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Mountain Bike photo critique please...K+

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b_r_tregs
Posts: 298 - Karma: 204
Ive been doing some shooting at mountain creek and I would like to know how I am doing. Thanks!
K+ FOR HELP
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Jul 2 2013 11:26AM
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SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
Really like these shots, especially the first one. Here's a couple tips to improve:

1. As hard as it may be (especially in the woods) try to get your subject placed infront of a solid colored background. If your subject is placed infront of trees, it's hard to differ subject from background, try placing the biker agains the sky, or ground. I know this may be very hard, since your in the woods after all, which leads me to tip numer 2....

2. A way to isolate your subject without worrying about solid color backgrounds is to use a slow shutter speed. With the UWA lense that you used in the first shot, set the shutter speed down low (enough to get motion blur if you pan while shooting) I would go with 1/50th of a second or even slower. Then pan quickly while shooting, if you pan at the same speed as the rider, the rider will be very sharp while the background is blurred. This not only gives the feeling of speed, but it isolates the rider (your subject)

The photos looked very nice, and I'm not saying they're bad, just giving a couple useful tips (you may have already known them). But keep up the good work!
Jul 2 2013 11:44AM
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b_r_tregs
Posts: 298 - Karma: 204
Thanks!

I will keep that in mind for next time!
Jul 2 2013 12:04PM
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SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
here is an example i found randomly online:

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Jul 2 2013 12:08PM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
As for the jumping part, I'd suggest not to remain at the level of the rider, it flatens the perspective and rider's action isn't stressed out enough. Either shoot low angle so you give some hight to your subject or take a more "profil" shot, maybe 3/4 profil, and same, try to stay low angled.
Jul 2 2013 12:11PM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
Say the second photo, typically a good photo: framed, focused, off centered. Good. But try to imagine the photo if you had taken it a little more from the right and low angled.
Jul 2 2013 12:13PM
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b_r_tregs
Posts: 298 - Karma: 204
Thanks also!

And i'm kind of a gaper at knowing what everything your saying means. I understand the get lower to make the rider seem higher part but what does it mean to "take a more "profil" shot, maybe 3/4 profil, and same, try to stay low angled." ?

thanks!
Jul 2 2013 12:13PM
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alexL
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28
I really like the first shot, feels really actioney (for lack of a better word).

For the other shots, I would try to get the launch and lander in as best you can, the last shot does this well, it just gives the photo a bit more context so that you can actually tell what the guy is doing.
Jul 2 2013 11:08PM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
No problem, and no, you're not a gaper because you don't know the words !
Low angle shots are shots taken from under the point of view of you're subject, technically it's when you point your lens upwards. Profil shots, well, they're shots take from the left or right side of you subject. 3/4 suggests that your shot isn't totally a profil shot. It's kinda hard to explain, i'll take an example from one of your shots. The second one is taken from the front right ? Maybe if you had moved on the right (perhaps you couldn't, trees, ditch...) it would give more depth and movement to your subject.

Please remember that no photos are bad, but you have many tools to make them more striking and interesting.
You get my point ? Sorry if i'm not too clear, please ask again !
Jul 3 2013 6:43AM
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