The 2006 Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) is less than a month away and I’m on pins and needles, just like I was when I did my first PMC as a rider in 1988. The greatest event in my adult life was the 1988 PMC. I signed up in April of 1988 for my first PMC. I didn’t get along with my dad after my mother died in 1964 from cancer. It was a love hate relationship. In 1988 my father was approaching the end of his futile fight against colon cancer. I signed up for the 194-mile two day bicycle rife for the Jimmy Fund more for selfish reasons, it was to be a one time event, an in your face type of thing to my dad. Funny thing happened, as I watched what I considered to be the strongest man in the world fight a losing battle against this damn disease. I started thinking of the dad I loved growing up as a kid in Lawrence Massachusetts, and all the pent up anger melted away, because when you come right down to it, life is too short, and eternity is forever. I’ll never forget how kind the PMC was to me that weekend. It is something that will go to me to the grave. I’ll never forget the kindness of Billy Starr, the founder of the PMC. I had one sponsor that year who decided not to honor their pledge. It was the only thing from achieving Heavy Hitter status, someone who raises twice the minimum required to participate in the event. I was $20 shy. I wrote a letter to Billy telling him that although I had the $20 to achieve that status, it would be buying the status of being a Heavy Hitter. I told him I would try harder next year to be a Heavy Hitter. A week letter I received a letter from Billy Starr. In it he said that he donated $20 of his own money making me a Heavy Hitter for 1988. I did ten of these rides, but nothing had the impact as that first PMC. I shattered my left shoulder in 1998, and had to have prosthesis put in, ending my bicycle riding. I switched over to the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, which I’ve been doing ever since (now I need knee replacement).
Even though I’m getting ready for walk number nine, the PMC was the one in my heart. I would always stop by their HQ after the walk to say hello. The people at the PMC would ask if I would come back as a volunteer, and I said maybe some day, but I never did. This year I was browsing on the PMC’s site and saw they were looking for photographers for the 2006 PMC. I have some nice camera equipment, so I logged in (still had my ID and password), volunteered for two events, and was accepted. I have two very good prime assignments. I will be at the place to be on Saturday, at the Mass Maritime Academy (MAA), the pit stop for 90% of the 4,500 plus riders. I’ll be shooting pictures from 2 PM until 9 PM. Day two will have me at the second most desired place to be, the Family Finish line in Provincetown. I can’t tell you how thrilled to death I am to be back with the PMC and being one of their main photographers. I’m going in to this event eyes wide open and totally innocent, just like I was in 1988. I know as years go on the excitement will never be quite like the first one, but this event, plus the Walk, is something I want to do for the rest of my life.
I cannot believe a nobody like me is going to be one of the PMC’s main photographers. I cannot explain the happiness and anxiety I’m experiencing right now. Wish me luck and pray to God I do not blow too many pictures. Hot Dog!
2006 Pan Mass Challenge
I forgot to tell you one of the benefits being one of the main photographers for the PMC. I'm sure I'm going to be called a sexist pig. You see, you got manny a fine young womens in their early twenties to mid thirties doing this ride. Well, they are going to be sweaty, and there all wearing tight spandex jerseys, and I am the official photogtapher. Need I say more. <lol>
All kidding aside. I'm going to have to stop myself from talking to people, especially those I know, from talking about me. I am there for a job, and that is to take photographs for the PMC. I can relax when I get back to New Jersey after I post process the pictures and FTP them to the PMC. I will have the satisfaction of knowing that when someone checks file information, they will see the author as Brin M. Richards. Woohoo.
All kidding aside. I'm going to have to stop myself from talking to people, especially those I know, from talking about me. I am there for a job, and that is to take photographs for the PMC. I can relax when I get back to New Jersey after I post process the pictures and FTP them to the PMC. I will have the satisfaction of knowing that when someone checks file information, they will see the author as Brin M. Richards. Woohoo.
Canon 30D with vertical grip, with a 20D as backup. Lenses are Canon 10-22 EF-S, 17-55/2.8 IS EF-S, 35/1.4 L, and the 70-200/2.8 L. Canon 580 EX flash with the 550 EX flash as backup, using Canon CP-E3 battery pack. I have 22 GB memory (three 4 GB and five 2 GB compact flash cards). If, in the event of rain, I have a Kata rain cape for the camera. Flash is mounted off shoe using a Strobframe quick flip bracket. I'm leaving my Canon 100-400 IS L lens at home. I'll be carrying all the camera equipment in a Delsey rolling bag, which is waterproof. I'm probably the PMC's best equipped photographer for the ride.
