Action Shot II - Klips' photo of the day

[klips]

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



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]

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]

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

[klips]

set up like this:

[klips]

[klips]

I'd really like some feedback on this one.

[Morbid]

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]

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

[Rhynome]

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]

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

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

[purplerose]

Yupp, the last one is great.

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

[klips]

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:


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]

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.

[klips]

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 )

[purplerose]

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

[klips]

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.

[purplerose]

Lots of air. Love the composition.

[klips]

Thanks Rose

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.

[klips]

Insert skateboard here:

[klips]

Originally Posted by Grumbledook

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]

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.

[purplerose]

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??!?!? lol.

[Gentile]

I'm with rose, the composition is confusing.

[klips]

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.



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]

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

[klips]

Someone (not someone) bought a fish.



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

[klips]

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

[klips]

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.

[klips]

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.

[klips]

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



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