Any Skateboarding photogs out there?

[SuzanneCarey]

I tried posting this on another forum, but did not get much response. I was wondering what "set up" you use to shoot someone skateboarding? We have a new park in the area opening and have been asked to take some pictures for them of their facility/ramps and people skating for their website. I have taken some pics before that were okay, but my 20D is MUCH better than the other camera I was trying to use. I have a 20D 28-75mm Tamron lens, the lens kits and the good ole 50mm 1.8. I have a 550ex flash, flash bracket and various flash diffusers. Will my one flash be enough to capture a good picture? when its opens, I will go play around and start taking pics but I thought I would get some insight from the pros.

Thanks!

[SurfKahakai]

With the right natural light, one flash should be enough to fill shadows. If you flip through a skateboard magazine you'll notice that a lot of photographers use 2-3 flashes when the lighting is poor.

I'm definitely not a pro...actually, my skate pictures are horrible but I'm beginning to learn what I need.

The most important thing about skateboard photography is knowing WHEN to take the picture. I don't know if you're a skateboarder or know much else about it, but flip through magazines and see what they're taking pictures of. There's nothing worse than a skateboard picture that isn't at the "peak" of the trick.

Like I said, I'm a beginner and have only taken skate pictures twice with my 300D and kit lens but I have been skating for 20 years so I know when to take the picture. Here are a couple that I took...the picture itself is bad, but it should show you what the action looks like.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/Robbylogo.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/Robby10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/surfkahakai/Benfrontside.jpg

[SurfKahakai]

I definitely could have used an external flash in the first picture and maybe 2 flashes in the second and thrid pictures. I just don't have the money for them right now.

[SuzanneCarey]

Hi SurfKahakai, thanks for the feedback. I like your shots and actually found them in a previous thread when I did a search. My husband is an avid skater, has been for about the past 15 years... He is the one who tells me WHEN to get the shot, just like you said. He said that is the most important thing. So we have looked through mags together, his favorite that he gets is The Skateboard Mag. They have actually had articles on the photographers who take the pics, which we thought was cool. I know I need to use slaves or something in the park b/c it is indoor. But all I have is my little 550EX so maybe for now that will work.

Thanks for sharing the ones you have taken! I love the look of the first one!

Suzanne

[SurfKahakai]

I think the 550 should work as long as you set it in the right place and the park has decent lighting. I look forward to seeing some of your work!

Ben

[SuzanneCarey]

Thanks Ben!

[redheat86]

Stick to the rule of third if possible when shooting skate and get down low.

Here is one example of my first skate shots.. id take more but i dont hardly know anyone where i live.

Watch out for hot spots on shadows if using a flash on camera, as you can see from the photo there is one on the corner of the desk.

cheers

http://www.geocities.com/homygray/dskate.jpg

[blinking8s]

wide angle, off camera flash, low if possible...usually low angles

[jimcook]

Here is one of my 1st attempts talking a sk8ter photo. I used a Canon 20D with a 70-200mm F2.8 IS lense. I need to do better a focusing. The focus is more on the ramp than the kid. Would have been nice if he was looking at the camera too.

http://www.pbase.com/image/43257759.jpg

[SurfKahakai]

Would have been nice if he was looking at the camera too.

Skateboard photography is much different than normal portrait or even candid photography. In skate photography you want to put emphasis on the trick first and the skater second. This is done by catching the skater at the peak of the trick as well as concentrating on what he is doing the trick on/off of. For example, if a skater is doing a frontside nosegrind down a 22 stair handrail then you'll want to gt the whole set of stairs in the picture to show the magnitude. The face on the skater is not so important (unless he's scared to death and you want to show that emotion). On the contrary, if he were doing the same trick on a 5 stair handrail, you could probably just get a shot of him on the handrail with a few stairs in the picture since the amount of stairs isn't that important.

[blackviolet]

i generally use 2 or 3 flashes - some 'fill' light to illuminate the skater's face, and often additional light from the side to create interesting shadows. i shoot as wide as possible - generally with a fisheye - to give as much perspective and feeling for the tricks. it's important to get low as well. if you shoot a sequence, show it from start to finish. one of the great things about skate photography is the relationship between breaking traditional rules and the success of the shots...

you might want to check out skateboardphotography.com or any sk8 magazine.

[anttor]

my firts try at the local skate park


http://img38.echo.cx/img38/3319/Untitled-396.th.jpg (http://img38.echo.cx/my.php?image=Untitled-396.jpg)

http://img38.echo.cx/img38/3772/Untitled-391.th.jpg (http://img38.echo.cx/my.php?image=Untitled-391.jpg)

http://img38.echo.cx/img38/3772/Untitled-391.th.jpg (http://img38.echo.cx/my.php?image=Untitled-391.jpg)

[hauff]

Here's a few that I took today at the local skate park. the exif info is attached there as well.

http://www.pbase.com/hauff1/sports_action