Tips for Quality Family Reunion Photos
Nothing says summer like family reunion pictures. After the corn-on-the-cob has been eaten, the water balloons tossed, and the sunburns faded, it’s the family reunion photos that remain. And life gives just one chance to capture these important moments. That’s why trusting your family reunion photography to a professional photographer makes sense.
The most obvious advantages to hiring a professional photographer for family reunion photos are inclusion of all family members in the photos and easing the burden on event planners. But there are other benefits to consider as well.
A professional photographer is an objective outsider. They notice details, interactions, and moments that might be overlooked by family members. Whether those moments are cousins swimming or grandma and grandpa holding hands under the table, the professional comes into the family with the purpose of watching and documenting the action of family life.
Clint Thayer, photographer and owner of Focal Flame Photography, recently shared a few thoughts on family reunion photography. He said, “Those tender moments last only seconds. Being ready to see those moments and capture them effectively using light does not come when you buy an expensive camera. It comes from studying your subjects and environment and crafting an effective photo. One that tells a story rather than being a snapshot of a scene.”
Approaching family reunion photographing from a background in sports photography, Thayer brings a unique perspective on how quickly the right moment passes and the shot is lost. “When you deal with a large group - time is golden. Everyone has places to go, things to do. For posed group shots, you have 45 seconds to get everyone adjusted, smiling and ready to show their stuff. Any longer and smiles fade, eyes roll, kids dart - trust is lost. Effective image capturing happens in the tightest time constraints. In those moments, it’s the photographer’s ability to connect with the subject that makes the difference.”
When the moment is right, it’s too late to wonder if Uncle Sid’s cell phone camera will get the job done. A professional photographer has the necessary equipment for taking the photos and for editing afterwards. An amateur simply cannot duplicate the photographer’s investment in gear and experience capturing both posed and candid family reunion photographs.
Transitioning between the posed photos and a photojournalistic style of shooting is where an understanding of lighting is especially critical. When discussing lighting, Thayer returned to the importance he feels trust is between photographer and the family. “What I bring as a professional is a hardened, practical knowledge of both natural and artificial light as well as a mindset that trust is everything. You would be surprised how quickly the lack of trust shows on people's faces.”
The photographer's expertise continues to be valuable after the reunion when families want photos. The professional has systems in place for sharing photos with a large number of people. Many photographers make photos available online and through social media. Individuals and families have the freedom to purchase products that meet their preferences and budget. One family might select just a few prints while another might work with the photographer to create a custom book to commemorate the event.
Family reunion photos no longer need to be left to chance. Hiring a professional to join the celebration for a few hours allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy the reunion and have fantastic photos afterwards. The following tips will help ensure a positive experience for all:
5 Tips for Working with a Professional to Capture Quality Family Reunion Photos
- Assign one family member to work with the photographer prior to and on the day of the reunion photo shoot.
- Communicate early with photographer about type of photos desired, the number of people at your family gathering, and any other special information that will aid in understanding your family.
- Designate preferences between posed or photojournalistic style by assigning a percentage of time you want the photographer to spend on each.
- Offer the photographer a list of any specific photos desired – even candid shots.
- Schedule fun activities while the photographer is with your family - a squirt gun fight between the cousins, Grandpa playing checkers with a grandson, or Grandma showing her wedding dress to the girls.
Focal Flame Photography specializes in capturing life’s action. We are uniquely prepared to cover your family reunion or family gathering because we value what you value: the story of intertwined lives told through quality images.
Do you have stories to share from family reunions? Join the conversation with other Focal Flame Photography fans on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!
Madison Marathon Kids Run: Moments that Matter
by Robyn M. Perrin
“Do you want to see some photos?,” said Clint. They were familiar words from my husband, business partner, and best friend. It was late on a Saturday evening after he had returned from a commercial photo shoot for Madison Festivals Inc. to document two new events added to the Madison Marathon weekend: a twilight 10K for adults, and a half-mile kids’ race.
