Bikes - Vertical Format

[Simon Harrison]

I probably won't get too much opportunity to shoot much in the way of bikes this year (date clashes with other things:cry: ). Here's some shots from the last meeting I went to last year. I also don't shoot too much stuff in portrait format, but bikes are the right shape to get good frame filling shots. Let me apologise about the horizons:o - I didn't intentionally set out to tilt them. Unfamiliarity with shooting with the camera rotated and bracing against a strong wind meant I messed up a bit:oops: . Definately need some more practice at doing this.

All were shot with the 300mm f4 L IS + 1.4 TC on a 20D, with ISO at either 400 or 800 (well it was in July after all :rolleyes: :D ).

#1 A classic to start with

http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/bikes/30-07-05---066.jpg

#2 Newcastle Kawasaki sponsored entry
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/bikes/30-07-05---028.jpg

#3 Trying hard
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/bikes/30-07-05---047.jpg

#4 This guy looks a little too big for the bike he's riding!
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/bikes/30-07-05---067.jpg

Also trying out a couple of changes to my usual PP routines. All shots were taken in RAW format and have been 'developed' in RSE. Only PS work has been to re-size them for web. Interested to know how people view the results.

As usual, any comments or feedback are welcome.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Cadwell]

:lol: Methinks the photographer doth protest too much - ya dirty tilter you :p ;) :lol:

The pp work on the shots looks very good here Simon. The colours and saturation look "natural". A pity the visor tint on the second shot has made the rider look like an extra from "night of the living dead" but there's not much you could do about that, his choice!

Good work!

[tomwilli]

I think their excellent.

[Croasdail]

Processing, colors, everything looks peachie to me. The only thing that kind of grabed at me is the horizin line. The bike look natural, but it seems to be out of what with the geography. It almost lends me to think these riders were being a bit more aggresive then you are showing. It's a nit... I know.... and really doesn't bother me that much as the images are just swell anyway.... so I'll shut up now.

Very nice....

Cheers.

[Crashoran]

I like being able to see the eyes.

[LMP]

Nice work Simon :)

[Simon Harrison]

:lol: Methinks the photographer doth protest too much - ya dirty tilter you :p ;) :lol:

The pp work on the shots looks very good here Simon. The colours and saturation look "natural". A pity the visor tint on the second shot has made the rider look like an extra from "night of the living dead" but there's not much you could do about that, his choice!

Good work!

Honest guv, I didn't mean it:lol: .

Thanks for the feedback on the post processing. I was also using a new monitor, so wanted to make sure I had everything calibrated and adjusted properly.

As for the look of the guy in #2, being from Newcastle originally myself, it's not a visor tint, it's actually what we all look like up here:p :lol: !

Cheers,

Simon,

[Simon Harrison]

I think their excellent.

Thanks Tom.

Simon.

[Skip Souza]

Nicely done Simon, nicely done. I too am partial to the "Eyes of the hunter" which you captured well.
Yeah, #4 does look like a gorilla sitting on a football :-)

[bikerider]

Very nice sharp shots and the angle suits the format.......that last bike looks like an MZ 250cc and yes he is a big fella but I bet he's having a ball.
Roger.

[Simon Harrison]

Processing, colors, everything looks peachie to me. The only thing that kind of grabed at me is the horizin line. The bike look natural, but it seems to be out of what with the geography. It almost lends me to think these riders were being a bit more aggresive then you are showing. It's a nit... I know.... and really doesn't bother me that much as the images are just swell anyway.... so I'll shut up now.

Very nice....

Cheers.

Thanks Mark, appreciate the feedback on the post processing. You're right about the horizon line - my mistake I'm afraid, it should have been level.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

I like being able to see the eyes.

Thanks. Being able to see the eyes always adds to the shot IMHO. Nothing better than being able to see the intense concentration it takes to ride these things well.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Nice work Simon :)

Thanks Marc:D

Simon

[Se7enUK]

Some nice shots Simon, was up at Croft last week for Rizla and Vivaldi test.

[despot]

All nice shots Simon, but #1 is probably my favourite.
Andy

[tredbird]

great shots I was looking at just how much the tire footprints they ride on

[KennyG]

Shooting leaning bikes in portrait mode and keeping the camera "square" is a matter of discipline. There is a tendency to lean with the bike, trying keeping it upright in the frame. In normal (landscape) mode you have more room to play with so there is less pressure to keep the bike in frame when it leans.

I have a few bike meetings scheduled for this season, including Cadwell where using portrait mode at the Mountain from barrier level is 'interesting'.

[Simon Harrison]

Shooting leaning bikes in portrait mode and keeping the camera "square" is a matter of discipline. There is a tendency to lean with the bike, trying keeping it upright in the frame. In normal (landscape) mode you have more room to play with so there is less pressure to keep the bike in frame when it leans.

Thanks Ken - I'll watch out for that next time, it's not something I was aware of doing but it does make sense.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Nicely done Simon, nicely done. I too am partial to the "Eyes of the hunter" which you captured well.
Yeah, #4 does look like a gorilla sitting on a football :-)

Thanks Skip!

Cheers,

Simon.

[Swaffs]

I've also played with similar formating before.
I feel you do lose the 'aggresion' by standing the bikes upright.

I have taken some 'mountain' shots in portrait last year:
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/photo2/index.gallery.php?gid=20&img=14
with mixed results.

Personally I am moving away from just having a single bike in the shot as I feel it can lose the 'race' feel, it might as well be a trackday shot.

Rich