Wake boarding photography

[Genkisan]

Critique very much wanted.

Took the following picture at my local lake few weeks back. Really liked it, so stamped a (C) on it and sent it to the local newspaper asking if they would like to purchase any wake boarding pictures as they had placed an article in the paper. Ive heard sod all back and so am wondering is the shot actually pants, and im just impressed that I got something in focus :confused:

Anyway... Its important to me to hear what you think and as its now getting warmer will get more opportunity to do this again (ie more wake boarding as they dont like ice) so could try different things/settings.

So over to you!

File Name
air_time.jpg
Camera Model Name
Canon EOS 300D DIGITAL
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/800
Av( Aperture Value )
5.0
ISO Speed
400

[chrisu002]

looks kind of dark and grainy

[Genkisan]

mmmm....Maybe I over sharpened it for the grainy bit. As for too dark, kinda agree with that...Getting the balance between ISO,Shutter speed and apperture obviously still eludes me then :-)

[PeaPicker]

Looks pretty good to me. Maybe could lighten up in Photoshop elements a bit. Do you shoot in RAW mode? How do you put copyright on it?

[Genkisan]

Looks pretty good to me. Maybe could lighten up in Photoshop elements a bit. Do you shoot in RAW mode? How do you put copyright on it?

Thanks..

Dont shoot in RAW mode (yet).

(C) details was a very simple text on image in photoshop... didnt play around with it at all as I just wanted some protection when I sent it to the newspapaer.

[picture-this]

"Critique very much wanted" So don't be angery, this is just trying to help. I think this shot is very poor but I'm sure it's gona be easy to bounce back and get a better shot next time. The bokeh on the green grass area is bothering me, I think because of post prossesing. The watermark is really silly as it is one of the brightest things in the picture and your attention goes straight there. The color and lighting rob this shot of pop. Camera angle doesn't help and I donno if the rider is a beginer or if he was falling, but tail tweaks are not cool. Now that I've ripped you apart, how can we make this better next time. You have more iso left if you expose right you shouldn't be afraid to use it Though I think your shutter speed is high enough. Try and get down low so your not looking down on the rider to get a better perception of the air he's getting. Looks like the sun is to the side and somewhat behind the rider hiding him in the shadows, if you can get the driver to stay in a sweet spot. Hope this helps post up and amaze us with your next atempt.

[Genkisan]

"Critique very much wanted" So don't be angery, this is just trying to help. I think this shot is very poor but I'm sure it's gona be easy to bounce back and get a better shot next time. The bokeh on the green grass area is bothering me, I think because of post prossesing. The watermark is really silly as it is one of the brightest things in the picture and your attention goes straight there. The color and lighting rob this shot of pop. Camera angle doesn't help and I donno if the rider is a beginer or if he was falling, but tail tweaks are not cool. Now that I've ripped you apart, how can we make this better next time. You have more iso left if you expose right you shouldn't be afraid to use it Though I think your shutter speed is high enough. Try and get down low so your not looking down on the rider to get a better perception of the air he's getting. Looks like the sun is to the side and somewhat behind the rider hiding him in the shadows, if you can get the driver to stay in a sweet spot. Hope this helps post up and amaze us with your next atempt.

Thank you very much for your comments. To discuss them individually will help me.

"The bokeh on the green grass area is bothering me, I think because of post prossesing "
- I presume you mean the grain.. If thats the case couldnt agree more. The more I look at it the more I hate it. I can rectify that by going back to the original and using less sharpen, so not an issue.


The watermark is really silly as it is one of the brightest things in the picture and your attention goes straight there.
- This watermark was a quick thing just for the paper I sent it to. Didnt spend much time trying to make it transparent or anything as the picture was meant as an example not a proof.

The color and lighting rob this shot of pop.
- Can you explain what... Not sure I understand

Camera angle doesn't help and I donno if the rider is a beginer or if he was falling, but tail tweaks are not cool.
- Im no expert on Wake boarding but this guy was doing some cool stuff. My goal for camera angle was (wake boarder high up, loads of water spray, see his board cleary but see him also). I like the framing, but... still open to suggestions

Next time. You have more iso left if you expose right you shouldn't be afraid to use it
- Cool Ill try more ISO... ironically after over sharpening it I didnt want to destroy the picture with grain and so am always trying to keep ISO as LOW as possible

Try and get down low so your not looking down on the rider to get a better perception of the air he's getting.
- Not sure about this. Ive been thinking about this since I took them, was even considering buying some waders so I could get in close to the water. But What I think the shot needs is perspective to water to show the height and also the lower I go the more board and the less person I get which makes for a crap picture... So still considering this one

Looks like the sun is to the side and somewhat behind the rider hiding him in the shadows, if you can get the driver to stay in a sweet spot.
- I cant remember where the sun was but that may be a very good point, positioning myself better with regard to the sun may lighten the subject up. The only problem with that is that these guys do jumps in the same place everytime and so not sure position will change, but time of day may be the solution.