I am not a photographer. But I adore photography. It is a medium both raw and real, one that spans an incredible spectrum. The unapologetic witness of photojournalism, which documents the horrors of battlefields and the tragedy of famine. The surrealism of altered images, which create a fantasy world. The minimalism of genres such as contemplative (Miksang) photography, which challenges viewers to appreciate the beauty that always surrounds us. For photography lovers, there is always more to learn, more to see, more to experience.
Every photographer – and every photography fan – recognizes “the” images. The ones that pierce the veil of mundane life and make us see with new eyes and open souls. They are images that your mind will re-play when your eyes shut. These are images that will resonate deeply and echo throughout time. They make you want to study them. They make you want to live more deeply.
They are ephemeral, and don’t come around terribly often.
But as we gazed through the series from the evening, all of a sudden I was overcome.
“Stop.”
Clint glanced over, surprised. I was wordless, because I couldn’t speak.
“You don’t usually cry at my photos,” he said somewhat playfully.
Still couldn’t speak.
The image that had pierced my vision was rendered in black and white. Two young girls were gathered close to each other. Clint explained that they were actually being interviewed by camera crew that was documenting the children’s race. While the video cameras fixed on their fresh, animated faces and the sound boom operator carefully picked up their excited chatter, Clint focused on something else.
Their hands. One African-American, one Caucasian, spontaneously intertwined.
I don’t know any details about the girls, or how they came to be at a running event together, or why they were being interviewed. But as a 37-something-year old American in the year 2012, along with over 311 million other Americans, I witness the complex reality of race in modern society. The strength of amazing role models in communities of color, the crushing economic disparities that follow racial lines with heartbreaking frequency, the depth of future possibilities for today’s youth that too often remains numbingly unrealized.
And as I looked at the image, none of that complex reality mattered. Because there, right in front of me, were two children showing each and every one of us what really matters:
Stop making it complicated. Grab your friend’s hand and go for a run together.
As the tears flowed, I realized that maybe, just maybe, it really is that simple. That’s the power of a photograph.
Focal Flame Photography believes that photography can help change the world, one image at a time. Join the conversation on theFocal Flame facebook page, Twitter, or on Google+.
Girls On The Run Dane County: Strong Legs, Strong Hearts
Do you remember what it was like to be a pre-teen? For many, it is a time of not-quites. Not quite a child, not quite an adult. Not quite independent, but leaning longingly toward freedom. Until that leaning causes a loss of balance, which sometimes leads to running back headlong into the comforts of childhood.
Running. Towards the future. Back to the past. Running.
For Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker, it was a sunset run in 1993 run that eased her troubled mind as she processed all the challenges that life was throwing her way. Running had been her solace since she was a girl. It was a way for her to break out of the set of societal rules and peer pressures that created what she referred to as the “girl box”: a suffocating place where anxiety about body image and self-determination easily led to lack of confidence.
An IronMan triathlete and social worker, Barker felt that there had to be a way to help young girls navigate their pre-teen years and emerge stronger, more self-confident, and better equipped to help one another. And she was certain that it would involve teaching girls to discover their inner athlete.
In 1996, she launched her first program with a small group of girls in North Carolina. Today, Girls On The Run (GOTR) has grown to include hundreds of thousands of girls in over 170 cities in the U.S. – including the Girls on the Run Dane County program.
GOTR is more than a sports club. For ten weeks, the girls not only improve their fitness levels, but also talk with their teammates and volunteer coaches about peer pressure, maintaining self-esteem, and encouraging each other to strive toward their dreams.
It makes a difference, says GOTR participant Jenna, who participated in the Girls On The Run Dane County 2012 Spring 5K event on June 9. “The program is really fun. We run together and we talk about a lot of things that are important for girls to know, like how to feel good about yourself and how to stand up to bullies.”
Over 600 girls, 175 coaches, and 600+ runners from the community gathered at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg for the 5K run, which took place under a cloudless sky. After warming up with cheers and stretching directed by a purple-clad mascot named Running Man from a local fitness facility, the crowd listened to Junior sing the national anthem. Jenna's mother shared, “She also sang the national anthem at the Madison Mallards baseball game last night. It’s a pretty special thing that she decided to do because her dad just got back from [military] deployment.”
