Response from Supersport Images
Someone should point it out to the organisers. I think I remember the photos being much better, (more, better locations) last year. The group that did the Angry Doctor last year did a really good job, too... and their internet interface was a whole heap better too.
Hi Riders,
As the GM of Supersport Images, the Max Adventure team did the right thing and have made me aware of your thoughts on the imgaes from Dirtworks, and I felt it important to reach out to you guys to offer a little explanation (not excuses) on how we go about getting the images and also I wanted to give you an insight into some of the decisions we made.
Let me assure you guys, that when I see your comments here, I take them very seriously and I see at as my role to work towards turning your comments into postiive one's if we are lucky enough to shoot you guys again.
The really difficult part of capturing you guys in action on a course like this where it is an out and back on some tough 4WD terrain, is the ability to have my photographers change positions on course efficiently enough to shoot you guys in multiple places that best reflect the course, and that also give us the best chance to trying to get you indivdually.
We had 3 shooters on the day, with two mobile shooters and one that was dedicated to the ridgeline that was unable to be mobile due to a mix of the terrain and the fact that we were reliant on moving up there in an official vehicle.
The intention was to capture at least 2 shots of each part of the course, bearing in mind we had to choose positions that allowed our team to get to the next part of the course in time for the first rider to be there (ideally)
The decision to shoot at the cattle grid has been crtisiced a little and it's important for me to explain that the decsion to shoot there, was made based on simply aiming to get an appealling 'general' shot as you all headed out on course, that was early enough for that shooter to get themsleves into position as you neared the finish. We knew this shot was going to be a situation where you guys were likely to be still reasonably bunched and also one that was maybe not a strong enough reason to buy on it's own, but one we felt it would compliment the others well.
For that idealogy to work, we need the later shot of you all to succeed and I can't say we were thrilled with the outcome, hence some of you only having the cattle grid shot or vice versa!
From our point of view, the water crossing over the canoe's on the 100km course was a 'no brainer' as it incorporated a good mix of the elements and on top of that, it allowed for the riders to come through in single file in theory, not taking into account the ride's who carried their bikes after falling or by choice.
I must point out, that when we are on course and given our aim is to shoot ALL riders at a particular spot in a particular shot, things can sometimes come unstuck. In situations for example where a rider falls in the water, well before our shooter's position, this obviously affects out ability to get the shot, simply because our the shooter will have specific lenses on to best capture the shot we are looking for.
Just to give you a comparison, if a press photographer were out on course, they have the great ability to continually mix and match their shot syle and there chop and change what lenses they elect to shoot with, as they lookfor a spcific shot. They can simply shoot whover they wish until they get that shot and then change it up again.
Since our invovlement is aimed at getting a shot of everyone, it's unfortunately a trade off between reducing that risk and getting a saleable shot. It's no good for us to get a winning shot of 30% of riders as it just doesn't make things viable. We hope it to get a good shot of as close to 100% of riders as we can taking all of the elements of the course and nature into consideration, as well as the fact that we simply can't control if riders are bunched, pocketed behind one another or on't have numbering etc. The are just so many factors that can go against us, as well as the fact that our shooters are human.
For you 100km riders, we put in a good deal of work to get a stunning shot of you guys by the ridge line with the awesome views, but we simply could not find a solution to get a shooter into place their on event day and did everything we could to get a similar shot, but it just didn't eventuate, which we were disappointed with.
Our decision not to have coverage at the finish line was purely based on the fact that we felt we were best served aiming to get an action shot on course rather than a simplistic shot at the finish. I'm happy to cop cristism for that and some may support my decision, although others who are maybe competing for the first time might like to see a finish shot??
All in all, it was a tough outcome for us with a fair bit of work having gone in to really reflecting the event well, shooting you in good spots and also hoping to give you some good stuff to purchase, but it wasn't as successful as we'd hoped.
Let me assure you, I've taken your comments seriously and I am more than happy for you guys to contact me directly to offer your thoughts (keep it nice).
daniel@supersportimages.com
Just finally, for those of you who had no rider plate, you may be aware that you will need to search for your shots. You can stream line your seach through bike colour! Those with black bikes, happy seaching.
All the best to you all and I'm deeply disappointed if you are disappointed with your choices.
I will be doing my best to ensure that we are there next year and get another chance to do better.
Cheers,
Danny Boag
GM Supersport Images
