First shots with my Tokina fisheye

Yea, yea, yea...skateboarding and fisheyes. I'm sure I could have made this look good with a long lens but I just picked up this Tokina fisheye for shooting surf from the water. Since I don't have a water housing yet, I figured I'd try skate shots.

What is skateboard photography without a fisheye!?

I know these look like most skate photography, but I don't understand why you want the skater to fill so little of the frame. It seems like it'd be a lot stronger if you were even closer.

tsaraleksi wrote in post #4357134
I know these look like most skate photography, but I don't understand why you want the skater to fill so little of the frame. It seems like it'd be a lot stronger if you were even closer.

If one gets too close, then the shots loose the urban feel and fail to show the lay of the terrain.

I personally like the fisheye effect. Diggin' the last one most, with the blue sky background and inverted board.

Sure but in many shots the skater is hardly in 10% of the image. No reason not to use the fish, just get dangerously close!

AdamLewis wrote in post #4357089
What is skateboard photography without a fisheye!?

A change for the best. I have seen some pretty sweet close ups, I only wish we had a skateboard park around here, they would rather spend the money on useless fountains in town. Then complain that kids are ruining the town sidewalks and parks because of their skateboards.

I wish common sense were still in play today.

Nice shots mate. Love the first and third.

Just wondering if you can let us know the lighting setup for those two shots, as it looks like it worked well

tsaraleksi wrote in post #4357205
just get dangerously close!

therein lies a big problem. I ride bmx which photographically tends to see similar images. it's really quite dangerous to both the rider/skater and photog to get too close. lots can go wrong (and very often does) and it's also at times a distraction to the rider/skater to have someone really close. the last thing I want when I'm airborne is to wonder at all if I'm going to hit the photog. just my opinion from someone with experience on both sides of that fence.

op, nice shots. I was stoked to see them as that 10-17 is my next lens purchase (if Santa doesn't hook me up!)

Good to see the fish used. Love the shots.

I literally just paid for my Tokina 10-17, and its going in my water housing as well for surf photography. I cant wait. These shots make me even more excited to get the lens now.

My light setup was two Sunpak 544s. It works for shooting before the sun goes down but for a night session, you really need a third or fourth light to fill in all the shadows. It was very hard to position two flashes and avoid shadows. I gave up after a while.

Ben, nic shots! Lets do an SC session. Theres a few nice stair sets around to shoot some stuff. My Toki is screaming to be used.

those are so sick! i really want the tokina fisheye, i might be getting it for christmas. cant wait to see the surf shots! nice job

Everyday i just want to trade in my 10-22 for that tokina, but sigma just recently announced the upcoming 10mm fisheye prime 2.8. Cant make up my mind. Do you ever really need the zoom?

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …M-Lens-Press-Release.aspx

AdamLewis wrote in post #4357089
What is skateboard photography without a fisheye!?

less annoying

namasste wrote in post #4358426
therein lies a big problem. I ride bmx which photographically tends to see similar images. it's really quite dangerous to both the rider/skater and photog to get too close. lots can go wrong (and very often does) and it's also at times a distraction to the rider/skater to have someone really close. the last thing I want when I'm airborne is to wonder at all if I'm going to hit the photog. just my opinion from someone with experience on both sides of that fence.

i agree with the dangers cause i have been hit or ran into as well as my slaves so getting close isn't always the best thing