as long as you dont get lost i will catch you all on the trail

2018, are you really going to participate in a trail race?

This is a very interesting topic. I spent a year thinking about it, yet I still don't have a satisfactory answer.

Do you have an answer? Would you be willing to share it with me? Come on, don't be shy. I'm waiting for your comments!

01

I remember in the first half of last year, my friends and I were busy filming various road running events. An experienced runner asked me on the train back after a race, 'Do you only shoot road running?'

I remember my answer was something like this: Road running is just one of the many types of events I shoot. I also shoot football, racing, model airplanes, and more...

Until that experienced runner looked at me disdainfully and asked:

'I was just asking if you shoot trail running. I'm running a trail race next time; I was wondering if I might see you there.'

Alright, I was dumbfounded at that moment. But that little excitement in my heart plummeted with the word 'trail,' like a free fall into a valley.

Image source: ThirteenX

Trail running, a past pain in my heart.

Once upon a time, I was responsible for product sales in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan region for a company. I often took advantage of business trips to join various teams, shedding my suit to become an experienced hiker, sometimes even leading the group or bringing up the rear.

But those are all in the past. The reason why the word 'trail' makes me so nervous is due to an outdoor jungle snow mountain crossing. During that 2-day, 1-night, nearly 80-kilometer fully equipped snow line crossing, our team lost countless pieces of equipment, returned with everyone covered in injuries, and even had one person go missing. Since then, the word 'trail'...

But now, I can face it. I'm back!

Back to that experienced runner, I don't remember his name, but I remember he once told me, 'If you ever get a chance to shoot a trail race, let me know. Trail running desperately needs photographers.'

At that time, I didn't really understand what he meant by 'desperately needs.' Until one time, my friends went to shoot a trail race and shared their shooting experiences with everyone.

Shooting continuously for a whole day and night? That immediatelyshocked me.

So let's talk about what kind of photos you trail runners want from the perspective of a trail running photographer, and how we photographers should shoot and persevere.

02

Speaking of trail running, everyone must be familiar with it, but for me, it's a completely new field. Unfortunately, I've never shot it.

So, I put together this random collection of images and text. Please give me some tips and let me know what kind of photos you like.

Since we're talking about photos, here they come.

Photographer: Little Walnut

How about this photo? I think it's fantastic! Running wild in the wilderness, how great!

But, I want to remind all runners, if your bib number is unrecognizable or your face is covered, how should I deliver the photo to you? (For specific operations, see my previous post:

Tommy: Event photos are slow to arrive because of the long distance)

How about this one? I like it too, just for the joy of running wild!

On the uphill path? The speed will be slow, right? The angle should be from above, right? The visual impact? Actually, such shots are not easy; they can easily look very tiring.

Wow! This one is beautiful! But... but... it's on a paved road... okay, let's consider it a buffer zone.

Some friends say running on firebreaks is the most boring. It feels like running a mountain marathon, not a trail race. Okay, if the whole course is unpaved, would you then complain that there's no buffer zone at all, and your feet and knees are getting injured?

How about one with landmarks? Actually, I quite like such environments. Should I find a place like this to wait for you? Have you thought about what pose you want to strike? Not yet? Hurry up, there's less than a month until my first trail race shoot! How can you not come to support?

This one, I really, really, really like (important things are said three times). The environment, expression, and composition all reflect trail running.

By the way, those two poles of yours, don't point them at me. I'm not a kebab, not tasty, even though I'm a sheep...

I have to say, this one is what I mentioned before as shocking.

If I remember correctly, when photographer Winnie the Pooh shot this set, he was lying on the ground, shooting upwards. During the shoot, he couldn't communicate with the runners; he could only suddenly spot a target, shoot suddenly, and then wait for the next target. Why do I feel like he's a sniper? Bear (Winnie the Pooh's nickname) seemed to insist on shooting like this for a long, long time, so much so that he was sore all over when he got up.

And the night finish line, such a highlight moment, must be one of the runners' favorite photos, right?

Photographers who stay on duty at night need to be heavily equipped on-site. If the lighting is insufficient, they also need to add flash and other equipment. Do you think I'll be waiting for you at the finish line? What? You're not running trail?

Please scroll to the last paragraph of the article and see what Handsome Thief left for me. I'm going to shoot trail races, and you still haven't planned to run one? You win!

03

So, what is a trail running photographer like? As far as I know, it's like this...

Photography: Wuyou Character: Azure

Hey you, go over there. They need your support over there (designed dialogue).

At night? At night, photographers not only have to take turns guarding the track but also shoot continuously. Yes, when not shooting, it's like this...

Photography: Azure Character: Wuyou

Hurry up and sleep; you'll be shooting me sleeping later (designed dialogue).

Sleeping under the open sky, if only there were a tent, that would be even better.

Trail running is different from road running. If the course is designed like this, you can't make any transitions. For example, on such a course...

If there's no event shuttle support, how do photographers transition? Run with the runners? Great, I'm fat, I can't run, can't move...

Alright, I'll quietly wait at a certain point for you. Tell me, which checkpoint do you want me to wait at, and how do you want the photos to look to be satisfied?

On this topic, I talked with someone who runs both road and trail. Yes, you guessed it. Shen Squid, it's him. You don't know him?

Don't wait, it's unnecessary.The face of the running group, Handsome Thief.

I didn't do anything, just took your photo, so what?

Not convinced? Not convinced, let's switch. You run, I'll shoot.

Convinced, I'm convinced, can't outrun you, go run a full marathon and get sore.

...

Handsome Thief said to me:

'Some say trail running is easier than a marathon because it's not as boring. Some say trail running is tougher than a marathon. After running a trail, running a marathon is just to get rid of soreness.'

Whatever, whether it's fun, tough, boring, or for soreness relief, my goal is to capture your highlight moments. Unless you get lost, I should be able to catch you. Believe it or not? Try it?

Although this last one was given to me by these two jokers, not taken by me, I think if I'm going to shoot, I should shoot well. At least not worse than this one!

If I shoot you well, I can continue writing a story.

Without further ado, let's meet not only on the road running track in 2018 but also on the trail running track!

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