Judith Ponti-Sgargi, QPSA, BPSA
November 2024 - Finishing Together
Original
About the Image(s)
Nikon Z6ii, 24-120 mm Z lens, aperture priority /800 sec, f7.1., ISO 200 44 mm for both images September 16, 2024, Triathlon Barrelman, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada I captured images of the athletes finishing the run, the last section of the triathlon. The athletes compete in groups based on sex, age group, and sections entered. The triathlon stretches over several hours. Thus, athletes usually are not bunched together crossing the finish line and a banner is not used to indicate the winning person in the group.
The images submitted show how framing and cropping change the informative content in the story. It was unusual to have two finish the race together.
Which image do you think has greater story telling and informative content and why.
9 comments posted
Karl Leck
Hi Judith, Having photographed many races, the exuberant arms up image is the classic finish line photo. A step later, the athletes are clicking their own watches which is an important moment for their records but not for us. The runners are in the same leg position implying a cordial relationship. Even if this is a race over many hours, where are the finish line spectators and cheering observers? There is no one! Unfortunately, this leads me to possibly infer that the image is a set up long after the race was over but the arch and fence were still there. At the New York City Marathon, for example, there are rows of spectators cheering the finishers several hours after the elite winners cross the line. Karl Posted: 11/05/2024 09:54:06
Karl
Good points. The image is not a set up. Attached is an image showing spectators. There were not many. My concern was finding an angle showing the runner crossing the finish line, not looking at his/her watch, and finding a "different type" of image. I cropped the image to show the sponsors.
Runners are not bunched together nor are there the large number of runners which you might see at a Boston marathon. Thus one does not feel the sense of competition. Runners do not appear in the distance. The runners come along the fenced area (see sign that says finish/lap), and then round into the finish area.
Posted: 11/05/2024 14:39:29
Good points. The image is not a set up. Attached is an image showing spectators. There were not many. My concern was finding an angle showing the runner crossing the finish line, not looking at his/her watch, and finding a "different type" of image. I cropped the image to show the sponsors.
Runners are not bunched together nor are there the large number of runners which you might see at a Boston marathon. Thus one does not feel the sense of competition. Runners do not appear in the distance. The runners come along the fenced area (see sign that says finish/lap), and then round into the finish area.
Posted: 11/05/2024 14:39:29
Karl Leck
Yes, the image with one runner says so much more. I like including a scoreboard or clock as you did here. The cell phone and people give a better sense of the event. In this situation, I might try going farther away from the finish arch and use a longer focal length so that the background gets a bit softer. I would try to include as much of the clock and spectators as possible. My favorite location for a finish line photo would be head on and low angle (kneeling), but that's not always possible. Karl Posted: 11/07/2024 08:55:25
(Group 5)
Karl, I agree with you if this image would be submitted to the PJ sports section, but this group is about PJ General, and there are strict instructions about what is PJ sports or not. This image implies more sport that other. For me the main image is the one that conveys to us the greatest emotion of triumph, and being both contenders in the same line and both with left leg in the air, makes the image. I do see people in the background. Posted: 11/07/2024 09:34:57
Karl Leck
Hi Isaac, Yes, there are background people in Judith's image, but they aren't part of it. They may be headed for the outhouse, snack truck, or exit for all we know. From atop my soapbox, PSA seems to be getting wound up in detailed rules these days making their REALITY competitions difficult. I've gave up on entering nature or wildlife when a judge insisted on seeing the original RAW file. I don't always shoot in RAW and that particular image was a scan of a color negative. That's the kind of narrow mindedness that can result from excess rules. To make a separation between sports and human interest is baloney. If the picture elicits a reaction from most viewers and would be selected by an experienced editor for publication, then it is photojournalism. Perhaps PSA should reduce the pages of rules and only have publication editors with 10 or more years of experience be judges. Alternatively, let's get rid of rules and competition (and stars and letters after your name) and just have thoughtful discourse of images as intended in Image Discussion Groups. Karl Posted: 11/08/2024 12:14:55
Karl
https://psa-photo.org/page/photojournalism
The link above will take you to the PSA PJ Division site where the Rules for Publication Credits in Photojournalism. The PJ division also offers opportunities to enter the annual six and 20 image story competitions. I have applied credits from both activities toward my PJ star applications.
I found it important to understand the differences among an image entered in an exhibition; story; and portfolio. Also, it was interesting to compare the differences in image requirements for a publication vs a PSA activity. Exploring issues of copywrite, model release forms, and public vs private space for different organizations was an eye opener.
Posted: 11/08/2024 15:34:39
https://psa-photo.org/page/photojournalism
The link above will take you to the PSA PJ Division site where the Rules for Publication Credits in Photojournalism. The PJ division also offers opportunities to enter the annual six and 20 image story competitions. I have applied credits from both activities toward my PJ star applications.
I found it important to understand the differences among an image entered in an exhibition; story; and portfolio. Also, it was interesting to compare the differences in image requirements for a publication vs a PSA activity. Exploring issues of copywrite, model release forms, and public vs private space for different organizations was an eye opener.
Posted: 11/08/2024 15:34:39
Karl
I agree. The best position is head on, low angle, including the participant and if lucky having the winner break through the banner. At the June, 2024, Forest City Race, the organizers gave me permission to photograph in the enclosed area for special captures i.e. winner crossing the finish line. The prior year, I discovered that the organizers hold up a banner.
This image did well in exhibition. My challenge was not to get run over. October 27, I photographed the Halloween Haunting, a fund raiser, with participants wearing costume. I included the arch, finish line, and looked for "crossing the finish line". The organizers put the clock behind the inflated structure hidden from the camera. I had to position myself behind the event photographer who was crouched low. My images were boring. The viewer could not discern the status of the person crossing (no banner, no clock). The interesting part was the costume. I shall post one of these images next month.
Refer to the PJ quarterly, 2024 last session for the image of the Women 10 km Winner which earned a Silver Medal. Posted: 11/07/2024 11:06:11
I agree. The best position is head on, low angle, including the participant and if lucky having the winner break through the banner. At the June, 2024, Forest City Race, the organizers gave me permission to photograph in the enclosed area for special captures i.e. winner crossing the finish line. The prior year, I discovered that the organizers hold up a banner.
This image did well in exhibition. My challenge was not to get run over. October 27, I photographed the Halloween Haunting, a fund raiser, with participants wearing costume. I included the arch, finish line, and looked for "crossing the finish line". The organizers put the clock behind the inflated structure hidden from the camera. I had to position myself behind the event photographer who was crouched low. My images were boring. The viewer could not discern the status of the person crossing (no banner, no clock). The interesting part was the costume. I shall post one of these images next month.
Refer to the PJ quarterly, 2024 last session for the image of the Women 10 km Winner which earned a Silver Medal. Posted: 11/07/2024 11:06:11
Karl Leck
Hi Judith, I really like this 10K WINNER image. The story is evident. The wheelchair child adds a certain diversity to the scene as a counterpoint to the pink shoed runner. Doesn't the two girls image seem barren by comparison? Great work. You have a sense of what's happening combined with composition and the important moment. Karl Posted: 11/08/2024 11:58:26
(Group 5)
Karl, plus being able to be at the right place the right time. Posted: 11/14/2024 08:55:57