Surfer.

[JCK]

http://surflens.smugmug.com/photos/5968739-L-2.jpg

[Ikinaa]

Sorry ... I have no critique...
I think the picture is just great... sharp, captured great weather, nice position of the surfer, good composition...
Great work...

[Radtech1]

Actually, I do have a critique. Since you are in Hawaii, I imagine that you might have access to this again. Try centering the surfer so that he is not facing (ie, moving) OUT of the frame. So in this shot, if you were to have centered more to the right, you would give him more room to move into.

Any action shot is, in essence, a story of movement. Unless there is a compelling reason (a race car having excaped a firey crash, for example) the viewer usually does not care *where the subject has been*, but, it draws us much more into the shot if we can see where he is going to go.

Rad

[Ikinaa]

Actually, I do have a critique. Since you are in Hawaii, I imagine that you might have access to this again. Try centering the surfer so that he is not facing (ie, moving) OUT of the frame. So in this shot, if you were to have centered more to the right, you would give him more room to move into.

Any action shot is, in essence, a story of movement. Unless there is a compelling reason (a race car having excaped a firey crash, for example) the viewer usually does not care *where the subject has been*, but, it draws us much more into the shot if we can see where he is going to go.

Rad

I guess I don't agree with your opinion.
Following the movement of the surfer I see him surfing down the wave to the bottom of the picture, an there's lot of room.

[Shabookie]

I love the pick......
If you were to center the surfer you would loose the wave. The way the pick is setup you see the break, tube, etc...... The wave is just as big of a part as the surfer…..

It’s like taking a picture of a skateboarder on a ramp and leaving the ramp out of the shot just to center the skater.... It just wouldn’t fit.

[jobe]

Sorry I dont normally critique because I dont think myself good enough to critique other peoples work, but I do have opinions and I think this shot is spot on I think the position of the surfer is just right IMO if there is anything I could say about it would be the surfer could be slightly lower were just missing the top end of the spray, but thats just nit picking.
perfect shot......

[ssim]

This is a great shot. You have captured the movement of the surfer who is staying ahead of the break to the left of him.

I don't think that he has to be centered at all.

[colin uk]

I think this is a fantastic photo and would not critic it myself. I have been following the thread and think Rads comments are constructive. I would like to see if a shot with the surfer on the 3rd of the right hand side would work even better.

[JCK]

Alrighty then! Thank you all for the critiques and comments, I really appreciate all the feedback you can provide. It is hard for me to remain unbiased to my work, but trust me, I firmly believe that is in my best interest to do so. And as far as this pic goes, the surfer will not continue moving to the right of the picture. He is in the middle of a top turn, and as you can see he has thrown his weight back and the left foot is pushing the tail of the board out of the wave. Simple physics woul demonstrate that the natural path to follow will be to the lower portion of the frame and back to the center and left, from which the subject will recover and continue moving to the right once again. Snowboarders, skiers, skateboarders, will agree. Now, if he had a straight line and no visible intentions to turn, it would be permitted to allow for immediate future field. Aloha!

http://www.surflens.com/photos/5980654-L.jpg

[rick barclay]

Lovely, lovely picture-the first one, that is. Pictures like that make me
hesitant to post my own simple offerings.

[SuperFly]

Hi, these pictures are cool, but being a surfer myself, Im sure you can get some better more dramatic pictures ;) living in Hawaii and all...

Could you please also provide the Image Information (namely the Camera and the Lens) as i took some surfing pics not too long ago down the coast of Oman, and my 200mm was not long enough, so im curious as to:

how far away you were from the surfers ?
do you ever venture into the water to take even closer shots ?

Nice Images...

[JCK]

Lovely, lovely picture-the first one, that is. Pictures like that make me
hesitant to post my own simple offerings.
Hey Rick, photography is subjective, and I really enjoy to see what others think. I don't think this forum is about who posts the best shot, but about the exchange of info and ideas. This is a great way to learn, and I believe that even though I have a long way to go, the feedback by you and all has helped me gain a better understanding.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, these pictures are cool, but being a surfer myself, Im sure you can get some better more dramatic pictures living in Hawaii and all...

Could you please also provide the Image Information (namely the Camera and the Lens) as i took some surfing pics not too long ago down the coast of Oman, and my 200mm was not long enough, so im curious as to:

how far away you were from the surfers ?
do you ever venture into the water to take even closer shots ?


If by "dramatic" you mean "bigger", I will have some good stuff come this winter. The Big Island is where I live, and unfortunately does not receive the large NW swells other islands do. Also, I only shoot locally, for the people I know. And yes, I have also a water housed digital.
My land set up is a 10D and 600 f4.


http://www.surflens.com/photos/4365143-L.jpg

These three shots have not been cropped.

BTW, I want to see a couple shots of Oman, if you don't mind. Aloha!

[SuperFly]

Heya JCK,

That last one is a nice one, I'm looking for those really fantastic stand-up tube rides ;)

As for the Oman Pics, check out this link

http://gallery.surfersofdubai.com

Later...