Surfing - Billabong Pro Junior - C&C Welcome

[butcha27]

I was lucky enough to have a Billabong Pro junior event about 200 metres from my front door this week, unfortunately My 300mm f/4L arrived the day after it finished! typical! The waves were tiny for the 4 day event too which didn't help. These are probably the bets of the conditions and were all shot with th 70-200 f/4L with a 1.4x converter, so 280mm @ f/5.6 on the 400D. I'm looking forward to using the new lens for surfing too! C&C appreciated, thanks for looking.

#1
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/S08.jpg

#2
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/S38.jpg

#3
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/BP07.jpg

#4
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/S44.jpg

#5
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/S32.jpg

#6
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/robsheeley/Billabong%20Pro%20Junior/S10.jpg

[RyanM]

Nice pics. Some are a bit too cropped

[butcha27]

Nice pics. Some are a bit too cropped


Thanks for the feedback RyanM, any suggestions on which ones are over-cropped? I'm used to shooting sports where I crop pretty tight and I'm never comfortable with my surfing cropping. By the way #1 & #6 are !00% crops, so in other words I haven't touched them, I'd be happy to hear any feedback, cropping-wise on the others though. thanks again.

[Riverlander]

Good sharp shots - lovely work. Not over cropped in my opinion, but some background distractions and one sloping horizon.

[Scarlett Nic]

These are excellent! not too close on crop for my liking either.
Nic

[butcha27]

Good sharp shots - lovely work. Not over cropped in my opinion, but some background distractions and one sloping horizon.

Thanks Riverlander, I can't believe I missed that sloping horizon! thanks. I'm assuming u mean the ship or the other surfer as the distracting background? I left it in on purpose, i like it in the shot, but yeah the other surfer is a tad distracting, thanks for the kind words and advice, i appreciate it.


These are excellent! not too close on crop for my liking either.
Nic

Thank you Nic :)

[pistolp1]

is that port kembla or N/S Gong? I went to uni there for a semester. Brings back memories.

[mho01]

very nice shots, and not over cropped imho

[butcha27]

is that port kembla or N/S Gong? I went to uni there for a semester. Brings back memories.


You're close, it's actually a place called Bulli, ten minutes north of Wollongong,not normally known for having great waves but, believe it or not everywhere else was so flat that this was the only beach where waves were breaking! Very unfortunate timing for a contest!

very nice shots, and not over cropped imho

Thanks mho01

[RUSS-D]

Very nice shots. Looks like the waves where small but fun.
I was supposed to be going to the Eastern Nationals in N. Carolina next week. But I have emplyee isues, and can't trust one of my main guys right now (alchohol problem). So I am not going now. Would have realy liked the opourtunity to shoot all that talent.

[Gamut]

Seem pretty solid to me. I like them all.

[MEllO37]

Great shots! wish I was there!

[butcha27]

Very nice shots. Looks like the waves where small but fun.
I was supposed to be going to the Eastern Nationals in N. Carolina next week. But I have emplyee isues, and can't trust one of my main guys right now (alchohol problem). So I am not going now. Would have realy liked the opourtunity to shoot all that talent.

Gee thats no good, it'd be awesome to be there, I sometimes head down to shoot surfers if the waves are good but nothing beats shooting good surfers in any conditions.

Seem pretty solid to me. I like them all.

Thanks Gamut

Great shots! wish I was there!

Thanks MEllO37 :)

[fiveFPS]

Nice clean water. So cal is all brown and nasty.

Post some more pics with the 300mm F4L =)

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

Good Shots. U just lose alot of quality with the convertor I find. Nice ariel shot. I was meant to go shoot it myself but had to go to Cairns for a wedding. I was spewing I missed it. Did they have an expression session? Thats when you get the best shots. I have a classic shot of Julian Wilson that I took getting air, enlarged huge on my wall. I will get him to sign it someday. They are not overcropped if you look at the surf mags. Its the spray, never chop of the water spray, thats normally my rule in cropping surf shots. cheers!!!

[butcha27]

Good Shots. U just lose alot of quality with the convertor I find. Nice ariel shot. I was meant to go shoot it myself but had to go to Cairns for a wedding. I was spewing I missed it. Did they have an expression session? Thats when you get the best shots. I have a classic shot of Julian Wilson that I took getting air, enlarged huge on my wall. I will get him to sign it someday. They are not overcropped if you look at the surf mags. Its the spray, never chop of the water spray, thats normally my rule in cropping surf shots. cheers!!!

Thanks, yeah u do lose a little with the converter, won;t have to use it anymore that i have my new glass, unfortunately the surf was woeful for the expression session, I agree it is normally the best time, but it was 1 foot with a strong onshore breeze and low tide, terrible conditions.

[scalleia]

Very nice shots, they all look nice and sharp, god colours and more importantly good poses in all the shots. Pity the 300 arrived a day late but I reckon you'll have a few more opportunities down there! Numbers 1 and 2 are my faves and I don't think that the crop is too tight. Cheers.

[Choderboy]

Cool shots.
The tilted horizon you missed is the only change I would suggest.
I like the ship in the background , should always include at least one for any Wollongong or Newcastle surf shots.

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

With the 300mm, and no convertor, for surfing stick to 100iso, 1000th shutter and f6.3 to 7.1, depending on sun, always use manual white balance too. play around and have fun :)

[butcha27]

Very nice shots, they all look nice and sharp, god colours and more importantly good poses in all the shots. Pity the 300 arrived a day late but I reckon you'll have a few more opportunities down there! Numbers 1 and 2 are my faves and I don't think that the crop is too tight. Cheers.

Thanks scalleia, hopefully I'll get plenty more opportunities in the future!

Cool shots.
The tilted horizon you missed is the only change I would suggest.
I like the ship in the background , should always include at least one for any Wollongong or Newcastle surf shots.

Thanks Choderboy, I have to agree with the ship, it helps identify the area straight away and adds a bit to the shot. Thanks for the kind words.

With the 300mm, and no convertor, for surfing stick to 100iso, 1000th shutter and f6.3 to 7.1, depending on sun, always use manual white balance too. play around and have fun

Thanks for the tips Marcus