Will more and likely just use the 35/1.4 L in event of rain, as I would not take a chance using the flash in the rain.
Will more and likely just use the 35/1.4 L in event of rain, as I would not take a chance using the flash in the rain.
I’m like a five year old kid the night before Christmas, eagerly waiting the big day. In ten days I’m going to be at the Mass Maritime Academy (MMA) as one of the official photographers of the 2006 Pan Massachusetts Challenge (PMC). I never thought after shattering my left shoulder in a bicycle accident in 1998 that I’d ever be back to an event that meant so much to me in 1988 when my father was dying of colon cancer. I got to keep reminding myself to act professional, and hope my chest don’t swell that much to be noticeable from the pride and joy that I’ll be experiencing on August 5 & 6. Even though I’ve been doing the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk for the last nine years, it is the PMC that is in my heart. I’m “home” among friends. I am considered one of the main photographers due to my equipment and experience in photography.
My assignment on day one will be covering the main activities that will be happening out in the field at the MMA from 2 PM to 9 PM. It is still up in the air if I’ll be coming in early to set up my second camera, weather permitting, for time elapsed photography. There are two projects the PMC has in mind. One is covering the bike rack area where the cyclists place their bikes. The idea is to set up a camera to take a picture every 30 to 60 seconds over a seven hour period, then take the pictures and make a quick movie out of it as the bike racks fill up as the day progresses. This will involve showing up around 9 to 10 AM to set the camera up. The second time elapsed project is a shorter duration of the setting of a big tent on the MAA grounds for riders to sleep in. That will allow me to come in at my normal start time.
I will be covering the finish line at what is called the Family Finish in Provincetown on day two from 7 AM to 5 PM. Initially I was assigned to be the only photographer, covering the finish line itself and the field activities. The PMC managed to get enough photographers to volunteer, so they assigned some one with a point and shoot to cover the field activities from 12 noon to 5 PM, and I will be assigned the finish line exclusively due to having the faster focusing and better equipped camera and lenses. I will be setting up the second camera, weather permitting, for time elapsed pictures at the finish line, and use a second camera to get individual shots of the participants.
I’ll be using a Canon 20D with a Canon Timer Remote Controller and a 10-22 EF-S lens attached, mounted on a tripod, for the time elapsed pictures. The Canon 20D will be “baby sat” either by me or a volunteer at all times both days, because this type of camera equipment has a tendency to develop feet if left unattended. I’ll be using a Canon 30D with vertical grip, 580 EX flash, and a 17-55/2.8 IS EF-S lens and maybe the 35/1.4 L on day one. Day two I’ll either be using the 17-55/2.8 IS EF-S, 70-200/2.8 L, or the 100-400 L IS lens. I figure I’ll be taking 1,500 to 2,000 time elapsed pictures, plus 1,500 to 2,000 regular pictures. Of the regular pictures I’ll be submitting up to my best 200 pictures for each day. I’ll be submitting most of the time elapsed pictures as well.
I can’t believe a nobody like me is going to play an important clog in the wheel for the 2006 PMC. As my favorite sing group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons would say, I’m going to be a Big Man in Town. Hot Dog! That’s woohoo to the under 50 crowd <lol>.
My assignment on day one will be covering the main activities that will be happening out in the field at the MMA from 2 PM to 9 PM. It is still up in the air if I’ll be coming in early to set up my second camera, weather permitting, for time elapsed photography. There are two projects the PMC has in mind. One is covering the bike rack area where the cyclists place their bikes. The idea is to set up a camera to take a picture every 30 to 60 seconds over a seven hour period, then take the pictures and make a quick movie out of it as the bike racks fill up as the day progresses. This will involve showing up around 9 to 10 AM to set the camera up. The second time elapsed project is a shorter duration of the setting of a big tent on the MAA grounds for riders to sleep in. That will allow me to come in at my normal start time.
