After working as an official photographer for the TransAtlantic Way Race around Ireland, Bikepacking.com are promoting next years race. The main photo shows race director Adrian descending one of the many stunning coastal roads. I made him climb back up twice in a strong head wind to get another shot heh heh.
Sleeklens Filters.
Sleek Lens contacted me to see if I'd like to try out some of their lighting effects and overlays. I choose to trial the Sky Overlay Collection available to buy from them at www.sleeklens.com. The pack includes:
- 1 Light Ray Overlay
- 177 Skies Overlays
- 4 Flares Overlays
- 77 Sky-Enhancing Actions
- Easy to Follow Recipe List
As most of my work consists of outdoor shoots I was keen to see experiment with some dramatic skies to add drama to some action shots. Here are the first attempts at using a few of the sky overlays and the lighting actions in Photoshop.
The original image with minimal colour enhancements made before processing the RAW file to a Tiff. (Contrast was enhanced via curves, reds brought up and sharpness added). Sky left featureless as it was on the day.
Out of the 77 Sky enhancing actions, the Golden Hour one worked well with this image. The minimal colouring gives a realistic early evening lighting. I like this minimal enhancement.
The Golden Hour action applied again but very minimally to a sky overlay. The mountain biker was cut out and put on to the uppermost layer. Minimal darkening was applied to his and the ground to give a more realistic evening light. The centre of the wheels was cropped out and switched to multiply to avoid cropping individual spokes out.
Same sky as above with yellows and reds turned right down in Golden Hour action and blues turned up.
A different more dramatic sky with ground and mountain biker further darkened to add realism.
As above but with minimal lightening.
I was keen to try a filer with a black and white image to create real contrast and drama. This is the original image with contrast adjustments made to foreground, background and rider. The sky is the original belonging to a mid September day.
Drama added via a Sleeklens sky dropped in behind the rider.
Revolution Manchester, UK
Yorkshire 3 Peaks Cyclocross Race
Renowned as being the hardest cyclocross race in the world, the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. A great spot to shoot it from is the summit of Pen-y-Ghent at over 2OOO ft. The first time I shot this race I had to help a competitor off the mountain who had broken his collarbone. Once we got back to a road section he rode on to the finish. By the time racers descend Pen-y-Ghent many of them looking like they have been to hell and back!
Steel City Downhill, Sheffield UK.
Downhill legend Steve Peat's Steel City race outside Sheffield last year was an absolute blast. The atmosphere was awesome with a tight technical course through the woods and a rowdy crowd revving chainsaws, rattling old handle bars in bike frames and shouting through megaphones. I had been wanting to shoot some more Downhill Racing for sometime and I can't wait for this months action to shoot it all again!
Peak District
From the Peak District, UK.
BMX Racing at Braintree, Essex
Sometimes smaller wheels are FASTER!
Flickr Site
If you are on Flickr, why not add me as a contact to see many additional shots! Mountain climbing / cycle racing / travel / portraits. www.flickr.com/photos/richmarshallphoto
Landscape Black & Whites
Trying out a few black and white versions of mountain landscapes from trips to Patagonia and Nepal. Gallery on Behance.
Khumbu Valley, approach to Everest
Cerro Torre, Argentina
Fitz Roy, Argentina
Torres del Paine National Park
Rapha Supercross, Alexandra Palace, London
The big one! A faster more furious course than last years with less mud but strong winds. I had a quick chat to Nick Craig after his race and met Mike Jenner, Olympic mountainbike mechanic. He gave me the lowdown on his impressively souped up van before an impromptu mini-bike razz about in the car park! All images copyright Richard Marshall. Do not use or post elsewhere without permission.
Rapha Supercross, Manchester
Mud, cowbells, foam walls and tequila shots - that'll be the Rapha Supercross Series! Here's the action from the Manchester round at Philips Park. All images copyright Richard Marshall, do not use or post elsewhere without permission.
Dave Hemming
Women's Westminster Grand Prix
Hannah Barnes of MG Maxifuel took another convincing win at the Westminster Grand Prix. The race was held before the eighth and final stage of the Men's Tour of Britain. The victory ended a great season for Hannah who is now back to track racing for the winter. All images copyright Richard Marshall, do not use or post elsewhere without permission.
Lake District
Always great to visit the Lakes, I took these during a hiking trip this summer.
Tarn Haws
Rock colours, Scafell Pike
Hikers tackle Striding Edge
Camping below Helvellyn
Ambleside
London Nocturne Racing 2013
All images copyright Richard Marshall, do not use or post elsewhere without permission.
Men's and women's pro races.
Women's and men's amateur, fixed gear and penny farthing races.
Mud Sweat & Gears Race at Olympic Course
I spent last Sunday shooting the final Mud Sweat & Gears XC series race of the year at the Olympic Legacy course. It's a great track with some technical sections to test all abilities and was a lot of fun to shoot! All images copyright Richard Marshall, do not use or post elsewhere without permission.
One of the best course sections for fast action shots.
