"Quick, quick, quick, like a cat"

(similar post over on my bike blog)
Last night was the Awards for the 2009 Bicycling Northwest.com Bike Photo Contest presented by Pro Photo Supply. Despite a civil war football game distraction we had a nice group of the winners and friends gather at the Lucky Lab NW for a bite, a pint (or two) and a look at all the entries as well as those that carried home the winning swag.

Taking top honors was a great shot by photographer John Rudolff - the crash of cyclist Joe Dengel in last summer's Portland Twilight Criterium. The photo epitomizes the old adage, " luck is opportunity meeting preparedness". Photographically many elements come together quite beautifully in this shot - three in particular that make it work for me. Most critically in my mind, and many of the judges, is the expression on the young girl's face in the upper left corner. Without that this photo doesn't have the same voice. With it, it has what Henri Cartier-Bresson use to refer to as the moment you must go click, "quick, quick, quick, like a cat".

In that sense cycling photography is like wildlife photography and unlike so many other types of sports photography. Planning is crucial, preparadness mandatory, understanding your subjects behavior essential, and then realizing you are at the mercy of the universe to bring all the elements together before your lens... that last bit is the hardest part to be patient and accept. If you have never tried photographing cycling - criteriums are the best starting point. Unlike most other cycling events, they are contained within a set "small" manageable playing field - usually a half dozen blocks of city street. You can move freely around the perimeter of the race and take advantage of multiple photo opportunities.

If you are a wildlife photographer and looking for another challenge - even just to keep your eye and index finger sharp - give crit cycle racing a go.

Congratulations to everyone that entered and all the winners!

We will be putting up all the winning images on Bicycling Northwest.com over the coming week - as well, they will be displayed in large print format at Pro Photo Supply later in spring 2010 when we announce the opening of the next contest (I'll post a note here on the blog).

Thanks to Canon cameras for sponsorship of the prizes.

PS - Joe Dengel, the cyclist, is fine and cycling again - the crash did ring his bell a bit.