I will be covering the finish line at what is called the Family Finish in Provincetown on day two from 7 AM to 5 PM. Initially I was assigned to be the only photographer, covering the finish line itself and the field activities. The PMC managed to get enough photographers to volunteer, so they assigned some one with a point and shoot to cover the field activities from 12 noon to 5 PM, and I will be assigned the finish line exclusively due to having the faster focusing and better equipped camera and lenses. I will be setting up the second camera, weather permitting, for time elapsed pictures at the finish line, and use a second camera to get individual shots of the participants.
I’ll be using a Canon 20D with a Canon Timer Remote Controller and a 10-22 EF-S lens attached, mounted on a tripod, for the time elapsed pictures. The Canon 20D will be “baby sat” either by me or a volunteer at all times both days, because this type of camera equipment has a tendency to develop feet if left unattended. I’ll be using a Canon 30D with vertical grip, 580 EX flash, and a 17-55/2.8 IS EF-S lens and maybe the 35/1.4 L on day one. Day two I’ll either be using the 17-55/2.8 IS EF-S, 70-200/2.8 L, or the 100-400 L IS lens. I figure I’ll be taking 1,500 to 2,000 time elapsed pictures, plus 1,500 to 2,000 regular pictures. Of the regular pictures I’ll be submitting up to my best 200 pictures for each day. I’ll be submitting most of the time elapsed pictures as well.
I can’t believe a nobody like me is going to play an important clog in the wheel for the 2006 PMC. As my favorite sing group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons would say, I’m going to be a Big Man in Town. Hot Dog! That’s woohoo to the under 50 crowd <lol>.
This is a weekend I’ll never forget. It didn’t turn out the way I expected. I figured the Mass Maritime Academy (MMA) would be the better of the two days. I was wrong; in fact the MMA was a letdown. I arrived at the MMA about 6:30 AM Saturday. I waited 30 minutes until volunteer registration opened up. After registration I decided to check the site out. The Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) has grown over the years I have seen it. Two huge tents were set up on the main field. One was for the “cafeteria” area; the other was for the massages. I checked to see where the team photo area was at, and then I headed over to the area where the bicycle racks were being set up for the incoming riders. I got permission from the MMA staff to set one of my cameras up for the time elapsed photography of the bicycle racks filling up in the press box. I was able to leave the camera unattended because it was out of sight. I started the time elapsed at 10 AM, setting the remote timer one picture every minute. This ran until 6:30 PM. 492 pictures in all.
I grabbed a bite to eat and got ready with my other camera to start shooting pictures. In the two hours that I had before taking the team photos I managed to shoot 148 pictures, not nearly as many as I expected, or exciting. I took photos of people eating, getting massages, pictures pf the band, people eating, getting massages, you get my drift. The team photos went over better, I shot 179 photos of 48 teams. I was asked by the various teams how do they get a copy of the electronic file, and since I left my “business cards” with my name, web site, and email address in my car, I told them to contact the main office of the PMC to get my email address. It is amazing looking at some of the photos, there is usually some clown looking the wrong way in every photo I took. I shoot three to five pictures per team, and took the best. Some teams were as small as two people; others had fifty or more members. The minimum to raise for the two-day event is $3,300. If you are a member of a team, then each team member has to raise $6,000, “Heavy Hitter” status. I did this for two hours, and then went to take down my camera taking the time elapsed photos. I went back to get a picture of the last rider coming in, and called it a day.
I slept in my car, got up at 2 AM. Showered, shave, put on my clothes with a fresh t-shirt, attempted to drive to the Bourne Bridge but ended up over the Sagamore Bridge. Turned around, found the bridge, and marked it as a waypoint on my GPS so I could find it next year. I was setting up my camera on a tripod, when the first rider went by me at 4:04 AM. I put a fresh battery in the camera. The lens the head photographer told me to use with flash was the 17-55/2.8 lens. Not nearly fast enough, so I went back to my car to get my 35/1.4, which allows four times more light per given shutter speed to the camera sensor. I had much better results. I was smart enough to have a flash light with me to help set things up. After about 325 pictures, the batteries in the flash head died. I was not expecting that. The external $700 battery pack was supplying the flash power, while the batteries in the flash head were supplying power to the LCD display and the zoom head. The external battery pack was working just fine; in fact out of over 1,250 flash pictures taken I still had 60% of my battery power left over. I couldn’t get back to my car to get more batteries for the flash head, but by then it was light enough (5:15 AM) to use available light. I froze my butt off on the Bridge, with the winds blowing off the ocean. I wrapped up at 6 AM, got back to my car, put a fresh battery in the camera and flash head, and headed to the Family Finish line some 67 miles away.
