Skate/BMX shots (first try)

I've been really shy to take shots of people up until this point. I was out and about with the camera and watched some skaters at the local park for a bit. After a while of watching them i decided to jump the fence and fire a few shots off. I ended up spending about 3 hours in there, experimenting with various shots. I was using the "kit" lens 18-55 from my newly purchased Rebel XT (2 days prior). I've been told that my focus is off, and i should have used a flash. But i think for my first shots with the camera i didn't do too bad.

Here is the link to the album, and i'll drop a couple examples in for you to critique. Thanks!

http://public.fotki.co​m …ography/skate_p​ark_shots/

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Techno, we livein the same town. I shott a lot of skate\bmx in teh winter/spring and you're on the right track. You're limited by year gear to only a point. You have some good angles and the timing appears right.

Use fill flash. For aerial shots use manual focus. Lock it where they are jumping and set the shutter to 1/160th with fill flash and 18mm on the lens. Get close!

Go pick up Transworld Skateboarding and RideUK or RideMag from Chapters. You'll see excellent examples of how these athletes like to be shot.

Nice shots!

Funny how that works, isn't it?

I like the last one best. Others okay too.

Keep at it.

KAC

exact same thing happened to me ! skateparks are a great place to practice and there are usually a ton of subjects to shoot . great timing on that last one . keep posting .

1) might have looked cool with a slower shutter and panning, subject is just too centered though, needs more rule of 3rds thought to it

2) it's a good angle for that, but you cut off a limb, which takes it immediately out of the stack

3) tilt at that angle just isnt working for me, and you cut off a limb, well not really, but a tire, and in these shots you need you're subject in frame

4) not shabby, get lower though, and wide/close as you can go on you're lens

Nice, I like the second one best! Some fill flash would have made it even better!

All i've got at this point is the OE flash on the XT.. which counts as not having one in most cases! It's next on my "wish list". Which model would be a smart investment?

Oh ya, one more thing. In relation to the "11 year old skater thread". The kid in the first and last shots was 10! I couldn't believe his skill. He was way better than the older guys around.

Save for the 580ex... I'm a Canon whore though, but its definately the best flash out there