Rich Froning and the Crowd at CrossFit Games OPEN 14.5

The sell out crowd, 4000 strong, at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, loved Rich Froning.

Canon 1DX, Tamaron 70-200, ISO 4000, f/3.2, 1/250 @200mm

Near collision with Josh Bridges – 2013 CrossFit Games So-Cal Regional

December in Cleveland

It was cold, freezing cold.   The kind of cold that forces most people to walk directly to their desired location with zero dilly dallying and a resentment for red lights.  What were these birds doing ?  Shouldn’t they be hiding out in a Home Depot or something ?

Canon 5D Mark III – ISO 400, Canon 14mm, f/7.1, 1/400

Yes, the 14mm is an amazing lens.  This lens has two drawbacks.  It is very wide, giving you few options once it’s on your camera.  Secondly, the lens, the actual glass is impossible to protect.  You can’t use a filter and the hood barely offers protection.   While shooting with this lens, you have to constantly be aware of anything that could strike your lens.

Dan Bailey & Rich Froning 2013 CrossFit Regional

Dan appeared to  have this event in the bag, with 70 (of 90) feet remaining to the finish line, holding 160lbs in the front rack

With 60 feet to go, Dan drops the weight and Rich takes the lead.

Rich crosses the finish line and wins the event.

Dan crosses the finish line with Rich’s support.

The judge rules that Dan dropped the weight before completely crossing the finish line.

Dan, 18 inches from the finish line re-racks the 160lbs.

Dan’s time earned him 2nd place.

This year, 2014, Dan will compete in the So-Cal Regional, in an epic show down, with Josh Bridges.

Dave Castro CrossFit Games OPEN 14.2

We left the hotel at the same time, 6pm, headed towards 14.2 at “I AM CrossFit” in Miami, Florida.  I had a driver, and Dave had to drive himself.  I wasn’t expecting to see him on the crowded Miami highways, but there he was.  I lowered my window and blasted him with the Canon 1DX + Canon 24-70mm.  I snapped 10 photos and this was the best one.

Rich Froning 2013 CrossFit Games Regionals

Rich Froning lowering from the top of a muscle up at the 2013 CrossFit Games Regionals.

Rich took first in this event and went on to win his third CrossFit Games.

I shot this from a platform that I should not have been standing on.  It was a platform, to be used specifically for a single video camera that was mounted on a crane (see photo below).  The crane operator was nice enough to let me on his raised (7 feet) platform as long as I moved very gently.   The people at home do not want to see a shaky image!

Lighting at this event was horrible for action photography. This was shot at ISO 12800, 1/640, f/5.6 at 50mm on a Sigma 50-500.

“Intensity” at the 2013 CrossFit So-Cal Regional

4 photos, of the same man, in a 30 second period.   The variance and breadth in expression is the reason I make this post.  All pictures were processed individually with obvious differences.