Every participant wore bib number “1” and focused on the overall experience rather than their race time. Girls On The Run Dane County Director Sara Pickard was all smiles as a steady flood of runners crossed the finish line, each girl receiving a pink medal.
But even as Pickard celebrated the day, she was planning for the future. “Our fall program starts on Labor Day at all of our sites,” she said. “The program sites will be posted on our web sites on July 1st, registration opens August 1st, the program starts September 5th, and it’s a 10-week program that finishes November 10th at the Waunakee Village Center.”
Interested in helping? There are many ways to get involved, from becoming a sponsor to volunteering at races. Volunteers can fill out a short form on the GOTR Dane County web site. Helping tomorrow’s leaders is fulfilling and inspiring.
And as for the girls, they’ll tell you: a girl on the run is a beautiful thing. Always.
Interested in more stories about athletes, sports, and sports photography in the Midwest and beyond? Join Focal Flame Photography on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!
Running the Distance: 2012 Lake Monona 20K and 5K
Can you outrun rain clouds? That was the question on racers’ minds on May 5, 2012, when 851 runners on the 20K course and 164 runners on the 5K course squinted up at overcast skies. But it was a different body of water that greeted them when the race started – the beautiful shores of Lake Monona curving along the lakefront running and bike path.
For runners in the region, the Lake Monona 20K has a long history of being a “runner’s race." It's perfectly situated as a longer distance competition to prepare for the Madison Marathon or the 20 mile Syttende Mai ("Seventeenth of May") Run – part of the traditional Norwegian heritage celebrations involving a run from the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison to Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Ed Peirick of Fitchburg, WI accomplished a personal record for the Lake Monona 20K route by finishing in 1:38:16 – over 5 minutes faster than his previous time. “Lake Monona 20k has been one of my 'must do' races since 2007,” said Peirick. “Compared to similar distance races, it's unbeatable for cost, course, t-shirt, volunteers, organizers, and post race food & entertainment.”
Steve Morstad of Monroe, WI also logged a PR on the 5K run course. Delighted with his finish line photo by Focal Flame Photography, Morstad wrote, “I really got a kick of your shot. I have so much fun running... but you caught a flash of fierce grit as I pushed for a PR. [It’s a] great shot that I am going to have fun with, with family and friends.”
The event ended with live music by Madison band Mighty Short Bus, and plentiful food and drink from Capital Brewery, Qdoba, and Quaker Steak & Lube.
And – as it turned out – every single participant did outrun the rain, which graciously held off. As for the photography conditions, clouds were perfect. “I love shooting in overcast weather,” said Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer. “It’s like a natural diffuser – it eliminates hard shadows and really makes the photos pop.”
To follow more stories about sports photography, endurance events, and more, join the Focal Flame facebook page and Twitter feed!
Artistry of Endurance Sports - Clint Thayer Exhibition at National Art Museum of Sport
Photos by Clint Thayer Selected for Exhibit on Racing at National Art Museum of Sport
Madison, WI and Indianapolis, IN – April 25, 2012 – The artistry of endurance sports is featured in a series of fine art photographs by Madison, WI photographer and Focal Flame Photography owner Clint Thayer. The photo essay has been selected for exhibition by the National Art Museum of Sport (NAMOS) in Indianapolis, IN. The exhibit, entitled Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line, will run at NAMOS from May 23, 2012 through September, 2012.
“The five images I am showing in this exhibition highlight the artistry of endurance sports, including triathlon, cycling, cyclocross, and swimming,” said Thayer.
“Racing is primal and intense, and I wanted to depict the fear, trepidation, anxiety, tension, and resolution that many endurance athletes experience during a race.”
Thayer is one of seven internationally recognized artists whose work will be displayed. Additional artists include Chris Bucher, Scott Fincher, Sayaka Ganz, Walter Knabe, Thomas Allen Pauly, and Mina Papatheodorou-Valyraki.
Elizabeth Varner, Executive Director of NAMOS, said, “The exhibit features over 30 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations from many top sport artists worldwide. Representing a wide range of artistic media, Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line captures the heart-pounding drama of racing [in 9 different sports]… we wanted pieces that would capture the power of racing, because everything about racing is larger than life – the crowds, the chaos, the loudness.”
