DH Biking (56K Beware)

Not posted anything for a while, so heres a few pics I took last Sunday.

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First two are a little dark although it looks like you might have been using flash. I shot one downhill race for the local newspaper a couple of years ago ... great stuff with huge amount of action. Those guys really take chances and fly off the berms. This looks a little more contained but great color and clarity (kinda like a diamond I guess.)

Hey up Tau

Have to agree with Dwight about the first two. They are both good captures but look like you either didn;t use flash or that the flash was a bit weak. They would both look ace if the flash had picked the rider up a bit better.

The third one looks like he is building up to something stupid. Getting himself psyched

Hehe, cheers guys. I was using flash, but I think I just messed up my exposure.... they were a lot brighter originally, the sky was overexposed in fact, but I applied an ND filter in PS to try and even it out a little...perhaps I overcooked it hehe

It wasn't actually a comp or anything, just a few mates practicing which is why theres not a whole lot going on.

How do you compensate having a really bright sky, but without underexposing the subject? More flash?

Though dark, I really like the first shot. Something about the riders stance and the overall composition really catchs my eye. Great shot.

Tau

What I tend to do is set the shot up by using the manual setting to underexpose by about 1.5 to 2 stops then use the flash to highlight the rider. It darkens the background but highlights the rider.

Like this

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Yeah, I shall try that. Going down to PORC this Sunday, so will have another go. Cheers!