One hour in hell (Cyclocross)

It was the U23 race of the German nationals in Doehlau/ Bavaria on Jan. 11.
For the elite races the next day I took the D300- What a mistake! I got nice pictures from the elites, but I should have stuck to film and b/w, there´s so much more spirit in those pics..... It was my first attempt on CX.
 
the fake vintage b&w look gives these images an anachronistic feel, because one side of the brain thinks these are images from 1929 and the other side knows that is not true
 
Oooops- it was never my intention to create "fake vintage". What makes you think that way?
The use of film, high contrast, drowned shadows & motion blur, that´s about it. Nothing vintage about it, right? Maybe it´s because also in sports photography we are nowadays used to brillant sharp and blurfree teleshots?
 
Very nice set!
You have captured the dynamics of this sport better than the majority of digital-supersharp-telephoto-flash images of the pro's. (imho)
As you probably know, cyclocross is huge in Belgium (especially Flanders). I'm also a big fan of these events and go often accompanied by my X-Pan and Zeiss ZM. The focus in my pictures is more on the spectators than the race itself.
http://www.willytruyens.com/en/cyclocross.html
 

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Willy, your pictures are marvellous! I envy you, Belgium is CX paradise, of course.

One of my main ambitions in life is to spend a week between Christmas and New Year to visit 3 or 4 CX- races, to see Sven, Neils, Klaas and the others in person. Almost every sunday I´m sitting at home between 3 and 4 o´clock pm watching live streams of World Cup or Superprestige races.
 
straightmp said:
Willy, your pictures are marvellous! I envy you, Belgium is CX paradise, of course.

One of my main ambitions in life is to spend a week between Christmas and New Year to visit 3 or 4 CX- races, to see Sven, Neils, Klaas and the others in person. Almost every sunday I´m sitting at home between 3 and 4 o´clock pm watching live streams of World Cup or Superprestige races.
Click to expand...

Thanks for comment on my pics. And you're right we are spoiled ;) We have at least 4 CX-races within a 25 km range from our home. You should really come over, you won't regret it!
 
That is an outstanding series!
Feels just as dirty as the racing is.

Back in 2009 I had one race shy of enough points to make the collegiate National CX Championship and had I not been doored by a car and dislocated my shoulder (which forced me to get surgery,) I would have been competing in the race in Bend, Oregon in early 2010.

My multi-geared CX bike got parted and sold after that but I still have a singlespeed CX racer which just needs some brake work and for its rider to get off his butt.

CX is the most grueling of the cycling sports besides the staged tours that cover hundreds of miles. Again, great photos!

If you get to the Paris-Roubaix, definitely post some of those!

Phil Forrest
 
Great thread and fine photography. I've been to the Cross Worlds (2002 in Belgium) and follow it each winter. Incredibly tough sport, matched, I feel, by the one day classics, like Ronde De Vlanderen and Paris-Roubaix, in my opinion. I saw those in 1993, shooting an M6 with 35 Summicron and Tri-X. I still use that set-up a lot. I better find those 1993 negs and get them "out there."
 
Margu said:
the fake vintage b&w look gives these images an anachronistic feel, because one side of the brain thinks these are images from 1929 and the other side knows that is not true
Click to expand...

The whole sentence above sounds like something that HAL would say.
Where did you leave your human heart, man? :D

straightmp said:
Oooops- it was never my intention to create "fake vintage". What makes you think that way?
The use of film, high contrast, drowned shadows & motion blur, that´s about it. Nothing vintage about it, right? Maybe it´s because also in sports photography we are nowadays used to brillant sharp and blurfree teleshots?
Click to expand...

I suggest you let the "fake" comment pass.
Your set of images *works*. It conveys a different feel than the typical sugar candy explosion of bright colors.
Good job!
 
Outstanding images that really capture wonderfully the whole atmosphere of cyclocross. I used to ride 'cross years ago and still have a cross bike that I take to the trails with now and again. Looking at those great images I can just feel the mud in my eyes, the screaming legs and bitter cold air on my lungs. Hell is right!...TW
 
Just another contribution to this subject. Sven Nys on his way to another victory last saturday during a super exciting race in Lille (Belgium).

Sven%20Nys%20Krawatencross%20Lille%202014.jpg


http://www.willytruyens.com/en/cyclocross.html
 
Nice shots.
I took this past year off from racing cx due to a new baby- looking forward to getting back out there next year.

Euro courses are so much more difficult/intimidating looking than ours in Chicago.
 
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