Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images
This is a pretty unique moment standing high above all the racers on Admiralty Tower, at the beginning of The Mall. Getty Images had to get special permission from the Cabinet Office to be up here. It’s the height that really makes the picture so special. It was about 10.30am and the light accentuated the shadows of the racers…
Bryn Lennon, Getty Images Sports Photographer
PARIS – JULY 23: Floyd Landis of the USA and Phonak (C), Oscar Pereiro of Spain and Caisse d’Epargne (L) and Andreas Kloden of Germany and T-Mobile (R) stand on the podium after the final stage of the 93rd Tour de France, on July 23 2006 in Paris, France
It’s been one of the most interesting Tour de France races for over 40 years and now it’s finally over with the best man – Floyd Landis – taking to the winner’s podium in Paris. I even managed to stay in the next hotel room to Landis (talk about a small world!). He has to be one of the most humble guys I’ve ever met, let alone photographed, so truly deserves to take the 2006 title away with him.
Next year’s Tour proves to be a really exciting one with the event starting on home turf (in London). We’re not sure how the cyclists are going to make it over the English Channel yet – maybe they’ll build a bridge in the mean time!
Another image from me along with some more answers to you questions. Keep them coming!
“MORZINE-AVORIAZ, FRANCE – JULY 20: The peloton make their way through the French countryside during Stage 17 of the 93rd Tour de France between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Morzine-Avoriaz on July 20, 2006 in Morzine-Avoriaz, France”
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Q & A
How many pictures do you usually take in one day at Tour de France?
The number of frames I take really varies from stage-to-stage during the Tour de France – some days have more going on than others. On slower days I usually take around 400 frames. On busy days, it can be anything up to 700. Naturally, only the select few make it onto the Getty Images site.
If you use the 400mm 2.8 on the finish line, who bring this lens to the finish line? I think that you don’t bring a 400mm 2.8 on motorbike
If I’m on the bike I use a 300mm lens, f2.8. However, if I’m in the car (shooting in particular the start and finish line) I take with me a 400mm lens, f2.8. During the race, I usually alternate between motorbike and the car with another Getty Images photographer.
Look out for my final blog from Sunday, in Paris. Floyd Landis is the hot favourite to win!
Today, a couple of contrasting images and some answers to some questions from me. Hope you find them interesting.
“GAP, FRANCE – JULY 16: Rik Verbrugghe of Belgium and Cofidis lies in the bushes after he crashed on stage 14 of the 93rd Tour de France July 16, 2006 in between Montelimar to Gap”
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
“GAP, FRANCE – JULY 16: The peloton make their way towards Gap during stage 14 of the 93rd Tour de France July 16, 2006 from Montelimar to Gap”
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Q&A
Have you ever had an accident when you took pictures during a cycling competition like Tour de France?
This is only my second Tour de France and I’m pleased to say I haven’t had any accidents…yet! Amazingly, there are very few accidents involving photographers during this race – it’s mainly more police motorbikes which tend to have a few prangs. It’s all down to skill at the end of the day and we employ very good drivers to ensure we’re as safe as we can be. Sunday was a bit of an eventful day…check out this aftermath photo resulting from a collision between two riders
What kind of stuff are you using for picture transfering during the race? PocketPC? Or do you stop somewhere and transfer it by laptop via email? tnx for answering
This answer varies according to if I’m on the bike of not. If I am on the bike, then there’s no way we can send pictures throughout the day – it’s just too busy and we have to keep up with the riders to capture everything. I wait until each stage has finished for the day and use a 3G card (or GPRS signal) and laptop to send the images and captions. If I’m not on the bike, I use the Press Centre, which has ADSL lines.
“The peloton makes its way towards Pau during stage 10 of the 93rd Tour de France from Cambo-Les-Bains to Pau”
I like this helicopter shot, carrying a French TV camera crew. The helicopters don’t ever usually get this close to the riders, so I was a little surprised to capture this image as they all cycled around the bend. I jumped off the motorbike – after whizzing past the riders – to take this shot (on a 200mm lens) as I often achieve better shots when I’ve got a bit of time to set up a picture, rather than constantly shooting from the back of the bike.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
“Yellow jersey holder Serhiy Honchar of Germany and T Mobile prepares for the start of stage 8 of the 93rd Tour de France from St-Meen Le-Grand to Lorient”
Thanks for everyone’s comments and questions, keep them coming. I thought I’d answer them here:
Marco – How many photographers at the finishing line at the end of each stage?
There are approximately 40 photographers at the finishing line of each stage, although this does vary. Each photographer is given either a green, blue, orange or white bib (green being priority positioning at the front and white bibs positioned furthest from the line).
Herman – Do you use auto-focus or pre-focus?
I tend to use auto-focus for most of my shots, including the finishing line. Occasionally, I’ll use pre-focus for a wide-angle lens, but it’s quite tricky to alter the camera once I’m on the back of a bike, with a helmet on (and with a flash gun attached to it!).
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
“Oscar Freire of Spain and Rabobank cross the line to win stage five of the 93rd Tour de France from Beauvais to Caen”
It’s all change for the hot favourites – Alejandro Valverde of Spain is out of the race after coming off his bike earlier in the week and breaking his collar bone. As well as a few missing teeth from other riders, it’s been an exciting week so far!
I shot this image as the winners crossed the finishing line. As a Getty Images photographer, I had a very good position (about 150 metres from the line) and used a 400mm lens to capture the final sprint. The riders are traveling about 40-45mph at this point, so it’s imperative the photographers don’t get in their way!
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
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