In describing Thayer’s unique approach and perspective, Varner said, “His work ‘Driving Rain’ was selected for exhibition during a juried 2011 competition [The 2nd Annual International Fine Arts Competition: Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport]. There was tremendous reaction to ‘Driving Rain’ - just about everyone who saw it stopped in their tracks.”
Varner continued, “I like his photography immensely. I feel he is within the top three sport art photographers I have seen….While Clint Thayer has the technical capacity for conventional sports photographic technique, I think what sets him apart is that his style really crosses the boundary into true sport art. His work is so different; it captures the emotion and intensity of sport. They’re some of the most dynamic images I’ve seen.“
“I think that the power of motion in fine art photography is that it can be a bridge between representational images and abstractions,” said Thayer. “I use motion like I use light: to help frame and sculpt the visual narrative that’s in front of me.”
Ms. Varner was particularly concerned about selecting artistic works capable of showing well in the expansive exhibition space of the museum. “The exhibition space at NAMOS is really best suited to large format art, and while many photographs are acceptable at small to medium format, not all work well at large format,” said Varner. “I knew from his previous showing that the scale of his pieces would really hit the mark, that it would really transform the exhibition space….When you present a photograph in large format, everything has to be absolutely perfect. I knew Thayer’s work could give that larger-than-life sense to viewers.”
Photographer Tom McInvaille, a past special assignment photographer for the United States Olympic Team, said, “Clint Thayer’s sport photography gives a fresh approach to an overly clichéd and highly predictable genre…Clint gives us a glimpse into the larger world of an athletes life. Putting a Minor White admonition into the world of sports journalism: ‘... show us not the object but what the object represents,’ is courageous and reasonably unique. At a time when simple technical proficiency and overly saturated color seem to be the primary aesthetic principles driving today’s imagery, Clint’s sensitivity to narrative and metaphor is a welcome change.”
McInvaille concluded, “I’ve had the pleasure of watching Mr. Thayer’s work evolve into easily accessible yet complex stories. This is an attribute found in only the best of photographs, sport or not.”
Founded in 1959, NAMOS maintains one of the largest collections of fine art depicting sport in the United States. The museum is dedicated to encouraging artists engaged in the genre, and also to collect, preserve, and share the best examples of sport art NAMOS can acquire. “The founder of NAMOS, Germain G. Glidden, was a portrait artist and champion squash player,” said NAMOS Executive Director Elizabeth C. Varner. “Glidden believed that sport art is like the Olympics: it has the power to bring together people from all over the world in peace,” said Varner.
Over 40 sports are represented in the over 900 paintings, sculptures, and photographs at NAMOS. Artists whose works are included in the permanent collection include George Bellows, Ogden Pliessner, Winslow Homer, Ray Ellis, James Fiorentino, Joe Brown, and Alfred Boucher.
The museum’s first home was in Madison Square Garden in New York. It has been in Indianapolis since 1990 and is located at 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN. NAMOS is open free to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For group tours and weekend hours call 317.274.3627 or e-mail ecvarner@iupui.edu; for more information see http://www.namos.iupui.edu. An opening reception for Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line will be held from 5:30-7:30 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
The series by Clint Thayer is presented as 60” x 40” limited edition giclée archival prints on canvas, and all of the works are available for purchase. The series was sponsored in part by members of the Trek Midwest Team.
A Study of Time and Motion in the West
During a recent trip to Colorado, Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer created photo essays using time-lapse photography, light painting, and other techniques to help convey the astounding natural beauty of expansive land and starscapes. Here, he shares his thoughts on the experiences, as well as several favorites from the series.
It is no secret that I enjoy creative uses of motion and time in my work to help show the spectacular beauty of the passions and achievements of athletes in full flight. Motion in combination with light can create what I refer to affectionately as a soupy mix of goodness...in fact, the effect is usually so good that it’s hard not to stop in your tracks and wonder a little. (I like creating that stop-in-your-tracks experience so much that I plan on coming out with our own branded Focal Flame brake lights so we can rest easy knowing we are not going to hurt anyone. Safety first!)
