Skatepark Youngins

[HijoD]

Got a few shots of some shredders at the skatepark by my house this afternoon. I'm trying some new color editing using split toning in LR5 as well as been working on getting proper exposure while shooting in to the sun and getting some flare. I would love to hear your comments or critique. Please do not hold back I need all the help I can get. Thank you for viewing and in advance for any CC.

Canon 70D, 24-105mm f/4L, UV Filter

F/9, 1/2000, 24mm, ISO 320


f/11, 1/400, 24mm, ISO 320

[Donald]

... as well as been working on getting proper exposure while shooting in to the sun and getting some flare.

You're setting yourself a good and tough challenge. Well done, That's the way to find out what is and what is not achievable. Go for it.

I think the 'capturing the skater in the air against the sun' shot is all about timing ... and the luminosity of the light. Obviously, the sun is very, very bright, Unless you can get it with the sun completely obliterated by the body of the skater you're always going to have that pretty significant blown area around him/her. But then the exposure becomes even more of a challenge and how far do you go towards making the skater a silhouette? How about going for it when the sun is behind some light cloud and slightly muted?

The above is only a comment about alternatives, not suggestions for what should be done instead, becuase I think what you're doing is a great idea. I think that only the experience of practicing it over and over (if the kids are okay with you doing that) will really teach you how to get it to the standard that you want.

[IzzieK]

I like the first shot...for that light, it is OK...

[Shadowman]

Nice effort.

[Mike Buckley]

Very tough lighting situation! When it works, it will work really well. When it doesn't work, it will be awful. My congratulations for meeting the lighting head on and making it work for you.

The first one is so nice that I think it would be well worth just a little more time and trouble to take it to the next level. Consider doing the following shown below in the order of ease:

• Crop to eliminate the person on the far right
• Clone to eliminate the person behind the ramp
• Change the position of the brightest light so the subject is positioned in the center of that light. To do that, brighten the light to the left and above the subject. Darken some of the bright light to the right of the subject. If the details are completely blown on the right side, resulting in a grey look when you darken it, instead use an eye dropper to select bright color that is not blown and use that color to darken the bright light.

[flashback]

Javier,
If you do as Mike (above) suggested, your first image will be excellent.
Your second image, I like it (mostly) just as it is. With the kid on the right wearing any other tee shirt it might not be as strong an image, but with that shirt (This Is What Awesome Looks Like), his expression and that of the kid behind him, the light behind them both, I can't imagine a better composition. I would suggest cropping the kid out lower left and the sign next to the kid in the dark shirt. You might...might want to take a look at it in B&W. It's got that very real street scene to it and B&W might do it justice.

[AndrewMcD]

I hope to see some more of your efforts and follow how it develops. It's a short walk to a local skate park for me and it has been on my list of things to try shooting. I'll not be so ambitious with the lighting but I find what you've done quite impressive.

Andrew

[dabhand]

Javier - I agree with Jack - the 2nd image will make quite a powerful statement in B&W.

steve