Part - 2 Part - 3 Part - 4 Part - 5 Part - 6 Part - 2 Part - 3 Part - 4 Part - 5 Part - 6However when they come to race, they should know that its not like Nevada City in 90's anymore where women came to race much like a social gathering chatting at the front like a holiday brunch. No, far from it, bike racing today is a very serious business! Women's teams have improved a great deal in the last decade and some races now have equal prize money for both men and women, which means the organizers are putting all the cards on the table, and in return, they expect the women to anti up as well. That means accepting that women's bike racing is every bit as serious and public spectacle as the men and they should be racing their hearts out for the fans!
Note: Of course not all women's events were like social gatherings; in fact the 90's produced the greatest women riders in history, (IMHO).
Some media outfits are much more ruthless, and will swoop down and take crash photos, and just about anything you can think of, but I am not that ruthless! I pretty much just want pre-race portraits and action shots, and if possible I would love to get some shots after the race! Not just podium, that's a given, but I do wish more races provided champagne for the winners so the winners could bond with the fans, that's very important. You wouldn't think spraying champagne on the fans would be ideal, but it works! Everyone gets into the act and has fun!
We should also be getting shots of the spent riders after the race still on their bikes. We shouldn't think of those photos just as sad long faces or losers. No, in fact, these are the silent winners, the bread and butter photos of races. These show the tremendous hardships the women go through to just finish a race, let along win it. Happy faces of winners doesn't paint the full picture in a race. If we can't see the losers, then how can we be fair and balanced in relationship to the winners? I have always tried to show all the riders in my galleries, not just the stars and winners. If I capture a good image, I post it, no matter how low down the totem pole a rider might be, because their friends and family might want to see that, people who otherwise might have no access to the race, since the United States spans 50 states and 3000 miles from east to west!
On the crash photos, I wouldn't post one except in a rare occasion if there is a good story to tell, something that would help cycling, but I wouldn't post one just for the sake of spectacle. I remember Linda Jackson was really protective of a rider once who crashed at the Granite Road race. I just happened to be right there where Linda was tending to the girl. They had asked me to take my camera equipment off the table so they could use it. I had to be there, because I was breaking down video equipment at the time, but I didn't take a photo of that. I didn't see the need, and Linda probably wouldn't have allowed that anyway. However, there wasn't really a story in that. This young girl crashed, and that was that.
She was getting attended too, just mostly bruises and scrapes, frightened nerves mostly I think, but to take one of that at the time would of been the predator mode, something I don't do. If I am shooting at a corner and there is a crash, then more then likely I have already taken several in the burst mode, and that is that. Don't worry, I can't stop to delete them, and if I take more, its only because I might use them to tell a story later, but more then likely I will not use them, just for the sake of spectacle, even if it is a sport of spectacle.
I wouldn't take photos of women crying either, unless I posted a story along with it. When Liz Hatch crashed hard in Visalia, I saw photos posted on the Internet, but sad to say, there was no story to go with it. This might have been a good story, she crashed hard, and perhaps someone could have written something meaningful about this. She was distraught for a very long time, and in a really bad way it seemed. I saw that cracked helmet and those bruises around her eyes. She really took a hit, but all I saw were photos, nobody wrote anything thoughtful about this. Since Liz is such a fiery competitor, and a first year pro, there might of been a good story in this.
On the portraits and pre race shots, I usually try to get several shots, because for one, my camera memory stick can hold the extra photos, but the biggest reason is because often only one shot could come out bad, no matter how much you think you nailed it, especially with a light weight yet powerful point and shoot camera. These new high breed bridge models are designed to be on the move, so you need to take several to make sure you have at least one out of the sequence that will be presentable. There is also a certain body language with women, which you know if they are open to photos, in fact that would actually save a lot of time in the long run, this ESP stuff, but sometimes you must engage the riders in thoughful conversation before they open up to photos. However there is often little time to do this at races, as time flys and you feel constantly on the run and under the gun to get the job done, and done well!
