South East Regionals champs-back on the Blad

HogHill Regionals 2010 - Images by Geoff Waugh

The light fired, the snowmelt made conditions tough to ride but great to shoot. I managed three rolls during the one hour event. Not a great strike rate and I could do with a spare back for the camera and an assistant to reload for me! But what I did get I was pretty pleased with. The contra jour monos are particularly pleasing. An 80mm lens on a Hasselblad is like a 50mm standard lens on a 35mm outfit so framing becomes an issue if you want to exclude track debris - by that I mean spectators and other people with cameras! That said, the more I shoot with this camera the more I understand it's legendary status.
Wish I'd got one years ago!

'BladCross

Had a bit of time yesterday to scan some medium format stuff I shot at Eastern Region cyclocross rounds.

Regional Cross - Images by Geoff Waugh

Blad in a Pack

You would be forgiven for thinking that the little LowePro SlingShot 100AW is a bag for little cameras - but I doubt many would class the Hasselblad 501CM as particularly small. As you can see from the pic above, I get the 501 body with 80mm 2.8 lens and waist level finder attached. A prism finder slots into a separate pocket ,as does the lens hood. In the top pocket I can fit a Sekonic light meter and more than enough rolls of 120 film for my needs. I am in the process of shooting an on going project about the mechanics that work on the pros bikes at World Cup races and I can get most access (and they are more relaxed) early in the week before the battle lines are drawn.  After more years than I care to mention shooting this kind of stuff, I really can't be arsed to lug a big pack around the pits, so the 100AW works out just fine for my needs. I have a pro set up in a pack I an throw over my shouler and get around with minimum fuss. Sounds odd but this becomes more obvious when trying to negotiate crowds later in the week, with a big pack and flailing tripods! Just look at how chilled I am! So laid back I'm not even using he small counterbalance strap that prevents the pack from rotating on the body. Useful when you are riding a bike, for example.

Since I want the full impact (theoretically) of the medium format pictures to happen when the images are published, I have made a mini slideshow of some of the out takes and other stuff I took because I liked the look of it.


Blad in a Pack - Images by Geoff Waugh

Of course, when the action begins I have to break out the big pack and my fave is the Computrekker Plus AW which holds a full load plus a laptop. There it is keeping me company in the gondola up the Anoch Mor mountain, shot by ace lensman and midge magnet Steve Behr

Back to the Future Prt II

Got a call from MBR last week that sent me up to Thetford Forest for to shoot images of the retrobikers
with their vintage mountain bikes, enjoying a little ATB action.  Don't know why they picked on me - probably because, like a fine wine, I am vintage myself and can remember all that coloured anodised stuff that was once the trickest of all things trick. (No one says 'trick' anymore either - or for that matter 'sano', my favourite Mountain Bike Action magazine turn of phrase). Nevermind, first bike I saw wheeled into the blinding winter mist was an Orange Elite, sparkling in its gold livery and looking every inch the early 90s steed that it was. More was to come, Nuke Proof, more Oranges, and my fave (naturally) a bright green Fat Chance Yo Eddy. I kept as real as real can be by shooting all the portraits on film with my Hasselblad.  No intricate lighting or posing either. The intention was to make the subjects appear of their time and surroundings. Made me almost wish I'd never thrown that box of anodised chainrings, bolts, bar ends and cranks away. Look out for the full feature in the upcoming issue. Tip: clicking on the image should open it so you can witness the Hasselblad and negative film loveliness.