo.com/64959742
This is the video that I shoot last year with my GH2 + Summicron-R f.2 lens.

Tomorrow I'll have the opportunity to shoot that race again.
I decided to use my 7-14 mm f.4 lens.
Should I chose 1920 x 1080 30p or 1280 x 720 60p?
Should I chose a high shutter speed like 1/500 or 1/1000? will it make a difference?
Or should use my Sony HC3 or HC9E when recording? (60i or 50i)

Any advice pls.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

arenel wrote on 4/27/2013, 4:34 PM

As a long time bike racing fan, (Lance broke my heart,) and someone who shot a number of cross-state rides, I suggest the following.
1. Maintain your screen direction l-r or r-l and change it only for a reason.
2. Shutter speed: stay with 720p/60 at 1/125 to allow motion blur.
3. Your sample doesn't indicate whether you will have the ability to ride along on a motorcycle, that makes for great shots. The rides that I shot were back in the Hi-8 days and were tourist rides, so I could shoot from a bike, but a motorcycle would be needed for your racers.
4. If you are shooting a montage with music, shoot lots of closeup details and prep shots.
Good luck,
Ralph

Serena wrote on 4/27/2013, 8:34 PM

I guess you are asking only for advice on camera/settings for shooting the bicycle race but I note that you say 'this is the video I shot last year' rather than 'this is portion of my previous video'.
Your video isn't really about a bicycle race, but is something of the few moments of a race passing through a street in a town. If you intend the latter you need more of how people interact. If you actually want the bike race, you need to get much more involved.

flyingski wrote on 4/28/2013, 12:16 AM

I looked at your video from last year and if you'd like to shoot a similar scene this year I'd suggest 720 at 60p. Use a tripod or monopod if the crowd and your position allows it. I shot the Pro Challenge last year in Minturn, Colorado and most of the video was of spectators, the town, race officials, etc. where I tried to capture the excitement and anticipation. The riders didn't take long to go past. Here's a clip from my video that is similar to yours.

https://vimeo.com/48115477 (sorry I haven't mastered links yet)

Camera settings were a handheld T2i at 60 fps using an 18-200 lens, 1/640 and f11. The slow motion sequence was done by frame serving out of Vegas 10 to Virtualdub running an AviSynth script.

diverG wrote on 4/28/2013, 10:24 AM

Why not use the GH2 yourself and give the other cameras to friends. This way you might well get usable shots from other locations along the stage. A good briefing and some street practice will help.

Good luck

OGUL wrote on 4/28/2013, 10:54 AM

and this is harvest of the day:)

https://vimeo.com/64990139