Mountain Biking for the first time

[SurfKahakai]

I went up to the mountains with some new friends to shoot them on their bikes. I know nothing about mountain biking and had no clue what I was in for. The climb up was 30 minutes with all my gear to include two tripods and two flashes. The climb sucked.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/MTB/20080119_pacifica003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/MTB/20080119_pacifica004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/MTB/20080119_pacifica009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/MTB/20080119_pacifica019.jpg

[gkwood]

The climb may have sucked by the pictures dont these are nice like the eyes in the first one and the jump of the last one well done mate

[mcs550]

Well done!! I really like them all. The last one with the fisheye is very well done. Only nit I have is the shadow running right up the center. I was admiring it and my eye caught it. Doesn't at all take away from a nice set of captures though.

[CarlEOgden]

Love the last one!

[AB8ND]

Nice shots, I like the last one

Jack

[khall]

After the walk. you got some good shots well worth the effort.
Like 1 and 2 the best, as you can see the riders face and eyes. The third could be cropped tighter, or could be better upright.
Sorry have to say, not a fan of the fourth picture as the rider and bike is always to small and always will be, how ever other people do and thats great.

[Glenn W]

They are really good shots and really seem to capture the energy & excitement - well done!

[dirt lover]

Good shots, espcecially for shooting mtb for the first time. I was thinking that was Pacifica. I haven't ridden there yet (have only seen photos), but it looks fun.

I like the last shot, but it would have been better if his wheels were blurred. What shutter speed did you take that at? If the flashes on the first three were a bit less strong, they would look more natural.

[Beeno]

The climb may have sucked by the pictures dont these are nice like the eyes in the first one and the jump of the last one well done mate

Please use some punctuation.

[SurfKahakai]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Yes, these were taken in Pacifica. I don't recall the shutter speed but I will definitely head out and play around with slower speeds next time. I was just busy trying to get decent exposures.

I'm also not a fan of my angle for the last shot. I want to change lenses and reshoot there. The fisheye just doesn't work too well...at least I didn't make it work.

[leitch]

These are very good for a first try at MTB. The fisheye can be made to work, but I would have tried getting in closer for the fish shot. Regardless, it sounds like you're intending on another outing which will be good - by the end of your third trip out you should be hooked and putting a deposit on a new bike! :lol:

[SurfKahakai]

I have a Giant STP. I did the whole trip on my hardtail and was dying for a full suspension.

[sh0rt]

totally worth the climb :P great pictures good use of the flashes

[leitch]

I have a Giant STP. I did the whole trip on my hardtail and was dying for a full suspension.

Ah of course, then in that case, you are not really new to MTB photography ;) You may have never been out for a shoot before, but being a rider yourself you know what the other riders will be doing, where they will be, and what makes a good MTB pic :lol:

As I said before, though, these are all very good shots :)

Ps... Green 08 Turner DHR? Looks very very nice.

[namasste]

Very nicely done. The lighting looks very good and I'd be very interested in hearing how you arranged the strobes. I think the last one hd to be done that way to convey the size of the stepdown. Unfortunately with that fisheye, you'd have to be in harms way to capture more of it. I like it as is.

[djthemac]

Pretty cool shots! The last one is great

[OldNick]

I like the shots very much....but that is not "mountain biking" ....that's Downhill...mad bugger's MTB! <G>

Touch out your shadow in the last shot.

Nick

[OldNick]

I went up to the mountains with some new friends to shoot them on their bikes. I know nothing about mountain biking and had no clue what I was in for. The climb up was 30 minutes with all my gear to include two tripods and two flashes. The climb sucked.


OOI. Did you use flash for these? It sure looks like it. Does the ego of the subjects overcome their dislike of being blinded? <G>

Nick

[SurfKahakai]

They said the flash scared the crap out of them at first but got comfortable with it.

[SurfKahakai]

The lighting looks very good and I'd be very interested in hearing how you arranged the strobes.

I had two flashes. On the double I placed one about 45 degrees from the subject and the other about 90 degree to their right. On the step down I put one about 45 degrees to their left and the other someplace high on the right. There was very little room on the downhill so I just shoved them in the bushes and hoped it worked.

I've just started reading a portrait lighting book and tried to apply some of those principles.

[ryandavid__]

I have a Giant STP. I did the whole trip on my hardtail and was dying for a full suspension.

I have that bike, i've not touched it for years. Nice little bike as well.
Great shots by the way! still can't believe it was your first time.

[Big WIll]

Love the last two! :)

[namasste]

I had two flashes. On the double I placed one about 45 degrees from the subject and the other about 90 degree to their right. On the step down I put one about 45 degrees to their left and the other someplace high on the right. There was very little room on the downhill so I just shoved them in the bushes and hoped it worked.

I've just started reading a portrait lighting book and tried to apply some of those principles.
thanks for that. I have been doing some biking shots a little more lately since I've been hurt (got me rethinking a lot of things since it's the second bad one this season and shooting is seemingly a lot safer :lol:). Anyway, this is very helpful ins ettnig up the strobes since it's so different than shooting hoops or something along those lines with flash. Again, thanks for sharing.

[EL Photo]

These are pretty cool. I need to get out and shoot my friends one of these days, but its hard to give up my own ride time to do it...

[Michael Bottoms]

I think your end results were well worth the hassle of climbing with all your equipment... Thanks for sharing

[OldNick]

OK. Thanks. I am looking at taking some downhill shots. I have a couple of friends who are part of the club, bu I will definitely ask a few questions first.

Nick

They said the flash scared the crap out of them at first but got comfortable with it.

[tjespo22]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Yes, these were taken in Pacifica. I don't recall the shutter speed but I will definitely head out and play around with slower speeds next time. I was just busy trying to get decent exposures.

I'm also not a fan of my angle for the last shot. I want to change lenses and reshoot there. The fisheye just doesn't work too well...at least I didn't make it work.

i think there all good. what equipt do u use, camera, lens's, flash's etc


espo

[leitch]

OK. Thanks. I am looking at taking some downhill shots. I have a couple of friends who are part of the club, bu I will definitely ask a few questions first.

Nick

Nick, I've photographed lots of downhill races (usually turn outs of approx 250-300 riders/day) as well as dirt jump and skate park demos, all using flash, and have never had a rider complain that it was distracting or off putting. Similarly, I've had photos taken of my while riding using flash, and I can say that you hardly notice it. Really, you're too focussed on what you're doing to care.

[ddphoto]

Nice pics, the last one is my fav.

[livewire-photography.com]

Last one is awesome!