And the reason for no memory card was that I had removed it to upload photos from yesterday.
The Snow Roads Audax. When I first photographed this I went for the Time Trial look. Long lens, nice background and used a remote flash in the less than clement weather and early sunshine.
This gets a bit samey, it is however very safe as you are almost guaranteed (as much as anything) to get the shot. Last year I had a new lens to play with and used the same this year. It was a Nikon 10-24 zoom, and as I could walk/run at the speed of the riders on Cairn O'Mount I could get in close, really close and capture the agony and ecstasy far more than with the long lens.
The main problems were the sun, at the time I was shooting, this meant going almost directly into the sun, and wanting a low angle meant I couldn't look through the viewfinder. Other settings: flash set to +1 exposure comp and 17mm. ISO 100 and apeture 6.3 which with that lens guarantees everthing in focus.
Here are some examples:
My club mate Kenny. He doesn't do hills but really beasted this one..
Untitled by
davidmamartin, on Flickr
More elegantly, Dr Kate, a fantastically strong rider though she has only been doing longish distances for a year or so.
Untitled by
davidmamartin, on Flickr
And a nice bit of lens flare. I am holding the camera less than a foot from his handlebars.
Untitled by
davidmamartin, on Flickr
It is really risky if you *must* make the shot, but I really like the results, especially with the sun.
And I discovered that not changing the fifth battery along with the others in the SB800 can lead to it getting very, very hot (and frantically trying to change it whilst running backwards uphill alongside a rider..)