Hope this helps post up and amaze us with your next atempt

Really appreciate your time and comments. This reads like my school report "must try harder"

:-)

[andygrif]

Can't really add much that hasn't already been suggested...but that looks suspiciously like Willen Lake to me! Is it?

[picture-this]

Great you took my post well, I was exspecting to be told to GTF outa hereeee.

The color and lighting rob this shot of pop.
- "Can you explain what... Not sure I understand"

- POP! I want to see this mofo jumping out of the screen and about to hit me in the face. This is hard because the sun seems to be behind him giving shadows and he could be exposed a little bit lighter. It's also his fault for wearing such dark colors.
The background and water colors are kinda weird for me but I think that was just because of the weather conditions that day so thats another thing your not in control of.

About the camera angle your right getting too low can make it look like your trying to hard so try some stuff and use descretion. I dont wakeboard but know that usually when you see a shot where they have some good air it's because they have help, specificly made boats that throw up a good wake and an eight foot boom on the boat that pulls you up instead of downwards.


Im tired and cant think of anythign else to say, Im sure next time out will be good, it's all practice.

[Genkisan]

Can't really add much that hasn't already been suggested...but that looks suspiciously like Willen Lake to me! Is it?

Hey Andy, Your bang on! It is indeed Willen lake in Milton Keynes.

[Genkisan]

About the camera angle your right getting too low can make it look like your trying to hard so try some stuff and use descretion. I dont wakeboard but know that usually when you see a shot where they have some good air it's because they have help, specificly made boats that throw up a good wake and an eight foot boom on the boat that pulls you up instead of downwards.
.

These guys get good air as they are being pulled by a cable / winch system (like a ski lift). As its high up they can get some awesome height on the jumps. That also is a godsend as the positioning is normally reasonably predictable.


Again.... thanks for your time!

[tim]

To me it's a bit dark, a bit grainy, and i'd rather see the guy on the right part of where the rule of thirds says he should be. Something like this improves it to my eyes, maybe not to everyones though.

[Genkisan]

Thanks for all your help chaps...

Keen to get back to the lake now and experiment some more.

[Genkisan]

By the way... although I cant fix what I didnt do right to start with Ive taken on some of your points and especially removed that nasty PP of sharpening the image. Its certainly less grainy now.

[tim]

You've changed the ratio of that last pic from 3:2 to about 4:3. Personally I prefer 3:2.

[Genkisan]

You've changed the ratio of that last pic from 3:2 to about 4:3. Personally I prefer 3:2.

uh oh...

3:2 / 4:3 - Does this mean frame shape?

[johneric8]

I will write my critique based on what I see and not what others say. I think its a great shot.. Once again, I think we (the forum) get too caugth up in some elusive perfect shot. It's a big crock of SHip..... Look, I was looking through my wifes cosmopoliton magazine while sitting on the crapper and saw pics that arent near is good as most of the stuff I see on this forum.. I think half the critiques are just bad opinions of peoples standards which most of the time dont amount to a hill of beans..

[tim]

uh oh...

3:2 / 4:3 - Does this mean frame shape?

The first number is the width of the top of the picture, the second is the height. It's just a ratio.

[bennyboy]

Once again, I think we (the forum) get too caugth up in some elusive perfect shot. It's a big crock of SHip.....

I'm a newbie (and not a very good newbie) but I'm a perfectionist and no picture I or anyone else (or very few people) takes is perfect. That's the beauty of photography. There is always a way to improve and always something new to learn. If we are happy to settle for just good, how does the forefront of any field stay alive?

Just my opinion :)

[johneric8]

I'm a newbie (and not a very good newbie) but I'm a perfectionist and no picture I or anyone else (or very few people) takes is perfect. That's the beauty of photography. There is always a way to improve and always something new to learn. If we are happy to settle for just good, how does the forefront of any field stay alive?

Just my opinion :)

I agree, But the problem I have with most of the opinions including mine are that they are suggestions from amatures directed at amatures. that is fine in a sense but most of the stuff you get is subjective and can really throw a beginner off course and lead to bad habits. Trust me this happens more often then being led in the right or helpful direction on this forum. I have been sitting back reading post carefully for months now. I think everyone means well for the most part. But you get so many know it alls giving opinions where they are searching for false suggestions that dont mount to a hill of beans. I know lots of you agree with this!! I have no doubt in my mind that you do...