During my time in Colorado I thought it might be interesting to take this idea of motion, light, and time but point the lens at the world itself. What better area to study the elements and effects of time then the outcropped, weathered landscape of the Rocky Mountains and the unfettered sky at altitude. Below is a sampling of the full Colorado collection. Feel free to browse all images here and order prints or postcards.
Click image to view, and purchase
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2012 Madison Shamrock Shuffle: Smiles, Shamrocks, and Sunshine
Folks in the upper Midwest know what to expect in March….but in 2012, known as “the Winter that Wasn’t,” all expectations were turned upside down in the most delightful way imaginable. The longest, earliest warm spell on record in Madison, WI set in during the first and second week of March and was punctuated multiple days of record-high temperatures. Kids frolicked in short sleeves, runners rejoiced at trading their treadmill workouts for fresh air, and the organizers of the Madison Shamrock Shuffle thanked their lucky stars.
And then the registration numbers for the Shamrock Shuffle began to climb along with the thermometer.
It passed 2,000 runners…then passed 3,000….and when it exceeded 3,500 in online registration alone, a tough decision had to be made. “With the sudden surge in the last days of online registration, we had to…shut down registration so we could keep everyone well taken care of with the amount of supplies in hand,” said Julia Voss, Shamrock Shuffle Organizer and Board Member. To add to the complexity, road construction on the racecourse necessitated re-routing just three days before the event.
But with sunshine and the serendipity of the Shamrock Shuffle falling on St. Patrick’s Day itself, the good vibes were unstoppable. While the Shuffle began in 2004 as a somber memorial to a runner named Jim Beyer who had been killed by a drug-impaired driver, the vibrancy and the sheer size of the 2012 event served as a fitting legacy.
Not to mention the legacy that the Madison Shamrock Shuffle has given to the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, which benefits from the proceeds. Over the years the event has become one of the biggest annual fundraisers for the nonprofit, which offers a range of activities and programs for economically disadvantaged youth. “We feel our participants show up to run for the cause and they feel good afterwards, knowing their donation and hard work was for the benefit of The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County,” said Voss.
Race Director Steve Donovan had confidence that all would go well, but also knew it would be a challenge to meet the needs of so many participants. What he witnessed at the beginning of the race amazed him. Recounting the logistics involved in ensuring that participants in the 10k run were safely separated from those in the 5k run and the 2-mile walk, he said,
“Never did I see such an amazing display of solidarity as I did when I went to the 10K corral. I heard [the announcer] Marc Lovicott say over and over again that ‘the human gate will separate the 10K run from the 5K run,’ I went to check on what exactly the volunteers were doing. I noticed Dave, the head volunteer….forming all the start line volunteers in a row to help partition the two corrals. This long, street-wide human fence adorned in forest green shirts stood together. They helped organize the runners one by one, asking them, "Are you 10K? 10K up here." One by one, they got most of the 10K runners up the front. As the 10K runners took off, the gap left behind revealed only Dave and 16 college-aged kids standing in a line, holding back 2,500 other participants. As they were completely gone, they walked forward and led all these people to the start line.
To witness this amazing achievement in our volunteers as as team, I was quite floored. And this moment was only one of the amazing displays of camaraderie that helped us produce the best results possible: The best, most fun race for the participants. Simply amazing day.”
Many racers agreed that the event was remarkable. When asked to name most memorable moments, Michele Peterson said, “The cheering crowd along State Street as I ran to the finish of my very first race and finding a group of family & friends waiting for me there. What a rush!” Sarah Torgerson said, “I would have to say that the State Street crowd was awesome. And the bagpipers.” The infectious enthusiasm of youth participants with the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County brought huge grins for Brenda Bond, who said, “I loved giving the kids high-fives! They were awesome!!” And from an event organizer perspective, Ryan Greissmeyer of Race Day Events said, “The race director and his team did a great job adjusting to the growth of the event as well as rolling with the punches when it came to road construction. A job well done and something most people don’t even notice.”
