dare not go faster! taking snapshot sequence
Dare to go faster! Oops!
Tommy's Photo Album [Prologue]
Today is Monday, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature and the terrifying atmosphere of a 'workday'. I shivered as I got out of bed, got ready, sent the kids off, and rushed to work while thinking about how to tell you a story today... and then I missed my stop.
Now, I'm sitting in the train station waiting room, sorting through the photos from the first location. Thinking about the 40,000+ photos I took at the marathon, I need to review them, and my head instantly hurts, hahaha!
Looking at the progress, selecting one photo after another, editing, and organizing them, but... but... it seems I can't deliver the album to everyone on time today! So... should I delay it? No!
Today, let me tell you some fun things about the 18th.
Following the usual practice, for a 7 AM race, we got up two hours early to get ready.
We got up at 5 AM, packed our gear, had breakfast, and headed out.
I brought some personal supplies for my buddies.
Since several of us were staying at the same hotel and going to the same location, we took a taxi. Destination: Shiliupu Wharf.
While waiting for the taxi at the hotel entrance, we photographers started our usual banter. My skateboard seemed to be the main topic.
The car arrived, and the middle-aged driver with a receding hairline politely let us load our gear into the trunk. Let's go! The story begins!
The car turned two corners and entered the 39K section of the marathon route.
Barriers were already set up, and parts of the route were closed off, leaving only pedestrian crossings.
The driver asked curiously, 'What's going on here?'
Answer: 'Marathon, starts at 7 AM.'
The driver seemed interested and immediately started talking.
'A marathon? If it were 20 years ago, none of you could outrun me. I would definitely win! You know, I live in the mountains, carrying things uphill while jogging, and coming down is even faster. Do you think I could win?'
I wondered to myself, 'Uncle, are your knees okay?'
'Hey, how far is a marathon?'
'42 kilometers.'
'Oh, that's not far. In our village, we walk over 200 li (100 kilometers) a day.'
'Wow, impressive, brother!' said Wuyou from the front seat, already exasperated.
'That's nothing, just 40-something kilometers. I could finish it in a little over an hour.'
'You're amazing, brother! Hey, watch out for that cyclist! Oh no, you ran a red light!'
'Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!' Zhanlan was too scared to say anything else.
For the next 3 kilometers, Wuyou was in a trance.
At 6:50 AM, we arrived at the Bund safely (though our ears and brains were left behind).
Since we're here, let's take some photos.
Let's go, let's take a group photo.
Four photographers, GAO, Wuyou, Zhanlan, and I, wobbled up to the Bund viewing platform. I was riding my skateboard.
Oh, there's a small slope. Let's slide down. Hmm, slide! Oh no, there's water!
In a flash, I slipped and fell, face-planting into the ground.
Seeing stars, I stood up, rubbed my knee, and pretended it didn't hurt. 'Let's take the photo.'
Actually, at that moment... oh my, my knees, elbows, and shoulders were all scraped. I was most worried about the equipment in my backpack.
I forced myself to smile, and we took the photo.
Then, using the excuse of needing the restroom, I checked my wounds and took off my compression pants that I wore for warmth. Yes, you read that right, I wore compression pants because it was cold. I'm an old man, afraid of the cold.
Alright, the injuries weren't serious, but my mood was shattered. I thought this was my lowest point of the day, but it was just the beginning...
My planned shooting spot was at 0.5K. Last night, I found out everyone was going there. Are you all planning to gang up on me?
Photographer Xiangzi was shooting.
Which well-known photographers are in this photo?
GAO, Wuyou, Yidujiuyi, Zhanlan, Le'er, Huangyeguizhou, and me, just to make up the numbers.
Then the safety ropes and barriers were set up, and we were pushed back several meters.
According to my shooting plan, I would capture the 530 pacer passing by, then immediately move to the next location. And that's what I did.
Finished shooting at the first location, time to move!
Looking at my skateboard, I was a bit scared. Oh no! I hope I don't fall again!
Whatever! I won't die! Let's go!
Luckily, the roads were closed, no people, no cars.
I skated as fast as safely possible to the nearest subway station, had to transfer, then head to the 15K South Tibet Road station.
I arrived quickly.
Except for wasting 5 minutes looking for a restroom at the subway station, I didn't waste any time.
However...
I couldn't get to the 15K mark. I was on the other side of the street and couldn't cross.
Feeling frustrated! What should I do?
Alright, let's move forward a bit. The road is closed, it's the race route. Let's see. It's 16K, and it's in the right light! Although the contrast is high...
To my friends who went to 15K to find me, it's my fault. I'll make the same mistake next time, can't avoid it completely.
No matter what, I have to thank my 20+ years of skateboarding experience, even though I haven't skated much in the last decade. This whole journey, I relied on my skateboard for quick transitions!
After entering this location, the security was strong.
I sat by the railing, found a gap to shoot through. Security would close the gap, I'd push it open, they'd close it again, and so on. We went back and forth over this 20CM gap more than 10 times until I finished shooting the 530 pacer and moved to the next location.
Transferred to Line 4 to the stadium, very smooth.
Skated all the way to the Longhua Road and Zhongshan South Road intersection, found a downhill spot, and didn't want to move anymore.
When I arrived, the leaders had already passed, and the 2:45 finishers were coming. Time to shoot!
Oh, I forgot to mention. When transferring from the first to the second location, I had trouble uploading photos due to poor signal. Many photos from the first location didn't upload. The same issue occurred at the second and third locations. So, I had to re-upload everything at home, finishing by Monday noon.
Back to the 41.7K Longhua Road and Zhongshan South Road intersection.
Since I arrived early, I got a relatively good spot. As time passed, this spot got crowded, and I had to lean out into the race route to shoot.
However, this was my happiest spot.
Why? Because I had many friends there.
At home, you rely on your parents; outside, you rely on friends.
So, I distributed all my supplies to my friends here.
Of course, my biggest gain was the photos.
Photos I took of you, and photos you took of me.
Mwahahaha!
Look!
The captain took this photo of me. Handsome, right?
Special thanks to the captain.
Here you go, the captain you wanted, taken by photographer Beautiful Life, provided by the captain.
Also, a photo of me showing off, taken by Brother J.
I ask you, don't I look like a little minion next to a mountain bandit king?
Oh, right, the day before the race, I met Brother Shen, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. He was also aiming for a sub-3 hour finish.
And after the race, I met Yan Shen at the train station. We took a photo together, so happy!
Old Yan, it seems I didn't get a photo of you this time.
No worries, next time you'll have to take twice as many photos.
Alright, alright.
Today's post is just a prologue because my efficiency is low, and there's a lot of work to prepare: selecting, editing. Each of the 40,000+ photos is wonderful and tells a story. It's painful to discard even one...
Tomorrow's post, should it be divided by gender, time, or location, or just randomly? I'm still deciding. I'm not usually indecisive, but why is it so hard now? My brain is overloaded!
After shooting a marathon, it's not just my arms that are sore, but my neck too. My brain feels empty. I just want to recover quickly because there's more work to do the next day.
I've rambled on so much, but I just want to say one thing:
Today's rambling is just to prepare for more photos in tomorrow's post.
Alright, tomorrow I'll post an album with over 100 photos, containing the stories of 2,500 runners.
Tomorrow's post will be late, maybe around dinner time. But it will definitely be worth your time.