Repost: Photographing Hills - difficult?

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

Got a couple snaps of a road that looks to me, on the bike like a 'wall',
where the B-Monticello Bike/ped trail crosses the ride up to the apple
orchard. (Note: One reply suggested tilting camera parallel to flat, which
will give right perspective.)



It *is* tough getting it to look as steep as it really is (or at least how
you *remember* it was!). I just tossed a few photos onto a page to see who
well (or poorly) I've managed to capture Sonora Pass-

Here's my contribution. I had been wanting to get a good picture of this
steep grade, so I finally took my camera with me in September (a bulky
Olympus E-10 - ugh! What a great camera, though. I hope to get a good
compact from "Santa" this year, so I can take more pictures more often.)

The stretch in the picture is .2 miles of 18% - 19% grade. It is on a
relatively short ride near my house - Flagstaff Mountain Road to the
Green Mountain Trail head - 16.5 miles up and back - a 2400 foot climb.
I've done this ride many, many times.

I didn't get a "dramatic" picture on the way up (that *is* hard), but I
think I captured a bit of what it's like on the descent. I sit upright
and "soar" - feeling like I'm in a glider, looking for the runway on the
flats down below. I love it every time - a big wind in my face grin. The
"final approach."

Here's a horizontal:
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-hsm.php
and a vertical: http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-vsm.php

(And for bigger screens -
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-h.php
- http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-v.php)

(Note the RV at the bottom of the hill. The driver had made the mistake
of getting that far and then had to park it. I'm not sure how they got
it back down. That's the second half of a very tight, very steep, double
hairpin.)

Then there is shooting off to the side, like the second maniacal picture
he
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/Colorado.html (I don't recall the
grade, but it was not "extreme." A touring load really gets you rolling
on those descents.)

Here's one from Austria (the second photo - scroll down):
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/A...fore_Rain.html
It seems that it may be easier to portray the grade when looking down
the hill (?), and also having a vehicle on the road for perspective and
scale.

And, not to start a ****ing match - not my intention at all. But I have
to wonder if grades aren't figured differently at times. I see the sign
in your picture, Mike, that says 26% grade and I can't imagine even
pedaling on that. I've ridden the 19% grade (above) and on a supposed
22% grade in Austria, and that seemed about my limit. How much harder
would a 26% grade be? What does the physical difference between riding a
20% grade or a 26% grade actually feel like. Like ..... once the grade
hits 20%, there's no telling the difference between that and 26%? Is it
the same as the difference between 0% and 6%?

Just pondering.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

Got a couple snaps of a road that looks to me, on the bike like a 'wall',
where the B-Monticello Bike/ped trail crosses the ride up to the apple
orchard. (Note: One reply suggested tilting camera parallel to flat, which
will give right perspective.)



It *is* tough getting it to look as steep as it really is (or at least how
you *remember* it was!). I just tossed a few photos onto a page to see who
well (or poorly) I've managed to capture Sonora Pass-

Here's my contribution. I had been wanting to get a good picture of this
steep grade, so I finally took my camera with me in September (a bulky
Olympus E-10 - ugh! What a great camera, though. I hope to get a good
compact from "Santa" this year, so I can take more pictures more often.)

The stretch in the picture is .2 miles of 18% - 19% grade. It is on a
relatively short ride near my house - Flagstaff Mountain Road to the
Green Mountain Trail head - 16.5 miles up and back - a 2400 foot climb.
I've done this ride many, many times.

I didn't get a "dramatic" picture on the way up (that *is* hard), but I
think I captured a bit of what it's like on the descent. I sit upright
and "soar" - feeling like I'm in a glider, looking for the runway on the
flats down below. I love it every time - a big wind in my face grin. The
"final approach."

Here's a horizontal:
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-hsm.php
and a vertical: http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-vsm.php

(And for bigger screens -
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-h.php
- http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-v.php)

(Note the RV at the bottom of the hill. The driver had made the mistake
of getting that far and then had to park it. I'm not sure how they got
it back down. That's the second half of a very tight, very steep, double
hairpin.)

Then there is shooting off to the side, like the second maniacal picture
he
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/Colorado.html (I don't recall the
grade, but it was not "extreme." A touring load really gets you rolling
on those descents.)

Here's one from Austria (the second photo - scroll down):
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/A...fore_Rain.html
It seems that it may be easier to portray the grade when looking down
the hill (?), and also having a vehicle on the road for perspective and
scale.

And, not to start a ****ing match - not my intention at all. But I have
to wonder if grades aren't figured differently at times. I see the sign
in your picture, Mike, that says 26% grade and I can't imagine even
pedaling on that. I've ridden the 19% grade (above) and on a supposed
22% grade in Austria, and that seemed about my limit. How much harder
would a 26% grade be? What does the physical difference between riding a
20% grade or a 26% grade actually feel like. Like ..... once the grade
hits 20%, there's no telling the difference between that and 26%? Is it
the same as the difference between 0% and 6%?