With thousands of happy participants and tens of thousands of dollars raised for the Boys & Girls Club, time will tell what the future holds for what has become a tremendously inspiring, and very green, Madison tradition.
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Guided Tour to the New Focal Flame Web Site
Sometime when you're in the thick of things, it's hard to slow down enough to capture it all. And ever since we founded Focal Flame Photography, being "in the thick of things" has definitely been one of the best aspects of what we do. But after over two years, it was clear: the time had come to update our web site. This was more easily done during the winter season, when the pace of any outdoor pavement-related endurance sports scene slows in the upper MIdwest (although there was plenty of off-road fun to be had, to be sure.) Because, really, hibernating is overrated.
So after many sessions of coffee-fueled writing and coding, we present (drum roll, please) the new and improved Focal Flame web site. For a behind-the-scenes look, here's the guided tour.
Home
The home page has been completely redesigned. Our goal was to present a full-screen slideshow of images with a clean, minimalistic design that kept the viewer's focus on the photographic composition. The navigation bar is subtly placed at the lower right-hand portion of the screen, and social media buttons allow one-click sharing. The photo changes every 10 seconds. Now, try this: resize your browser window by dragging. The home page automatically resizes to fit the new dimensions. How sweet is that?! (OK, we're geeks...but you have to admit, it's pretty cool.) In a nutshell, the home page looks really simple by design, but it's kind of like a sports car: under a sleek hood, there's a lot of power. We've tested it on every browser we can think of and so far it has been bullet-proof and dishwasher-safe, but if you notice any issues please let us know. It's also mobile-friendly for viewing on smartphones and iPads.
Custom Photography
Next, check out the Custom Photography page. We've added some description that helps address many of the most common questions we hear about custom sports photography, and there are links to other pages that describe the process for starting a custom photography project and how you can arrange a session for your sports team or club. We've also added a page about other types of photography services we offer, such as career portraits, family and birthday party photography, weddings, and real estate photography. But the feature that we're most honored to include is the set of testimonials from past clients. Each one represents a custom photography project that was borne out of their determination and dedication as an athlete, and it's hard to express just how meaningful it has been to play a part in recording their journey.
Event & Race
From there, take a look at the Event & Race page. We describe a little bit about our approach to sporting events, because we know that competition day isn't just any day - it's the day that you've been working towards, sometimes for months or even years. You can also see an at-a-glance overview of events that Focal Flame Photography will be covering in the near future. Check back often, because we are adding new events all the time. There are also special pages just for Race Directors/Event Organizers and helpful tips for anyone needing assistance with finding their images and purchasing photo products. The Event Status page provides up-to-the-minute updates on photo availability for events that we've covered.
We'll just take a brief pause in the guided tour to point out that the new site is extremely social. Every page can be shared with your contacts via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or via e-mail with a single click. So go ahead - chat it up.
Commercial Photography
Next, let's take a look at the Commercial Photography page. We admit it - we love visual storytelling, and businesses and organizations are just bristling with both energy and photo opportunities. For several case studies, take a look at the links on the right-hand side of the page.
Fine Art Photography
The Fine Art page is our creative playground. We believe that art is essential, and that fine art photography really does have the power to change the world. In addition to an Artist's Statement by Focal Flame Photography founder Clint Thayer, there are links to descriptions of exhibits and projects on the right-hand side of the page. We have several creative projects in the works at any given time, so check back for updates.
Portfolio, About Us, and Store
The Portfolio page provides several galleries featuring sample images in a range of subjects, and once again, content will be updated periodically. The About page tells a little of our own journey, and also provides a link at the right-hand side to some of our Photolanthropy efforts. (Not familiar with the term "photolanthropy"? Visit the page to learn more.) The Store is, of course, your one-stop shop for dozens of galleries from events we've covered, and the Blog is...well....if you're reading this, you're already familiar with it!
So there you have it. We've tried to illustrate the range of photography services we offer, and the types of creative projects we undertake. Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear them. Just drop us a line.
And as always, thanks for your support. Your passion, dedication, and determination is what inspires everything we do. Let's get ready for a terrific 2012! On your mark, get set.....GO!