Also, pre race photos are important, as they tell the story of the unique event, specifically, locally. The teams cars, vans, vendors, landmarks, courthouses, even the almond blossoms and green and yellow fields of Rocky Hill gives people a sense of being there, very important. When I shoot a team warming up on rollers that is meant to give a relaxed festive reflection of the mood and atmosphere of the race. All the pre-race start line photos and all the cutting up by the riders called out during pre-race call outs are very important as it gives flair, spice and excitement to the anticipation of the event, and this comes through to the readers, when the photos are given in the proper order and context. If done correctly, the photos tell the story of the race from start to finish. It's not just a race report in written words on paper that tells the story, but it's the pictures that tell a thousand words.
So really, all the photos are important for a photo journalist to tell the story by photos, instead of words, and getting photos after the race are especially important, and these are by far the hardest to obtain, because most women head straight to the vans and home, instead of coming back around for the cameras, or to chat with the fans. Usually the winners are the only ones who do that, but it would be nice if the riders who didn't podium came back around as well. I remember at one race, some riders from Canada came back around to talk with us, ah, that was only because she knew we were going to do TV coverage at Toona, and she wanted to talk. I just wish more women would think about the fans, in fact anyone who would be thrilled to chat with them after the race. The fans need it, I don't need it so much, I need photos to tell the story, and if they chat with fans, I'll take photos of that and share that too.
On the action shots, I use the burst mode, and try to get different angles of the course in a criterium, which if I get enough photos by the end of the race, I might not only get some great shots, but perhaps something for everyone in my photo galleries. I took 7000 photos this year in 7 races, which out of all of them, I used less then 500 and threw the rest away. Getting good photos is an art and a skill that takes years to acquire, but also there is a lot to be said with the skills of post processing, something I am fairly good at. So I manage to salvage some great shots, which would of otherwise gone into the trashcan!
One more aspect is the taboo of taking shots from the rear, which you usually get the immature reaction from riders and fans. The simple fact is I need these photos to match the numbers on the back with the rider, and sometimes that's still not enough to figure out who the riders are. The best thing is to get the start list, which should have all the registered riders with their number, and then you can match a rider in a photo to a name. However, I don't think this is a problem in Europe at all, it's got to be an America taboo. I remember getting the same looks in the 80's at Nevada City when I took some video from the rear when I was a 20 something kid.
Men don't care, but women do for some reason I guess they think its unflattering. It depends on what you post, and if it has a story to tell. I usually don't post them without a reason, but I take them to help me clarify who the racers are. Sometimes I post them if a few were extremely good quality and the gallery didn't have enough photos to complete a full gallery. The best way I guess is to get it over with by taking a couple of laps that way on the first few laps, and don't do it again, as it distracts their attention. However, its absolutely critical to getting the numbers of the riders for identification purposes later.
Let's talk about clothes!
I will say that some shorts do not cover well, and that is not good. I have a real distaste for long distance running events where women wear almost nothing except a little piece of cloth around their bottoms. I know they do this to stay cool and keep their legs from getting abrasions from the shorts, so you see these modified shorts, but that is actually repulsive to my nature, I don't like that at all. On the other hand, I really like cycling garments on women, and I have talked with women in Italy who sew these garments for the pro teams over there. These state of the art one-piece jerseys which seem like overalls made out of spandex really cover the women well, and the colors plus the material really go a long ways to making the women look great! There is nothing wrong with this picture. There is a name for these one-piece road cycling spandex outfits, but I can't remember offhand, not Leotards.
Women in Spandex, Coolmax, Silks, whatever, one piece leaves nothing to the imagination as they are fully covered, and as it should be, so the fans can focus on racing. Even the bike shorts are like cut offs, they cover a lot almost all the way down to the knees, and the jerseys cover fully the top and bottom except the arms, knees and calves, but winter gear covers everything, and if you add the helmet and sunglasses, you can't even tell who they are, and what could be more anonymous then this? I don't see why anyone would object to photos in this regard, but I prefer portraits where they would at least at request remove the helmet and sunglasses so they are more personable to the fans. Why hide the beautiful face of a rider in a portrait?
