X Games - Shanghai - Part 1

Much to my delight I got my hands on a press pass for the X Games in Shanghai and set off, driving there, on the appointed day full of vim and excitement, 15 mins to drive the first 25 kms of my 30 kms trip and I was going to be very early ... 75 mins to cover the last 5 kms due to diabolical traffic jams (on a Sunday for goodness sake !) and I arrived ... late, with the first final already underway !

Actually the public viewing areas give you great access anyway, the press pass just made it a little better.

The events were multi styles of In-line Skates, BMX, Skateboarding and some MotoX demo stunts. Cameras used were the K5 & K7 with the Sigma 50-150/2.8 and DA*300 installed. Actually the perfect lense would have been a 70-200/2.8 ..... but I don't have one yet so the 50-150 was a superb stand-in !

Hope you enjoy this first taster - at the final count I have over 700 shots to process !

#1 - a couple of shots of the crowd to start

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-xqKgnZw/0/XL/imgp4071-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#2 - The Umbrella

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-WFscwPD/0/XL/imgp0413-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#3 - Superman

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-Q5gPdsN/0/XL/imgp4230-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#4 - Japanese Skateboarder

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-xJ2m7cn/0/XL/imgp4282-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#5 - Andy MacDonald

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-JvgKV3b/0/XL/imgp4307-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#6 - Twist & Shout !

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-4RkXqWv/0/XL/imgp4014-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#7 - Bob Bernstein

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-kVT6rqn/0/XL/imgp4132-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#8 - Oops !

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-ctdVxK8/0/XL/imgp0343-XL.jpg[/IMG]

#9 - Under Construction

[IMG]http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/X-Games-2011/i-wL59DXV/0/XL/imgp0315-XL.jpg[/IMG]

Another excellent set frogfish!!

Very professional! I like 6 and 7 best for the properly Chinese backgrounds

A wonderful set. Well photographed.

I turned down five years in Shanghai to come to Australia.......

nah, I'm OK, honest. Good weather and too many long legged blonds.....but would love to cover rural China.

Best regards

Very well taken set, lovely.

Great action photography set against wonderful backdrops. I love the colour of the Far East.
David.

Thank you Smeggy !

Much appreciate those kind words Tim !

Thanks K10D ! Given the choice I think I would take Aus too ! Though I would have missed out on a world & a lifetime of wonderful, unique, experiences here. Tough call thinking about it.

Thank you Snappy !

Thanks David ! Glad you liked these. The colour is something I love about Asia too and I do think it's influenced my photography as I love to include bright, vivid, colours whenever I can. I notice many more UK residents are 'into' B&W then I would have expected. I believe that is not sophistication but environmental influence (and maybe tradition too as many will have been B&W film users earlier in life).

Can't pick a favourite. They're great

A great set.

I like the way that most of the mid-air shots are out of the context of the ramp itself. You just don't know quite how high they are!

That is a set of stunners - and the backgrounds in the last five are very cool to my mind. Really top results

Nice one

I reckon all are very good but 3, 6 & 9 are my favourites

4 is the stand out for me but a great set over all

Thanks Alan !

Thank you Mark - I have some with the ramp as well but my intention was to make it seem the athletes were as high as possible, giving them some perspective by posing them adjacent to the two highest objects in view - the building under construction and the floodlights (rather than just clean air as in other shots) I hope I achieved that.

Thank you for those very kinds words Mat. !

Thanks Stuey - I'm very pleased you enjoyed them !

Thank you Don. !