BMX bikers

[teokf]

The evening setting sun was beautiful and there was this group of BMX riders working on their stunts at the park. I went back home, got my camera and proceeded back to the park. After getting to know them, they were more than happy to do some posing for me.

1. Hakim is his name, a rather nice young gentleman that I thought I shot him for who he is.


2. The show-off of the group. Well, he is the best in the group and he should be proud of what he could do. Shot him spinning in mid-air


3. The play-safe photo.


4. I decided to pp this direction as I wanted to portray the attitude of most BMX stunt riders.

[wyogirl]

I'm not sure if you wanted C&C, so if not, just ignore me. The first one would be so much better if you cropped the bottom a little bit. My eye keeps being drawn to the colorful bottom, and away from the subject. Just my 2 cents....your mileage may vary.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[IzzieK]

I like #1 -- you caught a beautiful smile there. But then, I like happy faces....just me. I love happy not grouchy. #2 is really very good the sillouette and the background is beautiful. Congratulations for having new models for your shots...

[John 2]

A very, very nice set Steven. Captures the occasion well. I like these a lot.

[teokf]

I'm not sure if you wanted C&C, so if not, just ignore me. The first one would be so much better if you cropped the bottom a little bit. My eye keeps being drawn to the colorful bottom, and away from the subject. Just my 2 cents....your mileage may vary.

Hi Amanda, for many of us who are serious in this hobby, C&C is the only lessons we get. So, any C&C is welcome.
Thanks for the comments

[teokf]

John, Izzie and John thanks for viewing the photos and giving your comments

Izzie, those models are only there for that moment ..

[RustBeltRaw]

#1 is good, but I would try to get the light higher next time. Looks a bit hot on the bike frame and the wall the rider's standing on. Light gradually falling off from face to ground would probably work better.

#2 is excellent. It's a serene extreme-sports shot, which is a nice trick. Composition's quite good, but I might try a little more saturation for the sky, and (not sure if this will help) cropping out the ground and going to a vertical composition. That might be an interesting result.

#3, I like the variety of poses, but again, the bottom of the frame looks hot. I would have tried to increase the light on the riders a bit more. They still seem a little on the dark side.

The tone mapping in #4 created halos around the riders. Those could use a little cloning, or a lighter hand with the effect.

[bnnrcn]

I like #1, #2 and #3. I agree with Amanda about the crop of #1

[teokf]

I like #1, #2 and #3. I agree with Amanda about the crop of #1

Binnur, thanks for viewing and for those comments

[teokf]

#1 is good, but I would try to get the light higher next time. Looks a bit hot on the bike frame and the wall the rider's standing on. Light gradually falling off from face to ground would probably work better.

#2 is excellent. It's a serene extreme-sports shot, which is a nice trick. Composition's quite good, but I might try a little more saturation for the sky, and (not sure if this will help) cropping out the ground and going to a vertical composition. That might be an interesting result.

#3, I like the variety of poses, but again, the bottom of the frame looks hot. I would have tried to increase the light on the riders a bit more. They still seem a little on the dark side.

The tone mapping in #4 created halos around the riders. Those could use a little cloning, or a lighter hand with the effect.

Lex, thanks for the detailed explanations.

#1 although I liked this shot, I could not figure what is "missing" till you mentioned it. Thanks will keep this in mind for future shoots.

#2 I think the portrait crop does work, less distractions. But not sure whether without the surrounding feel of the park makes a difference to the viewer.


#3 I believe it's in the similar situation of the first photo ... not having the light high up.

#4 Noted!

Thanks for the input. Those few lines of input helped me. Much appreciated. BTW, this is my first was my first "sports/action" shoot.

[Donald]

#2 I think the portrait crop does work, less distractions. But not sure whether without the surrounding feel of the park makes a difference to the viewer.

That has turned a very good picture into an excellent image, in my opinion. My compliments.

[RustBeltRaw]

#2 I think the portrait crop does work, less distractions. But not sure whether without the surrounding feel of the park makes a difference to the viewer.

I don't think so. It's not a landscape shot, so the location isn't terribly important. At the risk of excessive self-congratulation, that crop makes #2 sing. Well done!

I often wonder why so many sports shooters keep their cameras in landscape orientation almost exclusively. Maybe because action tends to move side-to-side, but since people are usually the subject, why not use portrait orientation now and then? As long as you're pulling one person out of the action instead of shooting the overall scene, it can work rather well.