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2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals: Mud, Sweat, and Cheers
Focal Flame Photography was honored to cover the 2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races held near Madison, Wisconsin. Over 1,000 racers and 5,000 fans rained down on Badger Prairie Park, where they were met with sunlit skies, unseasonably warm January temperatures, and a sea of muddy goodness on the course. To view and purchase photos from the event, click here.
Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn Perrin reported on the Collegiate and U23 Women's races while Focal Flame photographer was on assignment for the Madison Area Sports Commissions. A version of this article appeared on the Cyclocross Magazine web site.
VERONA, WI - JANUARY 7, 2012 - - Sun and mud were both abundant for the D1 and D2 Collegiate Women’s race at the 2012 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. D1 and D2 women were on the field simultaneously for the 4-lap race – the D2 field starting 1 minute behind the Division 1 women.
When asked for predictions prior to the start of the race, USA Cycling Collegiate & High School Cycling Manager Jeffrey Hansen said, “Coryn Rivera and Katie Antonneau are the surefire bets for somewhere on the podium.” Hansen’s words proved prophetic as two of the most highly decorated women’s cyclists in the world – who happen to be best friends, roommates, and teammates – duked it out in the Division 1 Collegiate race.
“I got the hole shot and I was in the lead for about three quarters of the lap, then I took a nice digger on a corner,” said Coryn Rivera (Marian University/Tustin, CA). “Katie [Antonneau} took the lead - which is fine, because she’s my teammate. As long as Marian [University] was up there, I was OK with a teammate passing me,” said Rivera.
Both Rivera and Kaitlin Antonneau (Marian University/Racine, WI) were careful to maintain control without depleting their energy reserves entirely, since both are racing in the Elite/U23 race on Sunday, January 8. “I think I pulled Katie as close as 10-15 seconds away,” said Rivera. The final gap was 23 seconds as Antonneau remained comfortably in control, giving an understated one-handed wave at the finish as she claimed the national title.
“I like the course a lot. It’s tough,” said Antonneau. “I think racing today helped because it got a lot of nerves out of the way for tomorrow… I pushed it hard through some parts just to see where I could risk it, but it was good,” said Antonneau, who relentlessly powered it to the finish line in 42:47 at a pace of 19.07 kph.
While the D1 race played out with few surprises from some of the most decorated women’s cyclists in the world, the D2 race winner was a bit of a dark horse. Before the race, Hansen mentioned Rebecca Gross (University of Denver/Lakewood, CO) and Kimberly Flynn (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga/Hixson, TN) as top picks. Hanson also said, “Mars Hills College is a team to watch.”
One to watch, indeed. South African Mariske Strauss, a top-level mountain biker and recently recruited to Mars Hill College can now add a cyclocross National Champion title to her credentials – from her first-ever cyclocross race. Laughing and flush with excitement, Strauss said, “This was actually my first cyclocross event ever, so I just decided to take it as it comes and go as hard as I can for as long as I can…I just went out and had some fun racing for my Mars Hill College cycling team.”
Strauss scorched the course in 47:22, finishing 13 seconds ahead of second-place Rebecca Gross. Kimberly Flynn rounded out the podium to finish 3rd in 48:55.
Strauss is the current South African cross country mountain bike champion, and placed 18th at the 2011 the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. She is a hopeful for the 2012 Olympic cycling team for South Africa.
When asked for reflections about the USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals course, Lindsay Knight (University of Chicago/Chicago, IL) said, “Really muddy, and really slick. I actually wish it had been more technical, more turns, more trees, more tight stuff.” Others found it more to their liking, including Brittany Clawson (Fort Lewis College/Sandpoint, ID). “I’m more of an mountain biker and downhiller, and I love the mud, I love the mucky-muck. This was awesome,” said Clawson.
Many of the racers faced off once again in the Elite/U23 race at noon the next day. It proved to be another powerful battle, with Katie Compton - a force of nature in the cyclocross world - taking her 8th straight National title. In second place overall was none other than her starring pupil: Katie Antonneau, who has been coached by Compton. Teacher and student took first and second place on the podium in an inspiring display of hard work and discipline.
