cyclo cross (damn so close!)

We decided to go for a family walk over the weekend to a nearby lake. And to our surprise, there was cyclo cross race going on in the area. Great weather and colorful fast bikers - of course I was ready and in a moment I have found a strategic position below the hill, where the cyclosrossers were passing me with apx. 1m distance. Shooting low with 16mm wide angle I was hoping to get darn close and got some action. And I was doing fine, until the moment this one crazy biker go off the track and pass apx. 20cm in front of me! I could smell his wheel and feel the vibration! And believe or not, I just click the shutter (probably just triggered by the passing wind) and voilá - when I looked at my display after all the group pass - I could't believe how lucky I got! I framed the guy perfectly, he is looking directly to the camera - with a fear I guess of hoping not to hit me - and he is perfectly sharp! Picture is not even cropped a bit. You can see below, how closely they were riding anyway (and my strategic position at the very bottom). So, what's the moral story here? I was lucky and probably stupid to get so close, as I was really few centimeters away not to get hit. But you know what? As a real photographer, I am of course now very happy I was there - in that decisive moment and click it in the right moment.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35@16mm; f/5.6 @1/2000sec 

Tuscany | is it summer yet?

Fall season is almost gone and long dark winter evenings are here - whether we want or no...
Good time to warm up while going through the folder taken during May's Tuscany visit! Oh that helps! Is it summer yet?
And you know what? I am going back to Tuscany next year again! This time as co-instructor (and scout agent, entertainer, Nikon expert and driver) with Scott Stulberg, who invited me after our famous trips to Death Valley, Palouse and of course one in Tuscany, where we spent nice time together scouting and preparing a year in advance! This Scotty's workshop was sold out within literally few hours and I am really looking forward to revisit this Italian gem...
Meanwhile, open the bottle of the good wine (Italian would be preferred), light up the fireplace and ... enjoy!



Jeseň je takmer preč a dlhé, tmavé, zimné večery sa pomaly ale isto vkrádajú - či sa nám to páči alebo nie... Správny čas na zohriatie sa tým, že jeden konečne pretriedi adresár nafotený v máji v Toskánsku! Oh, to ale pomohlo... Už je tu leto?
Najlepšie na tom je, že do Toskánska sa chystám znova na budúci rok. Tentokrát ako spolu inštruktor (a vyhliadavač miest, zábavač, Nikon expert a šofér) spolu so Scottym Stulbergom, ktorý ma pozval po našich skvelých spoločných výletoch do Death Valley, Palouse a samozrejme v Toskánsku, kde sme strávili spoločný čas obhliadkou miest a pripravovaním sa rok vopred! Tento Scottyho workshop sa vypredal doslova za pár hodín a ja sa fakt znova teším na návštevu tejto talianskej perly...
Medzitým, otvorte si fľašu vína (odporúčam talianske), zakúrte si v kozube... a užívajte!

vineyards | photo walk

Yes, it is THE season to be in the vineyards and take pictures there! Vine makers keep saying this year is going to be a great year! Experiencing such a wonderful Indian summer - I am not surprised a bit... So do not forget to stock up once the wine will hit stores!

And how did I end up in the vineyards? We had another session of our Photo WalkieTalkie. This time we decided to walk in and photograph beautiful vineyards of Unesco heritage in Lavaux. Thanks to our participants I had a wonderful Saturday, had fun and we all were able to get really great shots.

Enjoy with me... and Cheers!
Thanks Mariel, Polly, Rachel, Lina, Kim, Chris, Dovile, Mariana and Elyse!

Áno, teraz je ten správny čas ísť do viníc a zafotiť si! Vinári tvrdia, že tento rok bude skvelý ročník! Keďže babie leto bolo také úžasné, tak ma to ani trochu neprekvapuje ... Takže si nezabudnite nakúpiť do zásoby, keď víno príde na pulty ;)
A ako som sa ocitol vo viniciach? Mali sme našu ďalšiu Photo WalkieTalkie. Tentokrát sme sa rozhodli vybrať sa na prechádzku a zafotiť si vo viniciach zapísanych na Unsesco zozname svetového dedičstva v Lavaux. A vďaka naším účastníkom som mal skvelú sobotu, kopec zábavy a podarilo sa mi (a aj im!) nafotiť pekné momentky.
Užite si so mnou a ... na zdravie!

jump!

Every passion is worth to capture! Especially when passion is such beautiful like the one I was able to shoot over the weekend. Little jockey and her four legged friend Leon are so harmonized, that it was just enough to stay, observe and press the shutter...
Big thanks to pixien photography for her wonderful workshop, so images like this could happen!

Každá záľuba stojí za to, aby sa zachytila. Obzvlášť ak je tou záľubou niečo tak krásne, ako som fotil cez víkend. Malá žokejka a jej štvornohý priateľ Leon boli tak skvelo zladní, že len stačilo postávať, užívať si to a stláčať spúšť...
Veľké poďakovanie pixien photography za jej skvelý workshop, že takéto zábery mohli vzniknúť!