2017 Project 52 - 1st Quarter by Mal Schulstad

[joewatt]

Week 1 Photo 4
This photo was from my second ride of the first week in January taken earlier in the morning. It was one of the first attempts of someone jumping in low light conditions (there is actually a series of these) while trying to keep the sun in the shot to keep the lighting a bit interesting. Between the angle of the shot, getting the shutter speed right, the focus, and low light - well, let's just say it's taken a while to start getting a feel for doing this type of shot (I'm not there yet).

I think the exposure in this shot is good, especially considering the bright back light. Question: is there some horizontal compression going on in this show? It kind of looks like my tv when I get the aspect ratio wrong -

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I think the exposure in this shot is good, especially considering the bright back light. Question: is there some horizontal compression going on in this show? It kind of looks like my tv when I get the aspect ratio wrong -

No compression deliberately imparted - I'm not sure of anything that would cause it unless it's just a lens correction think that I didn't fix up.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Week 8 Photo 3
_DZ19530 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

One of those times when focus is an all important thing. Even though the rider at the front should be the obvious focal point, my camera decided to switch to the rider at the back - he was likely moving faster than the other objects in the frame. Pitfalls of using the dynamic 3D Focus Method.

On the generic riding side of things - this guy is lucky he didn't puncture his tyre!

[skitterbug]

Week 8 Photo 3
_DZ19530 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

One of those times when focus is an all important thing. Even though the rider at the front should be the obvious focal point, my camera decided to switch to the rider at the back - he was likely moving faster than the other objects in the frame. Pitfalls of using the dynamic 3D Focus Method.

On the generic riding side of things - this guy is lucky he didn't puncture his tyre!

I like this photo. It tells the story of the difficulties of the ride! I'm amazed the tyre held out!

Can you explain what you mean by using the dynamic 3D Focus Method? Do you mean the continuous focusing that cameras offer rather than using manual focusing?

[joebranko]

Hi Mal,

Your colour shots exhibit a lot of lateral CA (Chromatic Aberration) from the 18-300mm lens.
I note you are processing in LR 6.8, which should be able to fix most, if not all of it, simply by 'checking' the appropriate box. While you're there, also check the Lens Profile Corrections too (that will fix any vignetting and geometric distortions).

Cheers, Dave

.

Hi Dave, I just saw your post to this tread and while I am no means expert in LR I know you can make an 'import preset' which will add the specific operations automatically as you import images into LR. I have not done this myself but I Googled it and it seems quite easily done.
http://lightroomkillertips.com/apply...ting-workflow/

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I like this photo. It tells the story of the difficulties of the ride! I'm amazed the tyre held out!

Can you explain what you mean by using the dynamic 3D Focus Method? Do you mean the continuous focusing that cameras offer rather than using manual focusing?

My camera has a few focus modes. The base modes are obviously manual, static focus (it focuses and stays), and continuous focus. Within these modes there are I guess you'd call them sub-modes the camera uses to focus on objects. Off the type of my head these are:

- Single point focus: Uses a single focus point - generally in the centre but you can move it around - on my camera there are I think 39 different positions (but I don't think I can actually use all 39);
- Area focus - The camera uses a few focus points simultaneously to lock onto the focus. I believe there are two area sizes which are generally around the centre - I'm not sure if you can move them - I've never tried;
- Dynamic 3D - utilises all 39 focus points and contrast method (detects variations in contrast in the field of view) to determine what it should focus on. In theory if you have a moving object the camera will pick up the change in contrast and lock onto the subject. The problem is when you have two or more subjects...

I think there might be other focus methods as well but I don't tend to use them... yet...

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Week 8 Photo 4a (Inspired by Skitterbug)

Sometimes a perfect photo situation arises by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I noticed in Sandy's post this week that she was talking about how skittish some creatures get when you try and approach them. So I thought I'd take a very brief break and post a photo of a green tree frog that visited recently.

Week 8 Photo 4b
Sometimes a perfect photo situation arises by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

So for me, when approaching creatures I obviously do it very, very slowly... but always from behind the camera lens. I find that when your subject can't see your eyes, it makes them less nervous. Suspicious, for sure, but definitely less nervous.

Week 8 Photo 4c
Sometimes a perfect photo situation arises by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I also find that sometimes the subjects will see the reflection in the lens - nothing like familiar company to make someone feel safe!

Week 8 Photo 4d
Sometimes a perfect photo situation arises by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

In case you're wondering, no PP was done to these photos. I did use a flash bounced off the roof (that was convenient!). And it happened to be night time hence the black background.

[skitterbug]

Hi Mal ~ Okay, I understand what you are doing regarding focus points, etc. now.

I generally use the single focal point when I take my froggie pics. I try to hold steady on the eye and trust the rest will be what it is! I haven't yet become proficient enough to manually focus since what I want to capture in pics is moving! So most of the time, I trust my camera to do that work for me. For something not moving, I have "played" with manual focusing but don't feel comfortable with doing it yet.

