Compartmentalized Running, a photo from Zuid Holland, South

Photographer's Note

Compartmentalized Running

As I wrote in the note with my last years marathon picture, the Rotterdam marathon, as the other five big ones in the world, are tightly orchestrated events. Every marathon wants to be the one where a new world record is set and the athletes who are targeted to do so are closely coached/directed and provided with hares. This is done by forming a group formed by the athletes, their coach, the race director and of course the hares. This is also done for the ladies, for the ones running for the Dutch marathon championship (= integrated in the Rotterdam marathon), etc etc .
One of those groups/compartments streaking by at some 20 km/h, is shown here. The compartmentalization is also there in the course as is also on display here. In the background is the lane reserved for the fast pro athletes and in front now empty the lane for the recreational athletes, separated by crowd control fences .

The pic is taken near the entrance of subway station Wilhelminaplein . Behind the athletes we see the Wilson and Bolles designed elevated walkway. Behind that the northern Maas waterfront with The Bow monument on the right.

With my pics of last years marathon is some more background information about the Rotterdam Marathon here
and here .

PCS2 tech: slightly cropped, altered the contrast, saturation, curves and levels for the whole pic and some elements separately, USM-ed , added a frame and saved for the web.

exif data

Camera Manufacturer : OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Camera Model : C8080WZ
Exposure time [s] : 1/250
F-Number : 5.0
Exposure program : Aperture priority (3)
ISO speed ratings : 50
Date taken : 2006:04:09 11:16 :27
Components configuration : YCbCr
Exposure bias value : -10/10
Metering mode : Multi-spot (4)
Focal length [mm] : 140 mm (135 mm equiv)
Colour space : sRGB
Image width : 3264
Image length : 2448
Exposure mode : Manual (1)

Galmeida, Miks, RGatward, jhm, digi-mom, Tue, nwoehnl, Xalkida, alvaraalto, syd1946, Fixfocus oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Galmeida (12559) 2006-04-14 3:52

Good morning Bert,

The title is well choosen and fits so well with this capture view and enquadrement perspective. A sportiv action moment that you handled in a good way. Possible I would also cropped a little of the bottom. Excelent colors, light and sharpness. A nice work and well composed by your excelent eye catch and signature. Congratulations and have a happy Easter time.

All the best to you.
Fernando

carper (96) 2006-04-14 4:28

prachtig Bert,
De lijnen de runners, de kwaliteit, echt allemaal uitstekend gezien en uitgevoerd. Ware promotie voor de Rotterdam marathon. erg goed werk.
gr. jaap prettige paas dagen.

Miks (1717) 2006-04-14 4:57

Good shot which puts the sports even in an interesting perspective. The '1' sign on the top emphasizes the competitive nature of the event. Well seen!

I would have tried a faster exposure time to freeze the runners. Or a slower to get some serious blur. The 'extreemes' often works better than the 'in between'.

Perhaps the composition would be even more effective if you cropped the fence at the bottom. This way it'd be a panorama format and the runners feet would mark the bottom of the shot. Just an idea in case you wanna play around. It works nicely as it stands.

Cheers,
Mikkel

RGatward (20108) 2006-04-14 5:01

Great shot Bert, I especially like the the standing guy looking towards the runners on the right. Though since he stands out so much as compositional interest, Maybe worth cropping the other one on the left, not sure.

jhm (211738) 2006-04-14 6:06

Hoi Bert,
Weer een mooi beeld van de wedstrijd, en er wordt nog stevig doorgelopen volgens ik kan zien. Lopen het is iets speciaal, eenmaal gedaan dan is men voor de rest van zijn leven verkocht, dit is mijn ervaring. De sherpte van deze foto is zeer goed, de lopers zijn te herkennen.
Groeten uit Vlaanderen, en een prettig Paasfeest. Licht bewolkt, 16,6° C.
John

Tue (93556) 2006-04-14 10:40

Hej Bert,
Nog zo'n mooie foto van de marathon. De verdeling tussen de lopers op de voorgrond en rivier en stad op de achtergrond is prima. Ook een leuke toevoeging is het witte vlak bovenaan met de grote '1'. Mooi werk!
Vrolijk Pasen!
Groeten,
Lars

john_c (24666) 2006-04-14 11:20

Hi Bert,
The caption of the photo is most apropos. This is the kind of structured, controlled running that I find hard to understand - to me, running should be freely done, over fields and moors, perhaps like Eric in the film "Chariots of Fire." However, I know that athletes have to run in cities under controlled conditions...Still, its a humorous shot, with all the restricted areas and barriers of the city scene impinging upon them; they resemble mice on a treadmill. I love the lines and graphics of the scene and the POV. A dynamic shot, artistically rendered, and shot at the decisive moment. Have a happy Easter weekend, Bert.
John

nwoehnl (122) 2006-04-14 11:25

This came out really nice, Bert, not only did you manage to capture a good animated moment of the runners traversing the city, but also you managed to embed them in between these layers of urban architecture and the additionally erected barriers to direct the flow for the race. Interesting capture; greetings from Hiroshima.

Xalkida (11744) 2006-04-14 13:47

Hi Bert

Very nice snapshot of this atheletic event. Great catch of the motion, lovely colors and lighting. Marvelous.

alvaraalto (42868) 2006-04-14 16:42

Hallo Bert,
Zonder marathonlopers was dit al een prachtige foto geweest, maar nu is ie dubbel mooi en interessant. De bovenkant geeft een schitterende afsluiting waardoor de foto nog beter wordt.
Goede Pasen toegewenst vanuit Haarlem
Rob

Stepan (27210) 2006-04-15 4:14

The framing is great to create a graphic and cold shot about a human warm activity. Strong contrast between all the lines and the running people. Interesting and complex composition.
Have a good week end.
Groetjes.
Stéphane

syd1946 (1167) 2006-04-15 12:19

Hi Bert,
This is an excellent action shot with a great
line beetween athletes and the buildings in the
backround.The time of captured the scene is the
right time giving to us a nice daily life scene!

Have a nice weekend,
Thomas

Fixfocus (9385) 2006-04-16 13:16

Hoi Bert,
It´s a very graphic surrounding and framing for a sports shot,but it shure looks good.Mooi gedaan en een prettige paasavond!
Hermann

Hanssie (11022) 2006-06-15 15:27