Dirt Jump Mountain Biking

[fokker]

2 Shots from the last couple of days down at the local dirt jump park. This sport is very popular with the kids here, and some of them have mad skills as you can see here.

I'm actually trying to get a shot published on a local magazine's front page, and I'm going to submit one of these but I'm not sure which one.


C&C appreciated


5D mk2 and 70-300 IS USM

1. 70mm ISO 200 f/7.1 1/400


IMG_6990 by rattyboy, on Flickr


2. 70mm ISO 400 f/6.3 1/800


IMG_6959 by rattyboy, on Flickr

 

[jfrabat]

I REALLY like #1; I think the flare actually works to give the image a nice taste...

 

[12sndsgood]

#1 is upside down. might want to rotate it.





I like #1 as well. like the background, the dirt trail coming up. even like the lens flare, second one to me just doesnt have the impact. Wondering if its the fact that your looking at the back of him versus having him more coming to you.

 

[imagemaker46]

I like where you are going with these, would like to see more use of the mountains, you've got such a great area for some amazing images, keep at it, early morning or around sunset when the light gets great. Lots of potential here.

 

[fokker]

I REALLY like #1; I think the flare actually works to give the image a nice taste...

Thanks - I agree on the flare. I intentionally shot into the sun on this one (I actually have about 20 very similar shots with the same basic setup but I like this one the best) to get some lens flare going on just because I like it (It's not photoshopped, more or less straight out of camera with minor lightroom adjustments)

#1 is upside down. might want to rotate it.





I like #1 as well. like the background, the dirt trail coming up. even like the lens flare, second one to me just doesnt have the impact. Wondering if its the fact that your looking at the back of him versus having him more coming to you.

Lol, I have another one where the rider is perfectly upside down, but it lacks the same sense of vertigo-inducing height and movement of this one for some reason.

I too prefer #1 on it's own, but I feel that both are equal contenders in terms of my chances of getting it on the magazine cover. The second one scores highly here because of the expressions on the kids' faces as they watch the guy jumping over the girl, plus the background features a well recognised local building as well as the mountain. In terms of coming towards of moving away, usually I would agree but I thought in this case the faces of the kids made up for that.

I like where you are going with these, would like to see more use of the mountains, you've got such a great area for some amazing images, keep at it, early morning or around sunset when the light gets great. Lots of potential here.

Agreed, the setting is quite unique and beautiful and I have been making the most of it as much as possible in the late spring evening sun, especially since that's the local groms seem to come out and play. I feel the next level is getting my speedlights into the mix, and possibly my fisheye lens too when the adapter for it finally gets here.

 

[Cpi2011]

Great stuff i like your images very much specially the first image is mind blowing.

 

[DanPower]

I love the first one, the mountains in the background remind me of New Zealand.... beautiful scenery! Been wanting to hit up BC for a long time... but I'm back in japan next winter, maybe the winter after?

Just one thought (I'm a total noob but this just occurred to me) if you are going for a cover shot won't the image need to be in a vertical (portrait) layout? You'll lose heaps of image #1 if they have to crop it to make it vertical... Forgive me if I've misunderstood it's just the first thing that I thought of when you mentioned the magazine...

 

[fokker]

Great stuff i like your images very much specially the first image is mind blowing.

Thank you, I don't think anyone has ever described any of my photos as mind-blowing before, so I must be improving!

I love the first one, the mountains in the background remind me of New Zealand.... beautiful scenery! Been wanting to hit up BC for a long time... but I'm back in japan next winter, maybe the winter after?

Just one thought (I'm a total noob but this just occurred to me) if you are going for a cover shot won't the image need to be in a vertical (portrait) layout? You'll lose heaps of image #1 if they have to crop it to make it vertical... Forgive me if I've misunderstood it's just the first thing that I thought of when you mentioned the magazine...

BC does actually remind me a lot of NZ too (native kiwi here) in a lot of ways. This is just my ski season over here that has turned into a mountain biking summer as well

You are correct about the crop ratio, although the magazine has a square layout, so I can crop the photo down and still keep most of the good bits in it. I knew this when I was shooting, so I'm not sure why I didn't take a few more steps back to allow for a heavier cropping, but oh well live and learn I guess.

BTW the snow here in Fernie was epic, we had about a 8m base for most of the season and powder days with over a metre of fresh dry stuff

 

[pickle788]

I once rode a downhill bike and did jumps like these and raced... but age has now caught up with me and when i hit the ground it takes 10 times as long to heal.
So now i take photos of it instead lol
great shots too by the way