Rainy day downhill (crit please)

[MartenK]

Got this today, crazy wet day with rather thick fog in the woods.

http://www.martenkihlkrans.se/bla/jonsv2.jpg

Any thoughts?

Two other versions further down the thread. Might be better?

[alpinekiwi]

Everything looks great except the lighting.

Clipped blacks and blown highlights. I like what you are trying to do with a silhouette, but he's not one. Yet there is no detail in him either.

Either get some lights in there to pick him out or expose for the background next time. Be careful whats behind him too. No trees cutting him in half...

He looks like a good rider to photograph. And a cool place with a cool moody atmosphere. I like the B&W decision.

I like it.

[AlphaChicken]

I think the exposure works. Agree about the tree behind him though. If the back wheel was more recognizable then I feel the tree wouldn't be a problem as much.

[MartenK]

Thanks!

I agree with what both of you are saying. But damn it's hard without any flashes etc.

Regarding the rider, he's top 10 in the country and has ridden some WC:s in dh and 4x so yeah, he's great having as a local go to rider.

[AlphaChicken]

Thanks!

I agree with what both of you are saying. But damn it's hard without any flashes etc.

Regarding the rider, he's top 10 in the country and has ridden some WC:s in dh and 4x so yeah, he's great having as a local go to rider.

Agree 100% I think the exposure is fine...it was more a timing issue in this case. Also think, it would be harder for the rider with flashes. I think we know which is more important. I think you did great.

[MartenK]

From a riders point of view, flashes aren't that distracting in my opinion. Not if they're not directly in your face. From the side and above shouldn't be a problem. I've been photographed with flash while riding too many times to remember and it's never been an issue. I know people who have had to zig zag through photo equipment to do a sketchy drop to flat just because the photographer thought the end result would look good. It's all just good stories with no hard feelings now.

Shooting racing, now that would be another story.

Anyone else got crit? I'm in need of it.

[Cinqovitto]

If this was shot in RAW why not do a pseudo-HDR exposure blend via Photomatix? That technique could correct many of the criticisms so far?
Just a thought...

[cwood]

Flashes are NOT an issue for MTB. I raced as a pro DH rider for many years. While the flash was sometimes noticeable it is not distracting.

In this environment without flashes B&W was a great choice. But you still need to make sure your subject is properly exposed which he is clearly not. Don't worry about blown highlights. Who care about a white-out sky if you can't see the subject of the photo.

[stephen_g]

For the record, flashes don't really affect riders, I shoot bmx with flashes all the time, if you have the flash anywhere but in the middle of the track he's riding down, he won't see them, especially not in a full face.
Now then, I think flashes would have done well, the left (our left, not his) side of him is a bit dark. Also, flashes would obviously freeze his motion, he isn't so sharp, you'd do well to correct that. You wouldn't need much flash power at all, if you did it right, the exposure with the flashes would be just barely above what it is without them, and you'd get the effects of freezing motion. Try it out sometime if you can. A longer lens, higher shutter speed and more accurate focus (it kinda looks like it missed a bit, maybe it's just that he's going too fast) would do it justice.

[MartenK]

Alright, guess I screwed up on this one too then... Crap. Oh well. At least I'm learning. Thanks for the comments. :)

A slightly less dark version (though a bit too noisy), better?

http://www.martenkihlkrans.se/bla/jonsv5.jpg

And I also did a HDR version:
http://www.martenkihlkrans.se/bla/jonhdr.jpg

Is either image ok?

[AlphaChicken]

I stand corrected on the flash.