A few wakeboarding shots...

Sirashley · Jul 14, 2011

Well, I went out to the ski park a few days back and although I still have not gotten through all my shots, I figured I'd post these to get some opinions. This was only my second time shooting wakeboarders and let me tell you, not easy... The fast movement and side motions make panning difficult and anticipation is everything... Lighting... well... that's a whole other story... LoL... Anyway, here are a few, C&C of course is always welcome and thanks for looking...

mickmac · Jul 14, 2011

It might just be me but unless I can see the water in the shots, it doesn't mean much to me.

WesternGuy · Jul 15, 2011

One of the things I have learned about sports photography, is that the images have to show the context of the main elements in the sport, in this case, water. As mickmac says you need to be able to see the water or some indication that water is involved for this to mean anything to the average person looking at your images. Having said that, #1 is quite good as it definitely conveys the feeling of action - not sure about the B&W conversion. If the 2nd and 3rd ones are crops and there was water cropped out, then you might trying cropping them differently so that some of the water shows. A close-up of the participant is not necessary as he/she is not really the main subject here, rather I suspect you are trying to convey the "action" in the sport. If you haven't seen it, you might want to take a look at some of Bill Doster's work here: Bill Doster Photography: Wakeboarding Photography, Boating Photography, Water Ski Photography,Wakeboadring Photos, Boating Photography, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Sirashley · Jul 15, 2011

Hey thanks for the feedback... I forget that if you are not a wakeboarder, you would want more than just a guy on a wakeboard

and I agree that water is definitely a necessary component of the shot. These were just three of my personal favs and the two without water were cropped that way because its a cable park, so there were other riders on boards, and swimming in the water. There was stuff in the background everywhere...LoL... Anyway, here are a few more that at least have water in them, albeit not right beneath the rider though... Lastly, I do have more shots of these guys hitting rails, I just haven't got to editing yet, so when I'm done with those, I'll post a few for critique

I found this shot Ironic...

eric-holmes · Jul 15, 2011

Wakepark?

Sirashley · Jul 15, 2011

eric-holmes said:
Wakepark?

Yeah man, here is a link to their website... Its an absolute blast, but a knee injury forced me into an early retirement. Now I just sit on the shore like an old man with my camera LoL...

http://www.skirixenusa.com/

WesternGuy · Jul 15, 2011

That's better...

...at least now I can relate to what is going on, but I can sympathize with trying to get "unpopulated" images, sor to flike trying to take pictures at a parade without gettin crowds in it (LOL). I agree that first one is kind of ironic...nice board though. I don't know if you went and looked at Doster's site, but if you haven't, I would still urge you to do so...some of his images are...well, I just wish I could come close to the sort of things he has.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

ryan_caldero · Jul 15, 2011

Sirashley said:
Hey thanks for the feedback... I forget that if you are not a wakeboarder, you would want more than just a guy on a wakeboard and I agree that water is definitely a necessary component of the shot. These were just three of my personal favs and the two without water were cropped that way because its a cable park, so there were other riders on boards, and swimming in the water. There was stuff in the background everywhere...LoL... Anyway, here are a few more that at least have water in them, albeit not right beneath the rider though... Lastly, I do have more shots of these guys hitting rails, I just haven't got to editing yet, so when I'm done with those, I'll post a few for critique

I found this shot Ironic...

Dude that shot is classic! I happened to like your photos and I am not a wake boarder but I can appreciate a good picture... Can't satisfy them all I guess...