Infra-red action at Etchells Worlds

by Al Constable on 15 Sep 2005 Respected West Coast action photographer Tracy St.John was on the water every day at the 2005 Etchells Worlds on San Francisco Bay and she recorded the event from a new angle.

Tracy explains, ‘sailing San Francisco in the summer is not what you would normally associate with the high temperatures. After all, Mark Twain famously commented that ‘the coldest winter I ever spent, was a summer in San Francisco!’

‘So, when I was first approached by Race Director Kers Clausen to cover the 2005 Etchells Worlds in Richmond California, I thought I of a different perspective to try. I shot the Primal Quest adventure race with Infrared film and it worked, why not here.

'Classically Infrared is used to photograph the unseen world of medical physiology, biology, and for images of many an art photographer. Its use dates back to the turn of the century. It is certainly too slow a film, (ASA 35) for action sports, plus it is virtually impossible to know the final outcome of the film is going to be - until after the film comes back from processing!

'A lot to overcome, however, that is the wonderful surprise! This is because it sees light at red end of the spectrum, the wavelength of heat, but I knew it would provide some interesting new images for the Etchells regatta’s action.

'Two years ago, I figured a great way to bump up the speed, and so now... you see and feel sports in action – the heat of sailing!! Now San Francisco Bay can say summer sailing is - hot, and the racing the Etchells Worlds here… even hotter!'

Visit www.StJohnphoto.tv Tracy St John + 1 310 245 3127 email apcaart@aol.com