mike1515 wrote in post #4111687
My 20D does seem to have an AF issue w/ fast object moving towards or away from the lens, but it could still just be me. I just acquired a 1D Mark II N, so we will see how I do w/ that in the future.
The 20D will be slower than the MkII N, but you have to remember that the camera is only a tool and you as the photographer have to work with it (or around it). I find that with a 1.4xTC the percentage of head-on and going-away shots goes down quite dramatically... the same can be said about shifting to an off-center focus point. Fast approaching vehicles are a tough shot to get sharp especially when they are small in the frame (which is typically when you’d be wanting to use a TC as well).
mike1515 wrote in post #4120835these shots had a lot of PP done to them.
What type of PP has been done to these?
mike1515 wrote in post #4111687Please feel free to rip them apart and/or offer suggestions
Ok, so my thoughts on the images...
1.) Nice ‘in your face’ shot of a bike. It looks a tad softer than I would like, but it’s also hard to tell from this resolution/compression. If it hasn’t already had some, a little USM could help with the sharpness. I like the exposure for the highlights, but I wish there was a bit more detail in the shadows. Maybe a tad (10%) in shadows/highlights, but you don’t want the mid-tones to look too muddy. This is a tough shot to get the rider out of the shadow... I would try to shoot this at the opposite time of the day (so if you are now in the PM... try in the AM with the sun on the other side lighting the rider). I also get the feeling that this is a crop to get the rider big in the frame... this is fine (although it would show the flaws if it wasn’t sharp), but I’d like something in the frame to give more indication of the location it was taken... I can tell it is in a turn, but it could be a parking lot... even a tad of rumble strip to the right side of the image might add to the atmosphere (and if his knees were on the strip all the better, but not something you can really control).
2.) Very well done. Great shooting location. The exposure on the rider’s leathers is spot on (no blowing-out of the whites), but I’d like a tad more detail in the shadows towards the front of the bike. Shadows/Highlights will become your friend if you are shooting in sunny weather. This is an example of what I was talking about with #1 and having part of the race track in the frame to give it a sense of location. Again, this one feels like you cropped it to get this... but maybe not... either the case, it has a very ‘centered’ feel to it. I’m guessing this was taken from inside turn 6, and the rumble strip continues for a bit more on both sides of the bike (if this was from turn 5 or turn 9 it would be the same thing)... if you had the bike at the right of the frame with additional rumble strip along the bottom leading towards the left it would be less centered. Would it be a better shot? I don’t know (I would like this one more), but just something to think about when it comes to composition... bike in the center isn’t always the best all the time.
3.) Same thing as with #2... very well done (and my favorite of the bunch). I really love this angle. But just wish it wasn’t so centered. Having the bike farther towards the bottom right corner with more track/rumble strip running out towards the left would make it a more powerful photo, IMO. It would project motion towards the top/left of the frame. I would also like a tad slower shutter speed (yes, I know that is easier said than done)... but that is almost always the case... you have to trade-off between sharpness/motion and keeper rate.
4.) I’m really glad this isn’t totally centered, but it could be composed with the bike more to the bottom right. I’m not really a fan of this angle as much... especially as a wide shot with a boring background (with a blue/white rumble strip it might be a tad better). There isn’t really much that can be done... if you wait till the bike is exiting the corner to get more of a side shot you will run out of glass and the bike will be too small... if you shoot early the rider will be on the other side of the bike and hidden from view... rear shots are always a tricky thing I find to get to pop.
5.) Decent shot of Hayden going down... only wish he was a tad sharper.
6.) The two bikes in the background is where my eye is drawn first... then to Stoner...I like the multi-bike aspect of this with the motion visible in the non-subject bikes, but it’s just a bit distracting here that my eyes go to the soft bikes first. The whites in the curb and Stoner are a bit blown-out. Personally, I’d have rather seen the shot of Stoner alone... or (better yet) the shot other two going at it... just not both at the same time.
7.) Nice and clean. I like the rumble strip in the background. The exposure is good (maybe a tad hot, but not bad)... it just seems a bit static to me (and reminds me how small these bikes are... he almost looks like he’s on a mini-bike). Maybe a little shadows/highlights on the helmet to separate the black from the visor from the blue of the ‘mouth area’.
Overall, well done. It seems to me like you want to shoot the long shots where the bike fills the frame... but just don’t have the length to do it. It’s a tough task even with longer lenses and trackside access. What you need to do is find the shots that work well with your equipment/access. There are many shots available where you can shot the bikes side-on... and easily filling the frame. You can also include some wider shots with more elements of the track/environment. It is all about a balance between things and knowing what the limitations are (be it access, light, AF speed, focal length, etc.)
-Todd....
Great job for the first time.
