Faultline Derby Devilz vs Quad City Bombshells at Bolado Park

There's a park, Bolado Park, just a little beyond Tres Pinos, outside of Hollister, California, where they play roller derby outdoors on a concrete patio.  The last time I was there to shoot derby, it was a February  California Dreamin' winter's day.

 

This time, I was there in August. It's not too warm, just shy of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a good that there was a canopy shading the track this time.  It was good for the skaters, good for the refs and NSO's.  Good for the comfort of the photographer shooting center track.









It did pose a special challenge as the track was shaded slightly differently as each canopy had slightly different transparency with hot spots between them sometimes ruining exposures.



I know, I know. Photographers! Always bitchin' about the light.  It's too bright!  It's not bright enough!  It's too contrasty!  It's not contrasty enough!  It's the wrong color! 



It's funny, the more I shoot derby, the more I shoot with manual exposure.



And so this particular lighting posed a special challenge. So many different amounts of light.



I'd like to think, I'm getting a better sense of light, but I have a ways to go.











Also, groms!



I know, I know, they're only called groms in Santa Cruz.  But I call junior derbiers groms everywhere.



Groms are awesome everywhere.








the full flickr set is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nocklebeast/sets/72157635030789847/