In this shot, look at how they put the High Road logo over the back side as another top layer to cover, brilliant design! Very easy to look at, and it covers the rider very well. Very nice touch!
The next one I can't show because its offensive and a bad design in my opinion and its like those see through silks riders used to use before someone figured out how embarrassing these shorts were. It just doesn't cover well by thickness meaning you can see through them easily and doesn't layer logos or darker layers to cover the right places. I guess some companies don't know what they did until they get feedback from those who notice the problems. The problem is to make something that covers well, but stays cool without overheating. But I can't believe some companies are still making these mistakes, but they are. I saw some at the races recently, bad designs in my opinion.
Cycling clothes normally cover quite well, and are very attractive on women in cycling. I can't think of another sport where clothes make such an attractive contribution to women doing anything in an athletic endeavor. It's just incredible, as its the one huge plus for women I think in cycling. There is nothing more beautiful then an athletic women in spandex riding state of the art bikes, that are themselves quite beautiful, and when designers match bikes and clothes together then its really special. You see top teams like Tibco do this, as the lesser riders patch things together sometimes like hand me downs, but that is the different between say a cat-2 and a top pro like Kim Anderson. You pay you dues over the years, and soon you ride the whirlwind at the top of the world.
I think great clothes highlights what Leontien started with her lipstick and nail polish. They only accentuate the beautiful part of women in cycling, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I think it's a plus and an advantage to women, as I always thought spandex looked wimpy on a man, but just totally awesome on athletic women. Personally myself as a man, I always like looser fitting mountain bike shorts and just plain colored jerseys since really all I ever wanted to do was make sure a car wouldn't hit me, but one did, and i lived to tell the tale, some other time!
For me personally, I don't think there is any sport more beautiful then pro women on bicycles, not ice skating, not women's tennis, not anything that I can think of where a rider can add grace and beauty to a sport like women can do on the bike. However, don't get me wrong, I am as geeky as they come when it comes to stats, numbers and career highlights for women. I am a bookworm for that stuff, it fascinates me, but for real time live action, there is nothing more beautiful and exciting as seeing top pro women race bicycles. It's just totally awesome to watch them in action! That's why I am not into MB racing, because I don't like seeing women with mud caked to their faces, clothes and bikes! Road racing is a clean sport, and I also like the pure aerobic aspect of it, where riders are not interrupted by technical maneuvers, and can fully focus on a long 45 minute climb on smooth pavement! Its pure cardio Joy, and allows a rider to see what they can achieve in a fully uninterrupted cardiovascular effort!
Rochelle Gilmore has camera presents!
Yes, Rochelle Gilmore has camera presents but how did she get it? Was she born with it, is it a gift? It could be a natural gift, but you can work at it. Movie stars have camera presents and they know how to use it. Now I can't really post a bad example of camera presents, because I can't single out any riders in a negative light as I don't do that on this site. However, there has to be a way to show you. Lets just use the current photo. Out of the three women, Rochelle has the best camera presents. It's simply a way of presenting yourself to the camera in the best possible light, either on the podium or in photos.
Other women have it. In fact a lot of women have it, either naturally, or they cultivated it, and some like I said previously, it's in their good nature to be that way. The best example of camera presents I know of is Leontien. It seems to be a gift from above with her; she's just got it! Well, if you combine a beautiful athlete in the colorful garments of spandex with camera presents, what do you get? Well, if she's very good at cycling, you have a superstar like Leontien, but to take it one step further, if they are an extrovert like Super Mario was, meaning they are vivacious and very fiery character, then you have someone of rock star status, and Leontien had that. She was all those things, and I doubt we will ever see anything quite like her again. She was literally a gift from above to the women's cycling world!