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Saris Gala: Low-Key Fundraiser Raises Thousands for Cycling in Wisconsin
The Saris Gala has become known not only within the state of Wisconsin but throughout the bicycling industry nationwide as the single biggest one-day fundraiser for bicycling and bike transportation community advocacy, having raised over a quarter of a million dollars to help build bike paths, provide bicycles to low-income youth, teach cyclists how to ride safely on mixed-use streets, and initiate other bicycling-related transportation projects. On the eve of the 2011 Saris Gala Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn M. Perrin took a look back at the 2010 event. Amanda White, Associate Director of the Bicycle Federation with Wisconsin, shared the story of how the Gala came to be. Highlights from 2010 included remarks by the celebrity guest Phil Liggett, the internationally renowned cycling commentator whose animated voiceovers of the Tour de France and other grand tours have made him known as “The Voice of Cycling”.
When you think of a gala fundraiser, images of cocktail dresses and petite appetizers on serving trays might come to mind. But for the annual Saris Gala, nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Saris Gala, you see, is held in a warehouse. The Saris Cycling Group warehouse, to be specific, which is adjacent to the plant in which bicycle racks and storage systems, trainers, and power meters are manufactured. Owned by Chris and Sara Fortune (the company name was chosen as a blending of their own first names), Saris Cycling Group is passionate about advocating for bicycling and helping to create safe places for people to bike.
“Chris Fortune started the Saris Gala 7 years ago,” said Amanda White, Associate Director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, during a 2010 interview. Wanting to do something unique to support bicycling in Wisconsin, Fortune held a party in the Saris facilities. The first Gala was a low-key affair with pizza and beer shared by bicycling enthusiasts in the city. Since then, it has grown tremendously. “Chris has been very, very dedicated to supporting bicycling through the Saris Gala,” said White. “He not only opens the company headquarters to the party, but also dedicates quite a lot of his staff to the planning of the event. His daughter, Heather, took on a lot of the planning.”
With time and dedication, the Saris Gala has become the biggest single-day bicycling fundraising event in the nation and has hosted cycling celebrities of international stature. Over 650 people attended the 2010 Gala, which raised over $95,000 – including $20,000 that was critically needed for a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant to fund Safe Routes to Schools. Funds were raised not only from the main event – which included a costume party in keeping with the Halloween theme – but also from a silent auction, a live auction, and a VIP dinner hosted by the Fortunes.
The 2010 Gala celebrity guest Phil Liggett shared stories of running into Jonathan “Jock” Boyer on a train headed to the Commonwealth Games. Boyer had begun coaching the first-ever professional cycling team from Rwanda, and Boyer had recruited promising athletes from the streets. Few if any had ever ridden a bicycle before. From this story, Liggett regaled the audience with stories about Lance Armstrong during the Tour de France, the lifestyle of commentators on the road, and anecdotes about celebrity cycling fans from Cameron Diaz to Robin Williams. But Ligget’s passion for the sport of cycling was exemplified not by his tales of interacting with celebrities and professional athletes but by explaining the sport to his elderly neighbor, Peggy. Nearly blind but yet continuing to enjoy playing as an amateur golfer, she confessed that she didn’t understand the intrigue of pro cycling. “I realized that if I could convince Peggy to like cycling, I could convince the world to like cycling…and she ended up watching [and listening to] cycling coverage all the time, right up until the day she died.”
The bicycling community tends to eschew formality and, true to form, attendees were clad in either wild costume or polarfleece. The chill of the October evening was warmed by conversation and much laughter. "It's absolutely one of my favorite events of the year,” said attendee and bicycling fitting expert Craig Watson. “I mean, it's just a party in a warehouse. And at the end of the evening, you walk away realizing that a few hundred people came together and raised tens of thousands of dollars to support cycling in Wisconsin."
Focal Flame Photography is proud to serve as the official event photographer for the 2011 Saris Gala featuring Jim Ochowicz and members from the 1986 7-Eleven Tour de France Cycling Team. Please join us for an incredible evening with the first U.S. team to ever enter the Tour de France. All event photos from the Gala will be available for purchase at focalflamestore.com, with 50% of proceeds going to the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
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