Just pondering.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

From the Arlington Circle to the top on Marin Street (only .75 miles in a
straight line) here in Berkeley, the average grade is 18%, including flat
spots where streets cross. A number of sections near the top hit 33% (I
measured it with a six foot level and measure).

I've got a funny picture of a moving van high-centered at the top. Large
trucks are prohibited and they had a jolly time getting that one loose, but
the cops were not amused.
--
Steve Juniper
Berkeley, CA

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger
of state and corporate power."
--
Benito Mussolini

"Chuck Anderson" wrote in message
news:xqbhd.551521$8_6.12577@attbi_s04...
Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

Got a couple snaps of a road that looks to me, on the bike like a 'wall',
where the B-Monticello Bike/ped trail crosses the ride up to the apple
orchard. (Note: One reply suggested tilting camera parallel to flat, which
will give right perspective.)



It *is* tough getting it to look as steep as it really is (or at least how
you *remember* it was!). I just tossed a few photos onto a page to see who
well (or poorly) I've managed to capture Sonora Pass-

Here's my contribution. I had been wanting to get a good picture of this
steep grade, so I finally took my camera with me in September (a bulky
Olympus E-10 - ugh! What a great camera, though. I hope to get a good
compact from "Santa" this year, so I can take more pictures more often.)

The stretch in the picture is .2 miles of 18% - 19% grade. It is on a
relatively short ride near my house - Flagstaff Mountain Road to the
Green Mountain Trail head - 16.5 miles up and back - a 2400 foot climb.
I've done this ride many, many times.

I didn't get a "dramatic" picture on the way up (that *is* hard), but I
think I captured a bit of what it's like on the descent. I sit upright
and "soar" - feeling like I'm in a glider, looking for the runway on the
flats down below. I love it every time - a big wind in my face grin. The
"final approach."

Here's a horizontal:
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-hsm.php
and a vertical: http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-vsm.php

(And for bigger screens -
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-h.php
- http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-v.php)

(Note the RV at the bottom of the hill. The driver had made the mistake
of getting that far and then had to park it. I'm not sure how they got
it back down. That's the second half of a very tight, very steep, double
hairpin.)

Then there is shooting off to the side, like the second maniacal picture
he
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/Colorado.html (I don't recall the
grade, but it was not "extreme." A touring load really gets you rolling
on those descents.)

Here's one from Austria (the second photo - scroll down):
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/A...fore_Rain.html
It seems that it may be easier to portray the grade when looking down
the hill (?), and also having a vehicle on the road for perspective and
scale.

And, not to start a ****ing match - not my intention at all. But I have
to wonder if grades aren't figured differently at times. I see the sign
in your picture, Mike, that says 26% grade and I can't imagine even
pedaling on that. I've ridden the 19% grade (above) and on a supposed
22% grade in Austria, and that seemed about my limit. How much harder
would a 26% grade be? What does the physical difference between riding a
20% grade or a 26% grade actually feel like. Like ..... once the grade
hits 20%, there's no telling the difference between that and 26%? Is it
the same as the difference between 0% and 6%?

Just pondering.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

From the Arlington Circle to the top on Marin Street (only .75 miles in a
straight line) here in Berkeley, the average grade is 18%, including flat
spots where streets cross. A number of sections near the top hit 33% (I
measured it with a six foot level and measure).

I've got a funny picture of a moving van high-centered at the top. Large
trucks are prohibited and they had a jolly time getting that one loose, but
the cops were not amused.
--
Steve Juniper
Berkeley, CA

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger
of state and corporate power."
--
Benito Mussolini

"Chuck Anderson" wrote in message
news:xqbhd.551521$8_6.12577@attbi_s04...
Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

Got a couple snaps of a road that looks to me, on the bike like a 'wall',
where the B-Monticello Bike/ped trail crosses the ride up to the apple
orchard. (Note: One reply suggested tilting camera parallel to flat, which
will give right perspective.)



It *is* tough getting it to look as steep as it really is (or at least how
you *remember* it was!). I just tossed a few photos onto a page to see who
well (or poorly) I've managed to capture Sonora Pass-

Here's my contribution. I had been wanting to get a good picture of this
steep grade, so I finally took my camera with me in September (a bulky
Olympus E-10 - ugh! What a great camera, though. I hope to get a good
compact from "Santa" this year, so I can take more pictures more often.)

The stretch in the picture is .2 miles of 18% - 19% grade. It is on a
relatively short ride near my house - Flagstaff Mountain Road to the
Green Mountain Trail head - 16.5 miles up and back - a 2400 foot climb.
I've done this ride many, many times.

