Top 5 Pics from Curlew Cup 2023

The offseason has started, and it's time to review my photos for the year... The order of races will be a bit chaotic because I only recently posted Lincoln GP photos and I want to try and post a men's race and women's race each week. (I'll also make this series a blog on my website). The review will be my top 5 pics from each race, and then reposting the race pics from the race, which I've now edited. My top 5 pics are my favourites and I know that some pictures that are potentially "better" might not be included.

The first race is the Curlew Cup (17/09/23) and at #5, it is Lucy Harris in the breakaway. Lucy was one of the first riders I interacted with after posing in the National Champs Road Race (unsurprisingly, making it into the Top 5 in that race). While that was a fun pic, this is a serious one.

You will notice that the bright, bold kits (think Wahoo-Le Col, TDT-Unibet) will make a lot of appearances - and the Condor Cycling kit is no different. The angle of the photo, in addition to the glance across to the camera, helps a lot, too. The bike is in focus from the frame, bottle and wheels, while the background isn't to bring additional contrast to the rider.

Curlew Cup #4 photo is a peloton picture led by the Alba team. The thing that makes peloton or group photos is that all riders must be in focus - and even better if they are pulling a face.

This photo is taken with three riders upfront (Lucy Harris, Frankie Hall and Gemma Mitchell) with the peloton trying to let a gap form heading into the feed zone. The Alba riders (one of which is drinking) and the other looking directly into the camera. Behind them is Emma Jeffers (Das-Handsling who finished 2nd) and Caitlin Dimbleby (Le Col Race Team) as the main four whom you focus on initially. Behind Caitlin, is one of the Isle of Man riders before the peloton spreads out wide as we see two Boompods riders. Seeing the peloton spread out only works at an angle like this, because it provides depth that you don't get from a head-on shot. I think the other thing that helps this photo is that there isn't much rider formation, so the peloton's colours are wide-ranging.

I mentioned riders pulling faces as one of the things you look for, which isn't helped as everyone outside of Charlotte (Boompods) is wearing sunglasses. However, you can see that almost everyone is relaxed except for the Isle of Man rider, who looks like she is still making an effort. One of the things I love about these types of pictures is the riders who you can catch a glimpse of in the background - in this case, Cecilia Hime of Paradigm Cycle is between Caitlin and the Isle of Man rider.

After looking at all the riders, the background also has to look good, which I think this one does. There is not too much going on, but a couple of trees are in focus and looking sharp. In a photo like this, you want the riders to be the main attention, and they are.

Curlew Cup #3 is the bunch sprint in which Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis) leads and wins the race. In fact, the top 5 in this photo of Corinne, Emma Jeffers (Das-Handsling), Charlotte (Boompods) and Sophie (Isle of Man), Monica Greenwood (Das-Handsling) went 1-2-4-3-5 showing how important it was to be in position at this point.

However, the photo focuses on Corrine, Charlotte, Sophie, Ellen (Boompods) and Harriet Graham (Brother UK-Orientation Marketing). What stands out to me is that Corinne, Sophie and Harriet have already started their sprint - while the Boompods duo are still in the saddle.

As mentioned when discussing the group photos in Curlew Cup#4, I love seeing glimpses of riders with one of the riders (sadly, not sure who), looking head-on at the camera.

It's not bad for my first-ever bunch-sprint photo, and you can see what I learned and adjusted as the Beaumont Trophy #3 photo is also the sprint.

Curlew Cup #2 is the Boompods team picture, where I have them in a diagonal line heading away from the camera. There is a lot of symmetry in this photo from the fact that everyone is evenly spread out, everyone is pedalling at the same cadence with their extended leg closer to the camera. You, then, have Evin Avill (Storey Racing) and another rider who is getting ready for the feed zone.

The background isn't in focus in the same way compared to other photos, but I think that means you pay more attention to the riders and that is what the shot is about.

Curlew Cup #1 and to end the first series for my Photography blog is Frankie Hall and her Champagne Problems - yes, of course, I was going to make a Taylor Swift reference.

This is where I wanted to make it clear between best 5 and favourite 5, yes, the photos are amazing quality, but the story behind it is my favourite. The story can be for another time as this blog will be way too long! I will also cheat the system and showcase both photos because they work so well together.

The first photo is Frankie trying her best to cover Monica in champagne. The way that the photo captures the champagne in the air, the way that Monica is trying to get away, but for me, it is the crispness of the photo is the thing that turns this from a great moment to witness to a terrific photo - all sponsors on both riders and stage are clear. I love the champagne droplets as they hit the (already covered) floor so much.

The second photo is the drop, and there are a couple of reasons to get into the photography side of why I like this photo a lot - the first being the set focus point. I presumed people might go across where I was standing to go to the podium, and while this wasn't the case, the Das-Handsling helmet is in the photo but doesn't interrupt the focus - if anything, it adds an extra dimension.

Onto the Champagne Problems... Frankie has dropped the champagne in an attempt to do Lando Norris (F1)'s famous celebration - the only problem is that she drops the bottle. So, all you get is a tiny sprinkle of champagne, which the photo perfectly captures. You have Monica realising what's happening and laughing, which makes this photo amazing. What really makes it for me is that Frankie's hands (including having her nails done in team colours) are outstretched, moving very quickly but in focus - which is the cherry on the cake.