Motorcycle Roadrace pics from a noob

[stuman16]

Man what a great forum, soooo much good info. I figured I post a few of my pics and get some feedback.

I've been without a good camera for a while and I just purchased an XTI a little while back. I'm still figuring some stuff out, but I like the camera so far.

So here's the pics, constructive criticism is very welcome. Thanks.

#1
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/stuman16/best/dustin.jpg

#2
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/stuman16/best/Jeff.jpg

#3
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/stuman16/best/eric.jpg

#4
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/stuman16/best/jason.jpg

[Tubthumper]

I've never tried this kind of shooting before, so you can take or leave my comments. Composition is bang-on, as is the panning. The only aspect that bothers me is the lack of detail in the highlights and shadows: the blacks are very black, and the whites are very white. If these were shot in RAW, it would be easy enough to fix.
Other than that, they're looking good.

[stuman16]

Thanks very much for your comments. I see what you mean, especially on the surface of the road. They were shot in .jpg, but I've been shooting raw+jpg since so maybe I can do better in the future.

[agosling]

First up, not a bad early attempt, the panning isn't bad, most of the images look fairly sharp.

The problem, exposure, light and contrast. Most of the images look like they have been shot in the middle of the day or with no thought as to where the light is coming from. This track looks pretty horrible for lighting, but if you make sure that the sun is coming from behind you or to the underside of a a leaned over bike you will get a much better result. Your first image has the light from the right direction. Look at image #3 and see how much better it would be if there was light on the downside of the bike.

This isn't a great image, but it does have like light coming the right way:

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u6/tbgphoto/sbk2007/TBG_5408-01.jpg

Keep working on it.

[sm1rf]

I'm no authority but these look really good for a first attempt, agree with others comments, will add that don't disregard an image because it didn't come out right first time, for instance #2 might look good as a high contrast B&W some thing you can play with on the likes of lightroom etc!

[stuman16]

Thanks again for the coments. I totally agree with the coments about the light. Two of those shots I was shooting directly into the sun. I know it's not what you want to do but It's just where I ended up.

I'm going back to the same track this weekend and I have a better plan for where I'm going to shoot from at different times durring the day.

[kekoa]

stuman, are you on scs? which lens are you using there?

[stuman16]

Yes, I post on scs sometimes. I was using a 70-300ef.

[Quarantine]

looks like it was too sunny, or sun in your face. did you change the contrast on some?

[stuman16]

I can't remember if I messed with the contrast durring PP or not. Probably did...

I didn't do much pp on #1 and #3 so I don't think I messed with the contrast on either of those.

[stuman16]

I learned some new pp techniques from a book and I wanted to try them out. What do you all think of this version compared to #2 above??

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/stuman16/best/jeff3.jpg

[rcg]

You're in a tough way on that shot because of the angle of the light. You have actually made the shot more life like and closer to the real thing but I actually like your previous version because it's surreal. Either version has the black detail lost so if your going to not have that detail why not have fun with the image,

[Mike Reynolds]

Good job there nice panning

[scottcolbath]

Hey Stu, welcome to the board. I think I've seen those pics somewhere else. :lol:

S.C.

[Picturesports]

Nice job in recovering number 2. As others have said shooting in to bright sunlight puts you on the back foot to start with. Next purchase a circular polorizer?

BTW which book?

[stuman16]

The book was "The Photoshop CS Book, for digital photographers" by Scott Kelby. I think it is probably very good for an intermediate photoshoper like myself. If you're already really good at PS it might not do much for you.

I have a Circular Polerizer, but I haven't used it much for action shots. I'm not sure it would have helped much in this case as I was shooting right into the sun and they work best when you are at 90deg to the sun.

[Shaggy]

Hey Stu, any pic that makes Dustin look fast is a good pic in my book! Ha, just joking, good work on the panning though, and the more you practice out there the better you'll get!

[McBride61]

Looks pretty good for your 1st time. I'm a beginner also so I know how are it is to capture bikes. My biggest problem is im not on the track :) Each level of racing is on a totally different speed and it harder to capture. MotoGP is crazy to capture.