I didn't get a "dramatic" picture on the way up (that *is* hard), but I
think I captured a bit of what it's like on the descent. I sit upright
and "soar" - feeling like I'm in a glider, looking for the runway on the
flats down below. I love it every time - a big wind in my face grin. The
"final approach."

Here's a horizontal:
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-hsm.php
and a vertical: http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-vsm.php

(And for bigger screens -
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-h.php
- http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-v.php)

(Note the RV at the bottom of the hill. The driver had made the mistake
of getting that far and then had to park it. I'm not sure how they got
it back down. That's the second half of a very tight, very steep, double
hairpin.)

Then there is shooting off to the side, like the second maniacal picture
he
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/Colorado.html (I don't recall the
grade, but it was not "extreme." A touring load really gets you rolling
on those descents.)

Here's one from Austria (the second photo - scroll down):
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/A...fore_Rain.html
It seems that it may be easier to portray the grade when looking down
the hill (?), and also having a vehicle on the road for perspective and
scale.

And, not to start a ****ing match - not my intention at all. But I have
to wonder if grades aren't figured differently at times. I see the sign
in your picture, Mike, that says 26% grade and I can't imagine even
pedaling on that. I've ridden the 19% grade (above) and on a supposed
22% grade in Austria, and that seemed about my limit. How much harder
would a 26% grade be? What does the physical difference between riding a
20% grade or a 26% grade actually feel like. Like ..... once the grade
hits 20%, there's no telling the difference between that and 26%? Is it
the same as the difference between 0% and 6%?

Just pondering.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

From the Arlington Circle to the top on Marin Street (only .75 miles in a
straight line) here in Berkeley, the average grade is 18%, including flat
spots where streets cross. A number of sections near the top hit 33% (I
measured it with a six foot level and measure).

I've got a funny picture of a moving van high-centered at the top. Large
trucks are prohibited and they had a jolly time getting that one loose, but
the cops were not amused.
--
Steve Juniper
Berkeley, CA

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger
of state and corporate power."
--
Benito Mussolini

"Chuck Anderson" wrote in message
news:xqbhd.551521$8_6.12577@attbi_s04...
Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

Got a couple snaps of a road that looks to me, on the bike like a 'wall',
where the B-Monticello Bike/ped trail crosses the ride up to the apple
orchard. (Note: One reply suggested tilting camera parallel to flat, which
will give right perspective.)



It *is* tough getting it to look as steep as it really is (or at least how
you *remember* it was!). I just tossed a few photos onto a page to see who
well (or poorly) I've managed to capture Sonora Pass-

Here's my contribution. I had been wanting to get a good picture of this
steep grade, so I finally took my camera with me in September (a bulky
Olympus E-10 - ugh! What a great camera, though. I hope to get a good
compact from "Santa" this year, so I can take more pictures more often.)

The stretch in the picture is .2 miles of 18% - 19% grade. It is on a
relatively short ride near my house - Flagstaff Mountain Road to the
Green Mountain Trail head - 16.5 miles up and back - a 2400 foot climb.
I've done this ride many, many times.

I didn't get a "dramatic" picture on the way up (that *is* hard), but I
think I captured a bit of what it's like on the descent. I sit upright
and "soar" - feeling like I'm in a glider, looking for the runway on the
flats down below. I love it every time - a big wind in my face grin. The
"final approach."

Here's a horizontal:
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-hsm.php
and a vertical: http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/f...proach-vsm.php

(And for bigger screens -
http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-h.php
- http://www.cycletourist.com/photos/finalapproach-v.php)

(Note the RV at the bottom of the hill. The driver had made the mistake
of getting that far and then had to park it. I'm not sure how they got
it back down. That's the second half of a very tight, very steep, double
hairpin.)

Then there is shooting off to the side, like the second maniacal picture
he
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/Colorado.html (I don't recall the
grade, but it was not "extreme." A touring load really gets you rolling
on those descents.)

Here's one from Austria (the second photo - scroll down):
http://www.cycletourist.com/Scenes/A...fore_Rain.html
It seems that it may be easier to portray the grade when looking down
the hill (?), and also having a vehicle on the road for perspective and
scale.

And, not to start a ****ing match - not my intention at all. But I have
to wonder if grades aren't figured differently at times. I see the sign
in your picture, Mike, that says 26% grade and I can't imagine even
pedaling on that. I've ridden the 19% grade (above) and on a supposed
22% grade in Austria, and that seemed about my limit. How much harder
would a 26% grade be? What does the physical difference between riding a
20% grade or a 26% grade actually feel like. Like ..... once the grade
hits 20%, there's no telling the difference between that and 26%? Is it
the same as the difference between 0% and 6%?

Just pondering.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************