[Manfred M]

Interesting work Steven. I particularly like the last crop you did of the silhoutte; you've simplified the image and turned a good shot into one that is excellent. While I think it works in a portrait crop, I wonder how it looks as a landscape with the rider set to the left of the image.

The first and third shots are good as well, but find that the graffiti on the ramp distracting. I suspect that a tighter crop or some cleanup in post might result in stronger images; after all, I suspect that the riders and their bikes are the subject of your shot, rather than the ramp. The strength in the silhouette is in part due to the graffit not being there.

The fourth image does not work at all for me. It looks over-processed and a bit heavy-handed. I wonder if a B&W conversion (and getting rid of the halos) might work better.

[jcuknz]

My reaction to your crop is that you have forgtten than people and things need space to move into and you have cropped too much, much too much off the right where there is great cloud forms leading the eye to the subject and have lost the handrail leading the eye away from the subject which is a good crop. The cloud is so nice that a small crop from the bottom could be pleasing to leave just a narrow strip of ground or no ground at all. The clouds above him give us direction adding to the movement of the subject while more room on the right reveals cloud directing our eyes back to the subject ... as first shown the dark side/top corner tends to hold the eye in so slight darkening of the sky after the crop to do the same thing would be also good. MY tuppence and a bit worth

[teokf]

That has turned a very good picture into an excellent image, in my opinion. My compliments.

Donald, appreciate your comments

[teokf]

I don't think so. It's not a landscape shot, so the location isn't terribly important. At the risk of excessive self-congratulation, that crop makes #2 sing. Well done! ...

Lex, it sang well b'cuz the choir master conducted well

[teokf]

Interesting work Steven. I particularly like the last crop you did of the silhoutte; you've simplified the image and turned a good shot into one that is excellent. While I think it works in a portrait crop, I wonder how it looks as a landscape with the rider set to the left of the image.

The first and third shots are good as well, but find that the graffiti on the ramp distracting. I suspect that a tighter crop or some cleanup in post might result in stronger images; after all, I suspect that the riders and their bikes are the subject of your shot, rather than the ramp. The strength in the silhouette is in part due to the graffit not being there.

The fourth image does not work at all for me. It looks over-processed and a bit heavy-handed. I wonder if a B&W conversion (and getting rid of the halos) might work better.

Manfred, thanks for the thoughts behind the #2 and #3 shots. I guess I was putting too much ingredients into my photo.

the thought behind the PP of the #4 shot was to give the feel of the attitude of the riders. Putting aside the halos issue, all the riders actually liked it when I showed them the photo.

[teokf]

My reaction to your crop is that you have forgtten than people and things need space to move into and you have cropped too much, much too much off the right where there is great cloud forms leading the eye to the subject and have lost the handrail leading the eye away from the subject which is a good crop. The cloud is so nice that a small crop from the bottom could be pleasing to leave just a narrow strip of ground or no ground at all. The clouds above him give us direction adding to the movement of the subject while more room on the right reveals cloud directing our eyes back to the subject ... as first shown the dark side/top corner tends to hold the eye in so slight darkening of the sky after the crop to do the same thing would be also good. MY tuppence and a bit worth

John, your tuppence and worth is welcome. Always good to hear another opinion.

It strucked me that you are way down in the south island. I will be traveling to Queenstown in late September. Any recommendations which places I should not miss?

[Loose Canon]

Hey Steven!

Great thread, great shots of great subjects on a great day with great comments!

Not a lot to add to all that technically. I could add some personal preferences but it is just that and is of really no relevance.

Lex’s lighting positioning thoughts are right on. I would probably try some different crops of #2 which is a shot that just totally rocks (and that is not just a personal preference).

But the only real thought I might have that hasn’t been mentioned is that I might have stopped down the BG exposure by about a half stop to a stop and a half if I had the chance at the time to see if backing it off might be preferable. And then made a choice of those. That for the posed shots. You may have done that anyway for all I know and made the best decision.

Except with the silhouette shot. I may or may not have liked that BG a bit more exposed just for a tad bit more contrast between subject and BG. Actually I think you totally nailed that shot as is and you would have to do it in post because I know that one could not really be re-shot.

I wonder if the light vertical rectangular thingies in the BG by the tree line might be better off not there? Anyway, just thinking out loud Steven.

These are very cool. Well done man!

(Um, I apologize Steven! With BMX I should have said "dude" more!)