practicing

[kaddafy]

practicing for a downhill race
what do you think?

[tadrscin]

To be honest, this doesn't really work for me. I don't care for the PP or the crop. If you're going for a close up then I'd like to see it cropped tighter on the left. The problem I have with this close up is that you can't see the face. I don't know if the goggles are mirrored or there just wasn't enough light for the face. I like close ups, but I need to see the emotion/intensity on the rider's face.

[kaddafy]

you're right but i just have the popup flash yes it need more light!but i did my best with the equipment i have available.
but thanks for your honestly critic!!

[tadrscin]

What equipment are you using and what were the camera settings? ie shutter speed, f-stop, ISO etc.

[kaddafy]

i used a canon 350d

shutter speed:1/200
iso:400
f-stop:f9
and the lens was the lit lens at 55mm

[KIPAX]

f9? same pic f4 and faster shutter = sharper pic.. how far away is that background then... f9 on a short lens I am surprised at the background..

[kaddafy]

yes i know but with the popup flash i am limited at 1/200!!
the bachground was touched in ps!:lol:

[KIPAX]

You don't give any real info... was this at night or something? Why use flash.. if you have any lighting at all then dont use flash for sports.. If you ahve to use flash then still dont use f9.. at least f4 for that shot and the background would be out of focus itself.. I am guessing you ahve done more than a little touch up to make the background out of focus and thats the problem..

[khall]

Not pulling for me. No great interest in the picture, its just a rider holding handlebars.

[tadrscin]

Actually using flash for downhill racing is really helpful to light up the faces. Typically downhill racers don't have their faces lit up by the sun. Partly because they have a full face helmet on with a visor and they're looking downhill. Fill flash is almost always used by pro photographers shooting DH races as well as most mtn competitions. Here's a perfect example. http://www.flickr.com/photos/transcendmag/1379884101/in/set-72157602002899046/

[kaddafy]

what about that one?
its the same picture but a diferent crop!!

[tadrscin]

Much better. I'd still like to see more room in front of the rider, but this is pretty good. Something happened when you resized it though. I don't know how to describe it, but you can see it the best around the helmet and your watermark. Your original version is much sharper and clearer. Did you use the resize for web? It's also a little too dark. It would still be nice if you could see his face, but that might not have been possible with the goggles he's wearing. If you want photograph DH racing, definitely invest in a flash. You can start with it on the camera, but you will want to learn to use the flash off-camera. Either way you want to avoid having the flash fire directly into their faces.

[kaddafy]

thanks so much!
this is the big day!!
i have my new flash!!
canon 580ex, and the hot shoe cord!!