Surf Photos

[ManOverBoard]

Any C&C appreciated for a newbie.
The question is whether to shoot closer up? or further back for surfing photos?
I'm using a 300mm f4 on a 30D, and have a 1.4x ready to use depending on how far away the surfers are. I'm usually shooting from a pier about 20' off the water. The 2 examples are a close up showing the surfer's concentration, the other of a surfer and a larger segment of the wave. some tweaking in iPhoto (gotta learn PS)

[Jamie Holladay]

First welcome to POTN.
I think these shots are very nice. The one of the guy on the board is a little too center for my taste. I'd like to see more room to the left. I do wonder why you are shooting off the pier rather than the beach. You might want to try both. The prespective of the shots would greatly differ.

[ManOverBoard]

Shooting off the beach gives me problems with any waves in front of the surfer blocking the shot, and any whitewater from that wave throwing the metering off. It's why I try to elevate some. But as always, any suggestions are definitely needed. thanks

[azneric3]

I like the first one

[doubledragon]

nice shots!
being a surfer myself, i prefer to see photos at the beginning of the ride, rather than the last move they make, because it lets me imagine what the surfer may potentially do while riding it.

[khall]

Very innocent surfing question please. How can you tell when its the start of the ride and not just before he is going to fall off.

[JC4]

I like the first one, good comp. Like above the second is a bit too centered, you might want to re-crop a bit.

I've only tried snapping surfers once. I found Manual mode to be best suited. The white water will through the meter off, and the surf is never the same, so any other mode and exposure is all over the place. I adjusted exposure so the surfers skin was correct, and only the highest highlights of the water where blown-out. Of course you can vary this if you want to set a different mood by underexposing a silhouette or what ever, but its a starting point.

I was shooting at 420mm (on a 1d) and still cropped a lot. 500-600 would be great for tight shots :)

[Raffman]

Out of these two the first one doesnt do anything for me but the second shot is pretty sweet. I think is always good to have a mixture of action and lineup shots, I think action shots really need great surfer, if their not around pull back wider and get some of the scenery in.

Raff

[ManOverBoard]

thanks for all the help and ideas.

[doubledragon]

Very innocent surfing question please. How can you tell when its the start of the ride and not just before he is going to fall off.

it's obvious if you watch for a little while - the surfer will begin paddling for a wave and at the instant that he catches it, there will be a beautiful open wave in front of him. (which will spark the imagination of any surfer that views the photo, just like an image of a beautiful woman)

but if you capture the last maneuver, there is nothing left to imagination.

[LongBoard]

Both shots are great but I prefer the 2nd. The surfer there is doing a big move off the top on a longboard...very sweet.