Action Shot II - Klips' photo of the day [Archive]

klips

01-27-2008, 12:17 AM

I'm going to be greedy and take the honour of starting the first daily photo thread. It only seems recently that I started action shot one, but that was a year and a half ago. In that time I still haven't lost my desire to learn, to improve, or to be critiqued for all I'm worth. I still live in Canberra, I recently left DA because nearly all I was getting was ass-pats, and I think that's enough for now.

This will be a photo of the day thread, so if I get two rad photos on any one day then you'll just have to wait until tomorrow. I will also be trying to include as much technical information as I can so that you can get an idea of what I'm doing. Feedback is always appreciated, and if you would like feedback in return please let me know.

tl;dr: I'm still here.

Right, the first image: Blaize doing a caveman off the sheep

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/jan08-23-2.jpg

40D, 17-85, f/8, 1/200, 400.
Wireless flashes: 430EX camera right on light stand at 1/2 power aimed at skater, 285HV on 1/2 power aimed at sheep. Triggered with Cactus V2s.

Morbid

01-27-2008, 12:36 AM

I'll take the honour of the first crit then, better do it good!

The shot didn't jump out at me as a flash shot. I don't know what you were after, the artificial light does improve the shot but you could take it a step further and bring the power up a stop, bringing the background down a stop. If you just wanted to use the flashes to just add to the natural light then you have succeeded.

The shot feels a bit right heavy, I think the composition could be improved. Maybe with both the skater and sheep centered horizontally, or with the skater to the right of the sheep. With him to the left, he is already past the sheep and that makes it less "exciting". I understand that it's an action shot and not as easy as a still shot.

I like his expression, he does look like a caveman. :)

Le Gab

01-27-2008, 01:05 AM

I'll take the honor of saying cheers on the inauguration! :)

klips

01-28-2008, 08:42 AM

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/jan08-26.jpg

set up like this:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/setupjan08-1.jpg

klips

01-29-2008, 11:49 AM

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/jan08-29.jpg

klips

01-30-2008, 01:08 PM

I'd really like some feedback on this one.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/jan08-30.jpg

Morbid

01-30-2008, 05:32 PM

Wow, nice lighting and composition, good choice to leave some space above.
Can you share some lighting info?
Snooted flash on a stand at camera right?

klips

01-30-2008, 08:27 PM

Thanks mate, not snooted, just zoomed to 85mm and full power with camera at 1/250, F/9, ISO100.

Rhynome

01-30-2008, 09:32 PM

What Morbid said, it's a pretty damn good photo.

Not a great fan of number three (the skateboard and feet), to be honest. It just seems rather bland to me and the front foot being in focus seems as though I'm meant to be looking at it, but it's just not prominent enough in the photograph.

The second photo, however, I do like. Everything's connected; it grabs a great moment in time.

alucard

01-31-2008, 08:45 AM

the las one is perfect in composition and lighting.
good job.

i hope that the skateboard is ok.
waiting for todays shot.
cheers.

purplerose

01-31-2008, 10:31 AM

Yupp, the last one is great. :)

I kinda like the skateboard/feet one, could be a layout for something.

klips

01-31-2008, 12:55 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, I really appreciate it!!! I'm also sorry about today's, I just didn't have much time.

To the dickhead who stole money out of people's wallets at gym, I just want to say this:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-1.jpg

Love,
Klips

PS: to make sure it's a well thought out 'fuck you', this was 1/250, 22, 100, 430 slightly camera left 1/8, 285HV as rim 1/16.

PPS: I didn't have much money stolen, but they took around US$100 all up after conversion, which is just shit.

Grumbledook

01-31-2008, 07:29 PM

klips

02-01-2008, 01:42 PM

Another cop-out, but I'm tired. tomorrow's should be rad enough to make up for the last two days (it's a big surprise though :D)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-2.jpg

purplerose

02-01-2008, 05:58 PM

Pretty nice exposure in that one. Should try it again and play with the background more.

klips

02-02-2008, 12:28 PM

Thanks rose, I don't think it's really worth it though, it was my 'oh man, I have to do a photo today' photo.

Speaking of making up for it, this is fresh out of the camera and unedited. I'd have a better one, but instead of choosing one I need to go find the Canon CD to get the software to read CR2 files off it so that I can convert all of the photos after this.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-3.jpg

purplerose

02-03-2008, 08:20 AM

Lots of air. :) Love the composition.

klips

02-03-2008, 11:35 AM

Thanks Rose :D

I had a big day spent with some *very* nice gear today, but unfortunately it was for the main part out of my ands. I'll let you guys know when the photos are online, though, as it was a lot of fun. As it is, I'm going to have to use another image from yesterday. I just liked the camaraderie in it.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-4.jpg

klips

02-04-2008, 09:00 PM

Insert skateboard here:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-5.jpg

klips

02-04-2008, 09:03 PM

Harsh about the money, I got robbed at knife point couple of weeks ago, just glad he didn't take my camera ;]

For your action shots, have you tried using a larger aperture to get more seperation of the target and background? Obviously this will mean more light is needed from your strobe, though you used it at half power in the first, so you should be able to cope.

