Surfing

[CfT]

Hey all. Just thought I'd toss in a few pics. I just registered to ask a question over on the accessories page, but I might as well show you some pics.

I started off years ago on slide film, but recently picked up a digital.
I still prefer slide over digital (proly gonna start a fight, huh) but I really
don't have much of a choice, as it's all going away. Doesn't bother me too much, as I learned
to fall in love with the picture, not the process.

Here's a slide pic:
http://www.spi360.com/slides/surf-MexicoR/images/mex02.jpg

And here's a digital pic:
http://www.spi360.com/slides/surf-arleneD/images/ArleneSurfD07.jpg

The first is using the 1N body with Provia film and a 500mm f/4. The second was done with a Rebel (300D)
and same lens. Those pics are from two different countries. The water in the second is obviously not as pretty.

so far, so good!

now, can anyone help me out on my P-2000 question? he he...thanks!

[PhotosGuy]

Nice shots!

[Curtis N]

I still prefer slide over digital (proly gonna start a fight, huh)Nah. No fights. I think we all realize like you do that in a few years there won't be much to fight over.

But for the benefit of photographic newcomers like me who never shot much film, can you tell us what it is about shooting slide film that you like so much? About the only thing I know about slide film is, 1) it doesn't tolerate too much under/overexposure, and 2) the slides don't impress people when I hang them on my wall.

[jfrancho]

I learned to take pictures on slides too. I think that made the conversion to digital a little easier, in terms of getting the exposure right. That and the five years between putting down the the A-1, and picking up the 300D - I pretty much forgot enough, not to hold me back. Love that second shot, BTW.

[mdm]

Nice pics.

[Michaelmjc]

Awesome pictures! The last one especially, welcome to the forum!

[DwightMcCann]

CfT, I think of it as being similar to the difference between vinyl and CDs ... CDs will never match the sweetness and realistic smoothness of vinyl particularly for vocals, but CDs have absolute silent silences without cracks, pops or whistles and you can rip them much easier than vinyl and do stuff with the sounds. Slides are important to film shooters because they are MUCH less forgiving, but have a much better dynamic range than prints/negatives and so lend themselves much more to the technically competent.

[PhotosGuy]

Besides what Dwight said,
1. Editors want them, so we shot them. Because...
2. You get back exactly what you put into the shot. Assuming correct film ageing & lab processing, there's no one in the lab deciding what the end result should look like.

[Actionphotog]

Great photos and for your next photos of surfing.......... in the water with camera taking a shot from inside the wave as the surfer passes you....

I too started with slides & darkroom.

BTW. what countries were the photos taken?

[surfer_chicky]

Nice pics, I keep meaning to get out to the beach and get some surf shots. But this is England so they probably wont even look as nice as yours.

[CfT]

Thanks all! I appreciate the kind words!!

Surfer Chicky, the first pic is of an English surfer I met in Mexico. Great guy, good surfer!

I haven't taken my digital on a surf trip yet, but I do have some very good stuff I've done with it. I'll be sure to share those in the proper categories as it's not sport related.

It's very rare that everything comes together here at my local beach. The second shot I posted is from where I live, South Padre Island (hence the spi tag), deep in South Texas. :o Here's a couple more digital shots of surfing:
http://www.spi360.com/slides/Surf-0405EB/images/S0405EB14.jpg
http://www.spi360.com/slides/Surf-0330EA/images/S0330EA08.jpg
this one is fuzzy because I was playing with a 2x aftermarket tele-converter.

Curtis, like D.McCann and PhotosGuy mentioned, if you wanted to shoot the best and get published, it had to be done on slide. It's still the only accepted medium for Surfer Magazine. We could point and counterpoint until this forum's server is full, but I'm just going to have to call it a personal preference. I suppose there is some sour grape attitude in my first post. See, I DID fall in love with the process. I just like wearing an apron and hand processing film and prints.

I'm pretty sure that the lattitude of slide film has yet to be beat. With a good scanner you can get more from a slide than the MKII will produce. I dont have a MKII yet, so I'm really not qualified to speak on it. I've only read a bunch about it. Don't put too much judgement on the slide I posted because it was scanned by me, and I'm still learning what this scanner and P-Shop can do. Also, that pic was shot at Noon, so the lighting is very harsh.

Film is what I fell in love with years ago. I found it to be the perfect balance; It is left and right brain activity. Composition is the art and processing is the science. I know P-Shop is a science too, but it doesn't smell like chemicals. :lol:

One thing that I am very pleased about, is that digital has allowed me to afford my art endeavors again. It got very expensive playing with stuff like night photography, but I'm back on that! Loving it. I'll share more digital pics in the proper categories.

Thanks again..glad you all like the pics.


edit:
found these on my site...I've lost track of everything i have :p
these are also digital:
http://www.spi360.com/slides/surf-tgsaEF/images/S-TGSAEF15.jpg
http://www.spi360.com/slides/surf-tgsaED/images/S-TGSAED16.jpg

[SurfKahakai]

Hopefully Surfing Magazine will start taking digital in the future. I'm nowhere good enough to submit but maybe one day.

It's good to see other people shooting surf photos. What lenses do you use? Do you shoot in the water too?

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

Nice pics, have a look at mine
www.marcusgreig.com

[NeverFollow]

I like the first one alot