I had my first disagreement with the head photographer. I told him I was telling the various teams to contact the main office for my email address so I could send them the electronic copy of their pictures. He said no, the punctures are property of the PMC, and they are going to sell the hi res copy of the pictures. He then admitted technically they are my photos, but I should sign them over to the PMC. I told him I have every intention of signing them over to the PMC, but this policy sucks. Each team member has to raise at least $6,000 each, I planned on giving them the file for free, and you are getting enough money from them. He then told me that I’m setting bad precedence for the other photographers. I said no one has to do it. I want to do it.
The Family Finish line is not as popular with most of the PMC riders because it is out in an open field, and has no alcohol. However, a lot of riders like it for that reason, and the Family Finish allows friends and family to be there to watch their favorite rider come in, while the Provincetown Inn finish line does not allow guests to be there. I was covering the finish line itself versus the field activities. I was covering about a 600 yards of street, with people lining up and down both sides of the street. I was taking pictures of people holding signs, riders coming in, riders kissing their children, and so on. You could sense the pride and joy these families had in seeing their loved one coming into the finish line. I can’t explain the feeling I had being there. I took a lot of pictures of families celebrating, and told them since I’m picking the pictures; their picture will make it to the PMC site. I gave my “business card” to each family picture I took if they asked how they could get a copy of the file. I felt like Santa Claus. It couldn’t get any better than this, but it did. I was explaining to one woman about the disagreement I had with the head photographer about giving the file away. I said I’m not making money on this and I felt it was wrong to have this policy, and since technically the pictures are mine, I intended to give them free to the people that ask for them. I took a picture of her husband coming in. I told her husband about the head photographer’s policy, and said it was wrong. He agreed, and then he told me his father, who was 83, rode the 109 miles on day one. I recognized his father, and realized this person I was talking to is very high up in the corporate world, as they raise over $250,000 for the PMC every year. You don’t raise that kind of money being a lowly person like I am in life. I told him his wife has my card, and to contact me when I got home for the files. He then said to his wife, “Start booking him for events.” I was stunned. I stuttered I’m not a professional, He didn’t care. I said I’m from New Jersey, but in five years I’m retiring and will come back to New England if he has “jobs” for me.
Can’t get any better than that, except it did. I was talking with the head photographer and he said the Family Finish line has my name on it, as it is mine for as long as I want it. Some times nice things do happen to me. I’ve already been rewarded being with these lovely people at the finish line. I can’t ask God for anything more. I’m truly was the one that was rewarded on August 6 at the Family Finish line.
I have the pictures posted on my site at http://www.brianric.com/photo.htm posted on my site.
Brian
I grabbed a bite to eat and got ready with my other camera to start shooting pictures. In the two hours that I had before taking the team photos I managed to shoot 148 pictures, not nearly as many as I expected, or exciting. I took photos of people eating, getting massages, pictures pf the band, people eating, getting massages, you get my drift. The team photos went over better, I shot 179 photos of 48 teams. I was asked by the various teams how do they get a copy of the electronic file, and since I left my “business cards” with my name, web site, and email address in my car, I told them to contact the main office of the PMC to get my email address. It is amazing looking at some of the photos, there is usually some clown looking the wrong way in every photo I took. I shoot three to five pictures per team, and took the best. Some teams were as small as two people; others had fifty or more members. The minimum to raise for the two-day event is $3,300. If you are a member of a team, then each team member has to raise $6,000, “Heavy Hitter” status. I did this for two hours, and then went to take down my camera taking the time elapsed photos. I went back to get a picture of the last rider coming in, and called it a day.
I slept in my car, got up at 2 AM. Showered, shave, put on my clothes with a fresh t-shirt, attempted to drive to the Bourne Bridge but ended up over the Sagamore Bridge. Turned around, found the bridge, and marked it as a waypoint on my GPS so I could find it next year. I was setting up my camera on a tripod, when the first rider went by me at 4:04 AM. I put a fresh battery in the camera. The lens the head photographer told me to use with flash was the 17-55/2.8 lens. Not nearly fast enough, so I went back to my car to get my 35/1.4, which allows four times more light per given shutter speed to the camera sensor. I had much better results. I was smart enough to have a flash light with me to help set things up. After about 325 pictures, the batteries in the flash head died. I was not expecting that. The external $700 battery pack was supplying the flash power, while the batteries in the flash head were supplying power to the LCD display and the zoom head. The external battery pack was working just fine; in fact out of over 1,250 flash pictures taken I still had 60% of my battery power left over. I couldn’t get back to my car to get more batteries for the flash head, but by then it was light enough (5:15 AM) to use available light. I froze my butt off on the Bridge, with the winds blowing off the ocean. I wrapped up at 6 AM, got back to my car, put a fresh battery in the camera and flash head, and headed to the Family Finish line some 67 miles away.
