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Rick_R
28th of May 2009 (Thu), 02:03
Went over to Santa Cruz for the annual longboard contest this last Sunday. This was the first time I tried shooting this sport and as with anything the easier it looks the harder it is in reality. Trying to get a good white balance and contrast out of very flat lighting is alway fun.

The location is such the you can shoot almost straight down from a rocky point on the surfers or about 200 yards away on a beach. It takes a lot of concentration following the action (especially when there are two riders on a wave).

I've never seen tandem surfing before:
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545726495_wQHZz-L.jpg

Every so often a fairly large set of wave would roll through
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545857047_3GkLU-L.jpg
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545882159_4nesL-L.jpg

These boards are much longer and harder to turn than the newer shorter boards
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545870956_NWoHE-L.jpg


I really like the look of concentration
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545899725_Becix-L.jpg

He actually rode out of this:
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/546281137_DqMLz-L.jpg

and finally
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545902248_FS8gW-L.jpg


Regards
Rick
Derekus20
28th of May 2009 (Thu), 02:13
nice shots. surf looks good. dang, I should've been down south last weekend!
calred7
9th of June 2009 (Tue), 11:52
I hate you right now! I used to live in santa cruz and that was my break! was it at pleasure point or steamer lane? waves are alwase gravy in SC!!!...stuck working in Houston now....
alessandro2009
9th of June 2009 (Tue), 13:30
Nice series.

I think if the first shot is more big is better.
It's also the shot that i prefer.
Rick_R
9th of June 2009 (Tue), 19:49
I hate you right now! I used to live in santa cruz and that was my break! was it at pleasure point or steamer lane? waves are alwase gravy in SC!!!...stuck working in Houston now....


Sorry about that. It was Steamers Lane, absolutely a great day; nice people, weather and ambiance. I will be going back during the late summer, right now is the fog bank that never goes away time.

Regards
Rick
fiveFPS
9th of June 2009 (Tue), 21:36
nice tight shots! water looked very cold!
Rick_R
9th of June 2009 (Tue), 23:57
these are nice. i just love the close up shot.
Thanks, I was lucky enough to shoot from the top of a cliff that is literally right next the break. This photo shows how close the surfers are to the cliff face:
http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/photos/545762997_ev4LF-L.jpg

This was taken with a 70-200 at about 100mm. Later in the day I moved to a different location and used a longer lens.

Standing on the cliff with the surfers right underneath you is a really cool way to shoot.

Regards
Rick
calred7
11th of June 2009 (Thu), 12:00
The Water is very cold but i would give anything to be back! i have some good photos from there the fog was hurting but it gave it a strange calm feel to the town. i have some really good sunset shots with my sony handheld but they look really good....how do i post a pic?
calred7
11th of June 2009 (Thu), 12:00
any more pics
Rick_R
12th of June 2009 (Fri), 00:09
any more pics


Try here: http://bikeguy.smugmug.com/Sports/793297

I've got about a little over 700 photos from the event. I would be interested in your thoughts to make them better.

Regards
Rick