KiteSurfing

[Black Pearl]

So I was driving along the coast yesterday having dropped the youngest and the Mrs at a birthday party when I spotted some nutters playing in the surf. Went home with fingers crossed hoping the Nikon would have a bit of charge in the battery (it did) then went back having bunged my longest zoom on the front.

The water temp was 7°c (44.6°f) with ambient temps about the same. It was slinging it down with rain and there was a strong on-shore gale - that was why they were there apparently - so not the best conditions to try and take some pictures but what the hell.

I set the camera to auto ISO (maxed at 1600) and dialled in a minimum shutter speed of 1/500s (upped it after a while to 1/100s as it wasn't quite fast enough) then picked f11 to ease up on the focus accuracy and get a bit of bite - at 300mm and wide open it isn't very sharp.

I got soaked and the camera was drenched - honestly you'd think I'd put it in a bucket of salty water but that's what its built for so just carried on shooting. The front element despite a deep hood kept getting covered in spray to the point where I could barely see though it and the light was awful so I've had a fight with the files in LR.

Had fun though which is the main thing and I got talking to the lads after who had been playing up to the camera (sent them some shots) so I'll be back when the sun is out to get some more pictures and see if we can work on the angles.


Nikon D300s
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
1/500s or 1/100s @ f11
ISO's between 320 and 1600









I love my D300s - she's an old girl but can still rock out the shots when she needs to. The AF is brilliant, the speed is great, the build is fantastic and the overall controls are perfect. That said at high ISO's the sensor can get a bit wayward particularly when you have grim light and low contrast to deal with so noise can be an issue. I've had to fight these to get anything like a usable image but I'm happy enough (ignore the dust I forgot to clone out) and I will be back.

[John 2]

That's a great set Robin and the 70 - 300mm has done you proud. The last time I was there shooting just this subject, I was shooting with a Canon G7 so you should worry. Must go back.

[Stagecoach]

Great set Robin, this is what you call making the camera work for you. I'm sure they will be extremely pleased with the standard of the shots.

[Shadowman]

Nice images.

[Black Pearl]

Thanks - the lens isn't the sharpest wide open and at full length but the AF motors are excellent and the VR on Normal does a fantastic job of stabilising the image, particularly on panning shots.

[FrankMi]

A super set under these conditions Robin, with a lot of action!

I love the broiling sea and background setting the scene in first one, but there seems to be a spot upper left? I found the last one quite interesting because the surfer looks clean-shaven, but only in that image!

[Black Pearl]

Thanks

Two different blokes, I've more of the last one but didn't want to swamp the post.

It's dust - mentioned I forgot/ couldn't be bothered to clone it out.

[NorthernFocus]

Looks like a good time had by all, subjects and shooter.

I do miss the old D300.

[IzzieK]

Nice shots, Robin...what fun!

[Black Pearl]

Thanks.

Dan:
I don't use the D300s much day-to-day but it always feels right whenever I pick it up.

[FootLoose]

Great set, Robin, particularly the 3rd with the guy air-borne and the drops of water trailing off the board.