Penn Relays

[shots worth sharing]

<p>So Clara, Robert Colameco, Bill Cosby, and thousands of other fans (many with a Jamaican connection) and I went to the Penn Relays this past Saturday. For the uninitiated, this is one of the premier track & field events in the country and it's been on my "bucket list" for quite some time (being neither fast nor disciplined, I admire those who are both.) Although I brought a bunch of lenses it was really more of a scouting excursion than a serious photographic expedition. </p>

<p>The longest lens I brought (for the sake of compactness) was the A*300 f4 along with the Tamron 1.4x TC but got my best shots of the day from the summit of Franklin Field with the DA 15mm:</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Jbz2GRP/0/XL/i-Jbz2GRP-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-JsdCvZk/0/XL/i-JsdCvZk-XL.jpg" alt="" /> </p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-mCxVHj9/0/XL/i-mCxVHj9-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Here's Cosby, starting the High School Boys 4x400m. One of the neat things about the Relays is that it includes competitions at the scholastic, collegiate and world class levels. Cosby, a former track athlete himself, supports the Relays with an appearance every year.</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-WHwb62c/0/XL/i-WHwb62c-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>The atmosphere was enlivened by a substantial Jamaican-affiliated contingent in the crowd.</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-m7rbkQz/0/XL/i-m7rbkQz-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>The jumping events were at our end of the field but the angle was weird.<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-mZGHdVR/0/L/i-mZGHdVR-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-q7RsLCW/0/L/i-q7RsLCW-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="534" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Fq7BBc7/0/L/i-Fq7BBc7-L.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="600" /></p>

<p>Photographing the running events was pretty frustrating from our vantage point--here's the best of the lot. </p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-T8PQWvb/0/XL/i-T8PQWvb-XL.jpg" alt="" /> </p>

<p> </p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>I went to the Penn Relays once as a high school sprinter (200, 400, 800). Still have my racing bib #s saved somewhere. Very cool experience.</p>

<p>The vantage point definitely sucks, but what can you do? Too bad you couldn't get floor access though! Glad to see you are using and enjoying that DA 15mm, it's another Pentax gem that is misunderstood by those looking to recreate a Canikon style system with Pentax gear. I like that first shot a lot.</p>

<p>Looking at the photos, I forgot what real athletes some of these guys look like. I was freakish with some sort of genetic leg strength that was off the charts for a high school kid, but mother nature or my parents failed to give me the cardiovascular system to ever be considered an athlete, nor the tendons to go with it! Never looked like these guys!</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm sure it was good experience for you and Clara!</p>

<p> </p>

[bob-c]

<p>Dave, great shots. With the exception of that guy in the third picture (you could have at least gotten my good side) they are all very good, especially under the circumstances. For the record, I did look into getting ground level passes but was told that it is very difficult. I wish in retrospect that I had tried a little harder. The track and field events and Dave and Clara's company made it a very enjoyable day. <br>

With Dave's permission, here are a few of my shots. Taken with a Canon 50D and one of those cheap 70-300 lenses.</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>second</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>third</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>fourth</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>finally</p><div></div>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I was pretty proud to have made it to the upper deck, Justin--not a long climb but pretty steep ;~) I think it's very cool that you were a participant! And the athletes were amazing! it was fun just watching them warm up: they seemed to <em>float over the field, </em>as if exempt from the law of gravity. </p>

<p>Nice additions Robert--so funny that we got the same shot! </p>

 

[miserere_mei]

<p>Bob, what's up with the hair, man???</p>

<p>I have to say I really like Bob's <em>race time</em>...maybe because it's B&W? Maybe...</p>

<p>Sometimes photography is more about being out there and having fun rather than the photos you take, so who cares about bad angles? :-)</p>

[kfrog]

<p>I remember Bill Cosby actually ran in the Penn Relays while he was doing the"The Cosby Show". He was in some kind of senior division as I recall. He used event in one of his episodes as he ran against an old rival.<br>

I know what you mean by cheap 70-300mm lenses. I used one with a Nikon D90 to get some photos of a lacrosse match. Got some pretty good shots with it too.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I agree, Mis--<em>race time</em> is very cool and </p>

<blockquote>who cares about bad angles? :-)</blockquote>

<p>is quite right. In fact, if we'd been in <em>perfect</em> position, we'd probably have wandered about looking for less conventional perspectives ;~) </p>

<p>So here's a B&W from an unconventional perspective for you.</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-bssXdmP/0/XL/i-bssXdmP-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

[bob-c]

<p>Mis,<br>

Ahh, yes, the hair. I'm surprised you noticed. A few months back when I turned 60, I really began to notice that my hair was falling out at a rate significant rate. Back in the 60's, in my youth, I had very long hair. I said to my wife that before it all goes, just one more time I want to grow it long. The fact that I am sure it irritates the hell out of the school administration is just icing on the cake. How long it will last is anyone's guess. My son Daniel has threatened to not be seen in public with me if it gets to a ponytail. The hot summer weather will probably do it in.</p>

[miserere_mei]

<blockquote>

<p>Dave wrote:<br>

So here's a B&W from an unconventional perspective for you.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Ah, nice! I like it!</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Bob wrote:<br>

Mis,<br /> Ahh, yes, the hair. I'm surprised you noticed.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>How could I not? When I met you you were a respectable East Coaster, now you look to be from Berkeley :-p</p>

<p>I too once had long hair. What eventually did it in was a Summer I spent working at McDonald's; keeping long hair inside a hot, greasy hat for 8 hours a day for almost 6 months is not a good idea! Of course, looking at me now nobody could guess I once had much hair, let alone long hair :-(</p>

<p>Don't worry, Bob, if you have long hair next time you visit Boston, I'll still go out with you in public. But I might wear sunglasses. Big ones too.</p>

[bob-c]

<p>Mis, I have never before been accused of being respectable!</p>

[bob_marz]

<p>Nice shots boys. Dave, I agree with Justin the 1st pick is very nice.</p>

<p>Bob, I agree with Mis, race time is great.</p>

<p>Bob, you have a better side? Sorry, just kidding. Who cares if your kids won't be seen with you in public. What's new about that.</p>