Shooting the Tri Race is like Racing a Tri Race

Yes. And don't mind the unglamorous shot once again of the goof troop. Thanks john, for getting me in touch with the media folks there.

That was exactly what crossed my mind when I was out shooting the Triathlon Youth Men's Race.

I race triathlon races for fun and because I love pain. Not really for the second reason but it's the discipline involved which makes it exciting.

Yes I'm nuts.

But anyway, we decided to take dramatic splashing shots of athletes entering the water and coming out of the water for their first transition. Normally, in a race, you would run in the sea, swim a certain amount of distance, most times its 1.5 - 2 kilometers and then exit the sea, under a shower and into transition area where you prepare to get onto the bike. After the bike, hop back into transition area, rack your bike and go into the run leg. The final leg.

All this in as quick a time possible.

Now... Shooting a triathlon...

I found it to strangely familiar to racing because photographers have transition zones too... you sit in the water, with your cameras (waterproofed) and then get your shots, run out of the water, through the showers - but this time, take more time as compared to when you're racing, to rinse off all the salt on your cameras and clothes, go back to the media center, change out into dry clothes, pick up the equipment that you need (all layed out and planned before hand), in a race you'll be picking up your sunnies, powergels, helmet, and bike. This time, i picked up my long lens, and short lens, and put on my Pool photographers vest. Then head out, early enough to catch the Bike leg.

After which, you pop back to a different zone to catch the run segment up to the finish.

Ahhhh.... like they say in Thailand, same same but different.