In fact, perhaps Nicole Brandli has the best camera presents I have personally seen in so many photos, over and over again, she just never seems to have a bad photo, and she seems to look good from almost any angle! Also Nicole has class, she's very classy and with camera present, she really carries herself well on the podium, and she radiates dignity and honor. She is one of the all time great classy champions to ever grace the podium. In this photo below, Nicole Cooke can't help but admire Nicole Brandli. In the other photos, Nicole Brandli radiates class and dignity. Indeed Brandli is a giant among women in Europe, and is considered the Godmother of women's cycling in Europe.
Notice the photo of Nicole Brandli with the cup? Look at the muscle definition and her upper thigh and hip bones. During this time, she was at peak in her career winning her first Giro, and she's extremely strong and in superb condition. This is a very rare photo of a athlete at the top of their game and really doing it! She's got the strongest pair of legs I have seen in any photo bar none except the one of Nicole Reinhart. At the time of this photo, Brandli was extremely strong, sexy, classy, had camera presents, the respect of her peers and really at the top of her game. She is certainly a rider of the ages, and to me personally I think she is such a dream. I rarely post my personal feelings on this site, but I must admit, as the classic saying goes, she's someone to die for, she is such a dream!! She is so beautiful with so much grace, beauty, class and finess, she would be the dream of all men, and indeed in Europe, she is treated as royalty!
Now in Europe, they have been aware of these things for decades, that's why they have numerous awards and categories for women. They have most congenial award, for the woman who is the most sociably pleasant. They have an award for the most elegant, which really compliments the whole idea of women wearing spandex, don't you think? Look at how much thought and design goes into these colors and fabrics? Look at High Road this year? Simple, but beautifully rich, black and white, I love it, I love the simplicity of it, yet it's stunning!
Also there is an award for the best sportswomen, most inspirational, and most combative. Now this all seems like a lot, and not needed or just clutters things up, but it took me a long time to realize just how important all these awards are, no matter if they are not monetary awards or don't offer huge gold leave trophies. They build character by evoking their higher nature rather then their lower. They also endear the fans to the riders, this is how stars are born, and its also the roots or the beginnings of what can become great stories for the press or the media to write, when something fully wonderful matures in cycling. When one of these awards has an effect on a character in cycling that plays itself out over time, and there is a whole rich wonderful tradition in old Europe where riders used to write some great stories about some of the bravado and sportsmanship unheard of in cycling today.
Today, everything has been refined into a science, and like computer generated music, cycling today lacks the flavor or spice that some of these old traditions used to carry with the fans and their heroes, and that's where all these awards come in. It builds character into riders, and cycling has all these rich characters that play their roles and endear themselves to the public. Sounds like fantasy? That's the way it used to be. Today, there is too much science and not enough spirit and sportsmanship.
They say the best example ever was Gino Bartali, as he was the gentleman gladiator, which had no rivals. He redefined class and winning on a bike, and the best example I can think of for women would be Fabiana Luperini. Now I didn't say camera presents, but class, and Leontien had class, but Luperini had a special kind of class on the bike and she's very modest about her accomplishments. Some of the stories about the grand tours she won between 1995 and 1998 border on the greats of Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, and she had the kind of class, fire and sportsmanship that the Spanish call Gannas, the French call Panache, and the Italians call Grinta. Luperini was a Bartali, Coppi and Merckx all rolled up into one!
There are riders who are legends or heroes because they have gone beyond the normal range of achievement and experience. Also they keep the myths alive by emulating the great riders of the past. Luperini is one such rider, as is Van Moorsel and Longo. These heroes are people who have given their lives to something bigger then themselves, and the hero is someone who can particapate in the game decently as nature, and not because of motives. Luperini is modest, and that's the way she is, she can't be a Super Mario, neither does she need to be. She has a special kind of class just the way she is.