I like your little creature, especially Week 8 Photo 4b! Excellent shots! It seems like 'he' was just waiting for you to come and take his portrait pics! Well done!

[Satyendra Paul]

Hi Mal, W1P5 is my favorite followed by W2P2. Wishing you good luck. Cheers.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Hi Mal, W1P5 is my favorite followed by W2P2. Wishing you good luck. Cheers.

Thanks!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Hi Mal ~ Okay, I understand what you are doing regarding focus points, etc. now.

I generally use the single focal point when I take my froggie pics. I try to hold steady on the eye and trust the rest will be what it is! I haven't yet become proficient enough to manually focus since what I want to capture in pics is moving! So most of the time, I trust my camera to do that work for me. For something not moving, I have "played" with manual focusing but don't feel comfortable with doing it yet.

I like your little creature, especially Week 8 Photo 4b! Excellent shots! It seems like 'he' was just waiting for you to come and take his portrait pics! Well done!

Dragonflies are another one that you can sometimes get quite close to:


And sometimes they'll even smile...

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Week 8 Photo 5
_DZ19560 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

Back to mountain bike riding. This is another one of those scenes where the light wasn't great and I had fast moving subjects. It was a difficult balancing act between shutter speed and noise that I'm not convinced that I pulled off - there's not a whole lot of detail in the shot. The rider that was captured though was ecstatic about the capture though.

[joebranko]

Nice e shot Mal. I can see why the rider liked it! A nice balancing pose by him also. I have never done mountain bike riding but it seems as if he is leaning out of the turn, perhaps to regain balance?

[Cantab]

Week 8 Photo 5
_DZ19560 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

Back to mountain bike riding. This is another one of those scenes where the light wasn't great and I had fast moving subjects. It was a difficult balancing act between shutter speed and noise that I'm not convinced that I pulled off - there's not a whole lot of detail in the shot. The rider that was captured though was ecstatic about the capture though.

A really good action shot!
I enjoyed the smiling dragonfly in post #111.

[skitterbug]

Dragonflies are another one that you can sometimes get quite close to

I've taken pics of dragon flies but I've not been able to get as close with my gear as you are able to do.

And sometimes they'll even smile...

This dragon fly looks like an old soul so I'm glad to see the smile! Both of your pics are great! I like them lots!

Week8 #5 is another great shot of your friend on his two wheels to freedom! The foliage looks well defined, the path well traveled and the rider determined! Another well done pic!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Thanks for the feedback everyone

Nice e shot Mal. I can see why the rider liked it! A nice balancing pose by him also. I have never done mountain bike riding but it seems as if he is leaning out of the turn, perhaps to regain balance?

Actually, the way you lean on a mountain bike is different to what you would instinctively do. With road cycling when you leave over there is generally a lot of friction between the road and the tyres. On a mountain bike, the surface is usually loose. If you were to lean as you would on the road, you would find that your body weight would be above the ground, releasing weight from the tyres and reducing the friction contact between the tyres and trail.

By trying to keep your weight more over the tyres, you drive the side knobs of a mountain bike in the tyre into the trail to increase grip. So what you tend to think is someone off balance is quite off someone maximising grip so they don't slide out on the trail at speed.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Week 8 Photo 6
Steve boosting off the big drop on one of the new Comms Games tracks. He actually got so high that in the next shot I cut half of his head from the frame. by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This photo was taken on a day when I was having a lot of frustration with cloud cover making the light fairly dull. I ended up using Nik Collection to finish this photo off just to give it a bit of colour .

_DZ19845 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This was the original Lightroom version that I posted for the general masses. I find now when I'm riding that I take so many photos(over 250 a ride) that I have to mass process because everyone is expecting the photos up. I now go back and pick photos that I'd like to do extra work on.

In case you were wondering, the rider above is probably one of the more talented riders I head out with. He actually kept going up...
_DZ19846 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

You can compare this with your average rider on the same jump...
_DZ19859 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

Not to mention those that are just completely surprised by this particular feature....
_DZ19871 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Week 9 Photo 1
Barney's at Sunset by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

Been a getting busy... trying to survive which in my head doesn't make much sense but it is what it is. Anyway, haven't had a lot of time to take photos and look at them to share what I've been finding but I'll continue to do at least one or more a week!

I took this photo on a day when the sun had been hiding behind clouds, making for boring light for the majority of the ride. I had originally planned to head further down this trail to take photos of some more challenging sections but as soon as I came over the ridge I saw the sun and had to stop.

In looking at this one again I think I've over processed it, but you get the idea

[skitterbug]

In looking at this one again I think I've over processed it

Perhaps a little bit but yes, but I do "get it"! And I like the way you show how the trail goes down and down some more. The action is great! I like it!

[Cantab]

Perhaps a little bit but yes, but I do "get it"! And I like the way you show how the trail goes down and down some more. The action is great! I like it!

I agree. The position of the more distant/lower rider helps give a real feel for the up and down nature of the trail.