Since the dawn of photography, the camera, and thus the photographer during processing, has sometimes been able to see things that the eye can't and that the mind doesn't comprehend until later.  That potential ability has, from photography's inception, fascinated viewers and practitioners. Photography thus allows us to see the very tiny, and the very distant. And sometimes ephemeral moments that pass too quickly to fully understand at the time.

The first post in this series contained a two-shot sequence showing what can happen on a race course, even when things seem to be going well, until suddenly they aren't. One of the attractions of race photography for me is being able to see racers strive and persevere in the face of adversity, saving a run with skill and athleticism, and, sometimes, luck. But likewise, the camera sometimes records what happens when the run isn't saved, as in the two-shot sequence in the first post. For me, seeing exactly what happened in such moments is interesting intellectually and aesthetically, despite my sympathy for the disappointed racer. Things happen that are sometimes outside the racer's control.

Succeeding despite adversity is always entertaining.

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But things don't always go so well.

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And sometimes, when things don't go well, the camera sees details not easily discerned by eye or fully understood on the hill. 

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This image is more subtle than it looks: the racer is passing on the wrong side of the gate. 0M0A1438

But there isn't always much subtlety about what is happening. 0M0A6266-2

Or is about to happen.

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The best efforts at recovery don't always pay off, and being hopelessly late and off line in a fast giant slalom is not a good recovery scenario, regardless of skill and best efforts to get back on edge. In the first image, the skier, a skilled college racer, is only slightly late but his edges haven't yet engaged -- they are still off the snow. The second image, taken when the racer is below the next gate, gives some idea of the energy unleashed exiting a high-effort GS turn when the racer is unable to keep his weight on the front of his skis. Now the battle to stay on course begins. Despite a valiant try, the racer is unable to make the last gate in the photo sequence, and he finally passes below that gate. Disappointed, no doubt, but safe.
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