Battle of the Bricks…

Part of my job at the Indy 500 this year couldn’t be done on race day, which isn’t a big deal since I kinda like going out to the track during events.  Maybe not events like Carb day which housed more people in that space than I ever thought possible, but at the same time the track during race weekend is a one of a kind experience.  Just like a Football game at Notre Dame Stadium, there’s nothing quite like it in the tradition, the fans, and the buzz in the atmosphere created by the greatest spectacle of racing.  Racing isn’t the only thing that happens at the Speedway every year though.  The entire month of may is filled with parades, walks and drives around the track, as well as other events such as this year’s Redbull Battle of the Bricks.

(Nikon D3s, 320ISO, Nikon AF-S 28-70F2.8@48mm.  1/1000th@F5.  Nikon SB-900 to camera left about 8′ Zoomed to 200mm set to Full power with an attached SD-9A battery pack above slightly down on Alan.  Single SB-900 Set to 1/2 Power superclamped to the bottom of the stand aimed up  and slightly to the right of the stand to give a slightly better fill on the area in the event Alan didn’t pass in the area of the umbrella. Both SB-900’s were triggered by Pocket Wizard Flex TT5s, which were fired by a MiniFlex TT1 on the camera hot shoe. )

This event was very similar to the Fight with Flight that I shot last year at the Vincenennes aviation Technology Center near the Airport.  Essentially it’s like break dancing on BMX bicycles which takes more skill than I could ever hope to have.  I can hardly ride a bicycle much less breakdance on one.  Anyway, I digress; Very cool event last year, and this one had a lot of potential but the impending biblical rain I think scared some people away.  I knew it was going to be going on that afternoon, but didn’t know where until I stumbled upon it and my friend Joe Lee who was the one hired to shoot the event.  Shot some of the action, and a couple of portraits of the event, some of which I’ve been meaning to send out to Redbull.  Good group, hope that they keep doing the event.

(Nikon D3s, 200ISO, Nikon 85mmF1.4D.  1/5000th@F1.4.  Nikon SB-900 to camera left about 4′ Zoomed to 200mm set to Full power with an attached SD-9A battery pack shot through a 32″ umbrella above slightly down on Terry.  Single SB-900 Set to 1/4 Power superclamped to the bottom of the stand aimed up  and slightly to the right of the stand to give a slightly better fill on the area in the event Alan didn’t pass in the area of the umbrella. Both SB-900’s were triggered by Pocket Wizard Flex TT5s, which were fired by a MiniFlex TT1 on the camera hot shoe. )

That’s Terry Adams, the baddest of the Bad.  Redbull sponsored this guy years ago and he’s won everything that can be won in the world of FlatLand BMX.  Met him a few times, and he’s a nice guy.  This tournament was a bit rough for him, but I think the Beautiful Indiana Scenery lightning storm that was about to start brewing harder in our area had him a bit distracted.  Nothing like doing stunts in a big flat area on a lightning rod right?  The tournament ended up getting canceled early because of the rain and lightning and for good reason.  It’s too bad, as I’d have liked to have seen the final outcome of the tournament as opposed to just giving the medals out in the order of current placement.

As always it was a neat event and I saw a few folk that I haven’t seen since the last one.  Neat deal, I hope they keep doing it.  Maybe I’ll make better plans to go out and shoot the entire thing this year including the warmups which is where I got some of the more dynamic stuff from last year’s Fight with Flight.  Either way, was pleased with the shot of Terry so I feel like it was worth the trip.   In that way it’s just like golf then isn’t it?  There’s always that one shot that’ll bring you back…  More soon.