Savage Race, Part 1
The Day Before
Equipment
The day before the race, I placed the following items in the staging area (my front door).
This allowed quick trips to the car so I save as much time as possible the day of the race and able to do a quick inventory check the next day. I also made sure all the batteries were charged and all memory cards were cleared. Technically, Race Pace hands us memory cards, but it is always good to be prepared ahead of time in case I fill up the provided card. I went to bed early so I would be fully charged for my very, very early trip.
- Canon 5d mkii
- Canon EF 24‑105 mm F/4.0
- Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
- Canon 580 EX II (2)
- Pocket Wizards (3)
- AB1600
- Mini Vagabond
- Beauty Dish
- TS13AC LightStand
- Monopod
- Replacement batteries for all above equipment (AA, Canon LP-E6)
- Laptop
- Food (Bananas, protein bars, 5 hour energy shot, bottle of water, garbage bags)
- Gym bag with extra clothing
- Beach Towels
- Step Ladder (4 feet)
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| A nice tidy mess ready to be loaded. |
This allowed quick trips to the car so I save as much time as possible the day of the race and able to do a quick inventory check the next day. I also made sure all the batteries were charged and all memory cards were cleared. Technically, Race Pace hands us memory cards, but it is always good to be prepared ahead of time in case I fill up the provided card. I went to bed early so I would be fully charged for my very, very early trip.
Savage Day
Travel
Waking up at 4:30 AM, I prepare a large enough breakfast with a nice cup of coffee. I am feeling sleepy, excited, and anxious: it is going to be a long yet eventful day. I quickly pack my equipment into the car, make one final inventory and run between my trunk and my apartment, and head out to the event location. I map out the location: not a bad drive, simply take I-275 into I-75 till I reach Dade City.
Or so I thought. It was quite foggy that morning, and although the road was visible on the Interstate, it was another matter once I reached the local roads. At best, it was a "par 3" distance, but the fog rarely let objects into view until about 150 yards away. Once I reached US-301, the fog subsided, and the vendor entrance quickly followed. I let the organizers know who I was and what group I was with, and they had me park very close to the main area: about 50 yards away from the runners and spectators. At 6:40 AM, I was the first photographer to arrive at the scene.
Parking at these events is always a gamble. Sometimes you get sent to the runner's lot, which is the worst outcome possible. The runner's lot if the farthest away from the site, making foot travel with equipment a hassle. Most often you get sent to the volunteer space, which is much closer, but still not ideal. I was fortunate enough to be sent to the vendor space, which was the closest to the site (it was right on it) and saved a lot of time (especially at the end). I parked right by the Savage Race Banner.
Photographers need to negotiate this part of the contract, it may seem like a small detail, but adequate parking can save time and money for both the photographer and the client.
On another note, it feels great to be out in the country again. Smelling the fresh grass, listening to the wildlife around us, and no sight of city lights reminded me of my days back in Puerto Rico. Being away from the urban jungle is very relaxing to me, one of the many things I enjoy about obstacle course racing photography. Little Everglades Ranch keeps this place very clean and picturesque. I recommend this place for other events as well: it is close to Tampa Bay with resources nearby if needed.
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| We all took this photo. Truly original. |
Or so I thought. It was quite foggy that morning, and although the road was visible on the Interstate, it was another matter once I reached the local roads. At best, it was a "par 3" distance, but the fog rarely let objects into view until about 150 yards away. Once I reached US-301, the fog subsided, and the vendor entrance quickly followed. I let the organizers know who I was and what group I was with, and they had me park very close to the main area: about 50 yards away from the runners and spectators. At 6:40 AM, I was the first photographer to arrive at the scene.
Parking at these events is always a gamble. Sometimes you get sent to the runner's lot, which is the worst outcome possible. The runner's lot if the farthest away from the site, making foot travel with equipment a hassle. Most often you get sent to the volunteer space, which is much closer, but still not ideal. I was fortunate enough to be sent to the vendor space, which was the closest to the site (it was right on it) and saved a lot of time (especially at the end). I parked right by the Savage Race Banner.
Photographers need to negotiate this part of the contract, it may seem like a small detail, but adequate parking can save time and money for both the photographer and the client.
On another note, it feels great to be out in the country again. Smelling the fresh grass, listening to the wildlife around us, and no sight of city lights reminded me of my days back in Puerto Rico. Being away from the urban jungle is very relaxing to me, one of the many things I enjoy about obstacle course racing photography. Little Everglades Ranch keeps this place very clean and picturesque. I recommend this place for other events as well: it is close to Tampa Bay with resources nearby if needed.
Preparations
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| Brad the man. Bonus 4' step ladder on the left. |
Shortly after, I meet the main photographer for today: Brad Easom We went over the details of the event as the other photographers arrived. Then I saw a big group of athletes arrive through the main gate and quickly grabbed a few shots. After recovering my monopod from a kid who happened to "borrow" it, I headed back to our group to go over the final details.
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| The elite crew |
A group of 4 got picked for the Shriveling Richard obstacle: an icy pool of shock and agony. At 8:30 am, each one of us went to each assigned post. I picked the last of four of the tubs, between the cargo truck and the surrounding forest. The four of us chatted for a bit, until I noticed a large group of people jogging towards us at about a par 5 distance. This was the moment that we were waiting for and we quickly scrambled to our stations, ready to (photo) shoot. We held our breath, anxieties running high and the first wave hit us like a ton of bricks.
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