I had my first disagreement with the head photographer. I told him I was telling the various teams to contact the main office for my email address so I could send them the electronic copy of their pictures. He said no, the punctures are property of the PMC, and they are going to sell the hi res copy of the pictures. He then admitted technically they are my photos, but I should sign them over to the PMC. I told him I have every intention of signing them over to the PMC, but this policy sucks. Each team member has to raise at least $6,000 each, I planned on giving them the file for free, and you are getting enough money from them. He then told me that I’m setting bad precedence for the other photographers. I said no one has to do it. I want to do it.
The Family Finish line is not as popular with most of the PMC riders because it is out in an open field, and has no alcohol. However, a lot of riders like it for that reason, and the Family Finish allows friends and family to be there to watch their favorite rider come in, while the Provincetown Inn finish line does not allow guests to be there. I was covering the finish line itself versus the field activities. I was covering about a 600 yards of street, with people lining up and down both sides of the street. I was taking pictures of people holding signs, riders coming in, riders kissing their children, and so on. You could sense the pride and joy these families had in seeing their loved one coming into the finish line. I can’t explain the feeling I had being there. I took a lot of pictures of families celebrating, and told them since I’m picking the pictures; their picture will make it to the PMC site. I gave my “business card” to each family picture I took if they asked how they could get a copy of the file. I felt like Santa Claus. It couldn’t get any better than this, but it did. I was explaining to one woman about the disagreement I had with the head photographer about giving the file away. I said I’m not making money on this and I felt it was wrong to have this policy, and since technically the pictures are mine, I intended to give them free to the people that ask for them. I took a picture of her husband coming in. I told her husband about the head photographer’s policy, and said it was wrong. He agreed, and then he told me his father, who was 83, rode the 109 miles on day one. I recognized his father, and realized this person I was talking to is very high up in the corporate world, as they raise over $250,000 for the PMC every year. You don’t raise that kind of money being a lowly person like I am in life. I told him his wife has my card, and to contact me when I got home for the files. He then said to his wife, “Start booking him for events.” I was stunned. I stuttered I’m not a professional, He didn’t care. I said I’m from New Jersey, but in five years I’m retiring and will come back to New England if he has “jobs” for me.
Can’t get any better than that, except it did. I was talking with the head photographer and he said the Family Finish line has my name on it, as it is mine for as long as I want it. Some times nice things do happen to me. I’ve already been rewarded being with these lovely people at the finish line. I can’t ask God for anything more. I’m truly was the one that was rewarded on August 6 at the Family Finish line.
I have the pictures posted on my site at http://www.brianric.com/photo.htm posted on my site.
Brian
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Tom Barrick
- 500m Poster
- Posts: 85
- Joined: May 9th, 2006, 4:27 pm
- Location: Federal Way, WA
re:PMC
Absolutely awesome story, Brian.
PS: Going to look at every single photo as soon as we get our high-speed back in early September.
PS: Going to look at every single photo as soon as we get our high-speed back in early September.
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What are the odds?
I was one of the main photographers of the 2006 Pan Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), a two day 192 mile bicycle ride that raises money for the Jimmy Fund, the fund raising arm of Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. On Aigust 6, I was covering the Family Finsh Line in Provincetown, Massachusetts. I just looked at these three pictures, taken in a row. Picture number 2 is great timing, but what are the odds the bicycle rider that is giving the high five to the kids is the children's father. Thought I'd share. Canon 30D, 17-55/2.8 IS.
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Little Rowing Turtle
- Paddler
- Posts: 16
- Joined: March 21st, 2006, 7:37 am
- Location: North Clymer, NY
On my way to Hopkington for my big walk. I can be sponsored at http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2006/brianric. Wish me luck.