Or the other option is to try taking a shot while panning to blur the background, though this takes some practice.

Nice to see the set up shots and info though, looking forward to some more.

I somehow missed this post :S Thanks for the feedback mate, sucks about getting mugged! I can't use a wider aperture as my flash sync only goes to 1/250 (1/320 on a good day) which, in the middle of summer, is very ard t do during the day.

klips

02-05-2008, 01:01 PM

Bloody hell, this is a real challenge. I'm used to doing large batches, so having to do something every day is proving more difficult than I thought. Feedback is always appreciated, I'm sorry if it's not being reciprocated much at the moment.

The challenge was this: get the black tie on white background, don't blow the shadows or the highlights too much and get noticable definition. The second tie was to get some colours in there, and to see how much saturation I could get without resorting to PP. Fairly proud of the result.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-6.jpg

purplerose

02-05-2008, 06:45 PM

Definitely achieved the goals. I dunno why, I feel a bit confused with this one; the composition may need more work (probably my slight headache right now as well). But yeah, I think you could definitely get more creative with it if you try it again.

Oh noes, why are you playing tricks on us... where's the skateboard??!?!? :confused: lol. :)

Gentile

02-05-2008, 11:02 PM

I'm with rose, the composition is confusing.

klips

02-07-2008, 12:39 PM

Thanks guys, I did it at about midnight so it could have been a lot better. Speaking of about midnight, that goes for today as well. I just got home from a shoot which I will post up some results from later, but tonight I just don't have it in me. Instead, I'm going to do a big dig into the archives and pull out my first skate shot that I posted, just to contrast it with where I am now.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/IMGP0075.jpg

Image number 75 on my first DLSR (now retired, as it sucks :P). I hit number 9000 on my second one today, and 30,000 between the two of them over a year and a half last weekend.

klips

02-08-2008, 04:19 PM

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-7.jpg

From Tango Lament by Mirramu Dance Company, choreography copyright Viv Rogis.

klips

02-09-2008, 04:44 AM

Someone (not someone) bought a fish.

http://webitm3.inthemix.com.au/photos20/albums/080208-james-zabiela/acs.sized.jpg

James Zabiela @ ANU. I got dragged off stage after this, wasn't impressed but was glad I got the shot off.

klips

02-09-2008, 08:43 PM

And because I lve my fish that much, here's another one to keep you occupied.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2253424768_68bc555992_o.jpg

klips

02-10-2008, 10:23 AM

Never done a car shoot before, so this was a learning experience. Bit of pressure as it's for a friend and I got paid (yay!) but if they suck I can always re-shoot them, and it was a lot of fun to do.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-8.jpg

klips

02-14-2008, 12:31 PM

I didn't do too badly at the one every day thing, but I'm just smashing my way through about 3500 photos that I've taken recently.

I 'acquired' a copy of LR 1.3.1 which reads 40D RAW files, so here's my first file edited in there. Boring, I know, but tough. This said, LR is SOOO much more useful than DPP, I hate the layout of that.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/Anaka-10-2.jpg

klips

02-15-2008, 10:17 AM

"Colours in colours and colours of colours" - Hot Chip

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-9.jpg

Thanks to Tony at Writer's Block for letting me take this.

Gentile

02-16-2008, 02:52 AM

That's a lot of paint! O.O
Good picture. It really feels like it's popping out :]

klips

02-16-2008, 10:57 AM

Thanks Gentile :D

There'll be a few in my 'Feburary, Hell YEAH' thread tomorrow but for now here's one from last night.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/Sinden-4.jpg

purplerose

02-17-2008, 01:05 PM

Cool photo. I like your "Hell YEAH" titles. :p

klips

02-17-2008, 01:16 PM

Hell yeah! Thanks rose.

S, instead of spending all day editing photos I instead caught up with some good friends. I spent 12 hours doing this, and as such will not be posting anything today. You'll live :D Instead, go check out some of the stuff for inthemix (see link in my sig).

klips

02-18-2008, 07:51 AM

Facing impending doom. I nearly got smashed in the head by this (missed me by maybe 3").

