Preakness 2010

This past weekend, I covered the 2010 Preakness Stakes.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 70 mm, 1/8000, f/2.8, ISO 400)

After a late night covering the rain-delayed Oriole’s game and hanging out with friends, I had to wake up early to set up remotes at Preakness.  I got rid of most of my extra cameras after college, so I only had one extra to use as a remote.  The other guys covering the event for US Presswire were already setting up remotes under the rail, so I decided to stick my 40d with a 50mm f/1.4 lens on a close-by ladder to get shots of the finish line.  The remotes had to be in by 10 so that they could be checked for safety.  The rest of the day was sitting around waiting for the big race.

Here are only a few of the dozens of remote cameras that photographers set up.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 400 mm, 1/800, f/2.8, ISO 100)

I had my 400mm f/2.8 to cover the race as it turned the corner for the final straight.  I was going to switch to a borrowed 70-200 on another camera body once the horses got close enough.  This is what it looked like shooting down the track with the 400. Pretty cool stuff.  This shot is from an early race.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 400 mm, 1/1250, f/2.8, ISO 100)

When it came time to shoot the race, I was ready with all my cameras.  The horses were let off and I aimed my camera with the 400 down the track.  All of a sudden it wouldn’t focus.  I missed the horses coming around the first time because my lens wouldn’t focus.  I had just a minute or two to fix it.  I fidgeted around with it and couldn’t get it to work by the time the horses came back around.  I switched to the 70-200 and covered the finish as much as I could. I later found out that the focus limiter switch had moved to only focus the lens from a close distance.

Lookin’ at Lucky made a last minute move to secure a first place finish.

Here he is pulling ahead.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/1600, f/2.8, ISO 400)

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 190 mm, 1/1000, f/2.8, ISO 400)

Crossing the finish line.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 70 mm, 1/8000, f/2.8, ISO 400)

I was excited to see my remote images.  When I pulled my remote down, for some reason it had missed the finish.  It got the horses the first lap and about three horses back from the finish. That’s what you get with remotes; it’s hard to depend on them.

This one is from the first lap.  Pretty cool shot had it captured the finish.

(Canon EOS 40D, 50 mm, 1/1600, f/4.5, ISO 640)

Lookin at Lucky jockey Martin Garcia gives a thumbs up after the race.

(Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, 200 mm, 1/250, f/4, ISO 400)

A lot of my images were picked up following the race.  Click the jump to see a few clippings from the weekend.