One of my favourite races in the fell running calendar. Love it because it's close to home, but more than that ... stunning scenery, challenging conditions and the prospect of an image to be proud of.
Last week's excursion to the Tigger Tor was invigorating to say the least; the weather forecast for Mickleden didn't look much better. Ah well, all in a day's work for a miserable old git called Mozzie.
Even though Langsett is just down the road from me, I had to set off 15 minutes earlier than the trip to Carl Wark. Parking is a nightmare when there is an event on, Iron Gate was the best bet and even that would fill up quickly. Thankful for a poor forecast, might keep the hikers and bikers away. Sal asked what the ETA would be for my arrival back home. About an hour later than last week I said. Longer race, plus waiting for the runners' return would mean home for lunch around 1:45 pm.
Matthew Hayes - Mickleden Straddle 2019
Bag packed and ready the night before. Batteries charged and memory cards in place. Decided to stick with one lens and one camera; the D500 and the superb 85mm prime. I'll just have to move my feet to be in the best position for snapping. Can't cope with a zoom. Mars Bar x 2 and enough layers to stay warm, hopefully.
Willow had been walked and yet another fruit teacake/banana toastie to keep those hunger pains at bay.
Arrived at the Iron Gate car park to find that a fellow snapper was togged up and ready for the off. I didn't want to walk up to Bull Clough too early. The mizzle wasn't bad, but I didn't want to hang around in the cold. Jon set off for Cut Gate, best of luck mate. Might do that at the next one.
Steady walk up, didn't want to sweat and then become chilled while waiting for the first runner. Quick natter with my friends Carol and Lionel, they were sheltering behind a tumbled down wall, trying their best to stay "less wet" than they otherwise might have been. Hundred yards further on, Jon had decided to give Cut Gate a miss and had set up camp using a large stone as protection from the wind and rain. Umbrella precariously wedged in place, would it survive?
Shots of runners on their way out always present problems. An isolated runner, see image above, is as rare as hen's teeth. Far easier to compose a shot than one which has 3 or 4 runners within the frame. I'd recced this spot the week before and hoped that it would provide me with an image to be proud of.
The curved line of the path combined with the body shape of competitor no. 123, works really well. Or is it just me who sees that?
This is the spot that I'd like to have shot from for each runner. Unfortunately, I'd be in the way and not a very popular photographer.
On reflection, I shouldn't have tried to shoot so many people on their way up. Far better to wait for a gap, take an image or two as they approached, then move out of their way. Wait for the next gap to appear and snap.
Thanks to 129 and 163 for creating movement in the ascent near Bull Clough. More of this please next time.
One or two gaps appeared in the field, allowing me to change position and the possibility of a half decent photograph for the album. It doesn't always work out the way I want. Pleny of recycle bin efforts as well.
Click on each image to reveal the poor composition and lack of oomph!
The most obvious error with most of these rejects, is having the focus point in the middle of the shot. That's fine when it's a single runner or a couple close together. I'm usually pretty good at moving the focus point around. Bit guilty of this over the last three or four shoots.
Never be afraid to try something new. If it works, then you can store it for later. Not quite what I was looking for but I'm sure that I can find a better example in the future.
The runners were becoming fewer and fewer.
The sun made a brief appearance and the mizzle was a distant memory.
Flapjack on its way with the sweepers.
, Jo was sure to remember.
"Hi Bridget, how many pieces of flapjack did Jo send?"
"WHAT! NO flapjack. "
Time to make tracks, the weather wasn't bad at all and I might be able to return to the same snapping points as last year. Steady descent of Mickleden Edge with camera in hand, minding my step of course. Those pesky stones have been the cause of many a bloody knee.
I'd estimated that the winner would be hitting the bottom of the edge around 12ish. The sun disappeared and the drizzle returned. Set myself up next to the track, trying my best to shelter the lens from drops of water. No chance. Time to find somewhere else.
Ran round like blue-arsed fly. "Here ... no, what about here ? No."
Settled on a side shot, making sure that I was high enough to keep the sky out of the frame. Not that pleased with it, but I had no other choice but to stick with it.
Rain failing, not that warm, was it time to pack in? Do I really want 200 shots of runners hiding in the grass. Should I stay or should I go? I nearly went.
The rain stopped and there was a gap in the field, I made the decision to change position. Great stuff, this is the snapping spot that I planned to shoot from.
The rain returned, back to the side shot.
Sun came out on the opposite side to me.
Changed sides.
This went on for about 30 minutes.
In hindsight, the crap weather did me a favour. There's quite a variety of shots in the album, which certainly made the editing a more interesting process.
I try to tell a story with some of the photographs. This photograph was cropped in such a way as to exaggerate the height of the background. The foreground was limited to a small strip at the bottom.
Although I'd prefer the runner in the background to be slightly further to the left. On a personal level, I love the shades of grey in this image, especially the distant hillside.
Much prefer landscape in my fell photos, we need to be reminded of where we ran.
I use a large monitor when editing and this image certainly stands out on the screen. I don't have a mobile phone, so I suppose it doesn't have the same impact on a small device. Sorry.
I'm rambling, time to stop.
I'd been out from 9 and it was 1.30
Time to go. Missed the final 20 runners. If I'd waited another 10 minutes, that would have gone down to just 4. Sorry folks.
Home, soup and sarnie waiting. Nice.
Next stop - Wombwell 5 in a couple of weeks.
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