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/academy-2.jpg

klips

02-18-2008, 08:06 AM

By the way:

February! Holy Crap Yeah! (http://www.photographymob.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1877#post1877)

Go look. And comment. Yes, even you.

purplerose

02-19-2008, 07:27 AM

That is a classic capture. :)

klips

02-19-2008, 08:48 PM

Haven't got much time to shoot at the moment, so another one fromt he weekend. Hoping to get some fresh stuff up tomorrow.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/KB-2.jpg

stine

02-20-2008, 03:21 PM

yeah, disco! :) great photo, cool thread. the one before the last screams "ouch!" to me. and reading that you got almost hit then screamed "ouch!ouch!"... great pic, though. haven't had time to look through your other stuff but surely will! thanks for the nice comment in my thread and see you around!

klips

02-22-2008, 08:54 AM

Thanks Stine, great to have you back!

Fight the concrete, and it will fight back

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/triptych-1small.jpg

AKA fucking kick turns that turn into semi 5-0s when you hit the coping which cause me to bleed.

klips

02-22-2008, 02:28 PM

Another one for all you peeps.

Rough brief:My boss went to Hong Kong for 10 weeks, but became my boss three weeks ago. He still brought me back something, that being 6 sets of chopsticks, napkins and place mats. The aim of this shot was to bring out the textures of the cloth, as it's soft but a touch coarse and the embroidery is lovely.

Strobist: superghetto set up. 430EX resting on couch (this *is* my coffee table) left 1/16th, vivi 285HC on armchair, propped up on two remote controls at 1/16th, cactus triggers. More brain, or less patience? Who knows :P

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/potd-10.jpg

purplerose

02-23-2008, 04:22 AM

Very well done. :) Did you try it with a black background? Could possibly give it a more graphic look.

klips

02-23-2008, 09:17 AM

Thanks Rose, I didn't think of that. I'll definitely try it next time! Also, showing off, Strobist favourited it on Flickr!!!! HOLY CRAP YEAH!!!!!

Today's photo has an explanation: She hammers them (well, one) INTO HER NOSE. Yeah, she's a circus freak and she does this right before walking on broken bottles and shit. Crazy people.

430EX on 1/16 into umbrella on the right, 285Hv on 1/16 on the left.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2284916381_30f23c47a6_o.jpg

stine

02-23-2008, 06:25 PM

wow, she really does that? amazing! it's a very cool shot, i really like how the nails kind of "frame" her face. and her expression shows that she' s in showbiz. :)
how did you meet her?

klips

02-24-2008, 10:12 AM

Thanks stine, yeah, she really does. So freaking weird to watch. I met her a while ago, I now do circus training with her.

No photo today, I have a throat infection which has rendered me as weak as a kitten, I'm not 100% certain I could hold my camera for more than 5 minutes. If I'm feeling better tomorrow I'll have to be home (medical certificate which I have to comply with) so I'll hopefully be able to do some more 'studio-esque' stuff.

stine

02-24-2008, 05:41 PM

aww, sorry to hear you're sick. all the best from here and a huuuuge "GET WELL SOON!"

eazym

03-01-2008, 02:27 AM

lets see a pic of those nails IN her nose! I can't wait

klips

03-04-2008, 03:43 AM

Haha, I didn't get any unfortunately, I'll do that next time.

Here's one from a big festival on the weekend, more in the 'February, Hell Yeah' thread once I get around to it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2307660702_5e3a0d3456_o.jpg
The Bamboos @ Corinbank

purplerose

03-04-2008, 03:02 PM

That one is really awesome! Nicely exposed as well. Would crop out that purple shape peeking in at the bottom though.

klips

03-10-2008, 08:32 AM

This will hopefully do for today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O9DVkNmMJc

klips

03-13-2008, 07:28 AM

I'm bleeding a lot these days.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/bloodhand.jpg

klips

03-16-2008, 12:08 PM

Fresh, clean portrait.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2337372842_7e6e598b1e_o.jpg

Too easy.

MathieuLuethi

03-21-2008, 07:52 AM

Some great photos here: I think i like the b/w one with the skater lies on the ground the most. you really captured it like he really would smashed into the ground. It shows how hard you can fall. The lightning supports this feeling perfect. Ine that I would hang on my wall.

klips

03-23-2008, 02:08 PM

Mathieu: thanks mate! That was a lot of fun to do, I did it in my back yard. The real problem with it is that it shows why I'll never make it as a B&W model, look at that epic t-shirt tan line.

Today's photo has the following story line:
*jack shoots out the board into my flash, which is covered partially by a bag hence stopping it from being totally mashed, but I was still worried*
Jack: Oh shit dude, is it alright?
Me: I dunno, have a look
*flash*
Jack: I deserved that as punishment
Me: Yes.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/alphatoros/turtle-1.jpg