Swanson Shootout

The 2014 Psycowpath racing season is underway!  The first race of the season was held yesterday at Swanson Park, Bellevue, Nebraska.

With below freezing temperatures, there was some 30 trail runners for their race.  Runners had a start time of 8am and ran 5+ miles over the Swanson Park trails..  I did not arrive until 9 (Was at ham radio breakfast before). Was there in time to shoot photos of the trail running podium.

Large field of bicycle races.  I heard there were about 40 racing the 4 hour marathon.  Once the Juniors, Marathon, and Category 3 races were off, i headed into the woods for shots on the trail.  Found a vantage point not too far from the shelter.

Temperature were still under freezing.  Missed some of the riders when my fingers would stop working trying to actuate the shutter button.

Visited for a while between races.  Shot the start of the Category 1 and Category 2 races.  Ended up with the photos of the early bicycle race podiums.  By then, I had enough for the day.  Stopped by the bike shop and grocery store on the way home.

Thanks for the race promoters, the volunteers, and officials.  Great job by the THOR (TrailsHaveOurRespect.org) trail maintenance crew.  Special thanks to Edge Physical Therapy for grilling and providing burgers and hot dogs.

New Camera & Lens

Seems like any time attend the Rockbrook Camera Tent Sale, I end up spending more money than I intended.  Today was no exception.

Was a busy morning.  Started with a doctor's appointment in Omaha.  It was also the fraternity alumni luncheon - so figured I might as well stay in town and do errands.  First stop was Barnes & Noble.

At the book store I was looking for photography and Linux magazines.  Also wanted to check out a Raspberry Pi book - Programming the Raspberry Pi - Getting Started with Python.
 Found everything I was looking for except for the current issues of Linux Format.
Had time to run over to the camera store.  The main reason stopping there was to look at the Tamron 18-200mm zoom lens (vs Tamron 18-270mm).  While waiting to talk with the Tamron rep, I started talking with the Fuji and Canon reps.  Figured I might get info about the new (yet to release - as it turns out) Canon EOS 70D.

Talked to the Canon rep about the couple shortcomings with my EOS Rebel T1i.  Chiefly the slow frame refresh rate.  When shooting mountain bike races, I encounter times when after about 4 shots, I have to wait until the camera writes to the SD card.

The Canon Rep recommended looking at the Canon EOS 60D.  Where the T1i buffer holds about 4 shots, the 60D will buffer 15 or more (as I recall).  Though will also need a fast SD card.  The 60D is designed with sports photography in mind. Rockbrook, during the tent sale, I got a good deal on the Canon EOS 60D body.  No need for a lens since I was planning to purchase the Tamron 18-200mm lens.

The Canon rep tried to get me to upgrade to a faster lens.  But the lens speed was not my concern - it was the camera frame rate.  Talked with the Tamron rep and decided to purchase the AF 18-200mm XR DiII lens.  Before check-out, I added  at UV filter and Class 10 Pro 32 GB SD card.

On the way home, I picked up a extra battery for the camera.  Spent time charging the batteries.  In the late afternoon I familiarized myself with the camera. Excited to get out an shoot some photos, likely tomorrow.

Also spent some time this evening reading the new Raspberry Pi book.  Looks it will be very helpful. 
The bookstore also had a copy of the Raspberry Pi Handbook published by LinuxPro Magazine.  As for the luncheon - it was mostly enjoyable until our right-wing dido-head  started o the President.  I expressed my displeasure with his comments and have decided to no attend the luncheons (at least for a while).  I don't need the aggravation.

On Your Left

This in one of my favorite mountain bike race photo.  Psycowpath Race Series, River City Shootout, shot at "Firehouse Air", Swanson Park, Bellevue, Nebraska.  Sport and Expert class race, May 2, 2009.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel - f/8 at 1/320 sec.   80.0 mm, ISO 100.  Captured as JPG by the camera.  Processed in Photoshop Elements 9.