Critique/Compare Freestyle Kayaker

[BarbM]

These are a couple of shots of a freestyle kayak run on the Rogue.
a) So which (if either) has better composition and how would you inprove it?
b) In general... I have no idea what i'm doing as a photographer and how would you improve THAT?

1)
http://www.barbaramikula.com/holdGallery/kayakeryellohelmet2.jpg

2)
http://www.barbaramikula.com/holdGallery/kayakerstraighton.jpg

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

Barb, I like the first one. Good colour and water capture, pretty sharp lines. Stopped the water and gave it some idea of the power. Being in tight like that, you can see the effort required, and get a feel for the danger.

Second one is hit with the same issue I have with some of mine in:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66976

So much action the AF grabs the water and not the kayaker, leaving them soft and almost out-of-focus. I fixed this by concentrating on getting the paddler when setting the AF and then framing the shot. Hopefully they don't move too much between setting and firing:confused:

I found the bank behind distracting, almost like I was drawn to see what was there.

This is a fun sport to shot. I hope you shared with the Kayaker.

Keep up the good work.:)

[PhotosGuy]

Good action! Keep at it. I'd crop a bit off the right of the 1st one & crop the grass out of the 2nd, but leave the black area in as a frame.