Photos of Something New! The Touch of Nature Bike Trails and it Catalyst Mountain Bike Races

Well if you know me I am always looking for something new to photograph. Well I found something!!! My day job is at SIU Credit Union and they recently helped sponsor Touch of Nature Environmental Center’s Mountain Bike trails. Well I used to Mountain Bike and thought it would be fun to go see what they are doing and what was going to be available. Let me tell you first, they have the trails open and there are about 10 miles of them of various lengths and difficulties, with 20 more miles planned. If you have not checked it out you should! Second while I was there checking it out I saw a sign for a Bike Race. I copied down the dates and put it on my calendar if I could keep that weekend open I was going. Well I completely forgot about it until the morning of 18 Sept when my reminder on my calendar popped up with the title. I thought what the heck I didn’t have plans grab the cameras and go! I had a lot of fun trying to catch the best shots and I even caught a few. I found out that I didn’t need my 60-600 Bigma on the trails and that it is a lot of extra weight to carry when you don’t end up using it. I found out I need to expand my depth of field a bit and boost my shutter speed a bit. (Which is challenging when it is cloudy out and your in the woods). Last Bug repellent is a good idea!!! In spite of all of that I did get several good shots! The next time I go, and there will be a next time 19-21 November I am told I will be better prepared and maybe just maybe get even more good shots.

Until next time!

The Redleg Photographer