Liberty Mountain SnowFlex Centre Dew Qualifier

[Ryan L]

So a couple months ago I went to visit some family in Virginia. They had a Dew Qualifier going on at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre in Lynchburg, Va and headed to check it out. This was a great event to shoot, so much fun. Thought I would share.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

 

[Ryan L]

...and I just decided to walk out there like I was with the media. It was on one of the espn networks. One of the places I was shooting I was asked to move because I was in the TV cameras way.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

The first image is the best of the bunch to me. Nice lines, nicely composed. What would be numbered 4, if you numbered them, could be nice, but it seems awkward. Subjects direction of assumed travel, too close to that side of the frame? Is this cropped? Eh, doesn't matter, you could add black space to make it work better.Please be kind and number your images.

 

[Ryan L]

The first image is the best of the bunch to me. Nice lines, nicely composed. What would be numbered 4, if you numbered them, could be nice, but it seems awkward. Subjects direction of assumed travel, too close to that side of the frame? Is this cropped? Eh, doesn't matter, you could add black space to make it work better.Please be kind and number your images.

Nahh none are cropped, if they are it was only a ratio change. That one in particular though I do was of course shot in 4:3, but was cropped to a 7:5 because I was printing a few out. Since he has looking toward the bottom right side I didn't mind that he was on the left side of the image. I intentionally cropped from the top just to emphisis the height he was at, he was looking to spot his landing of his rodeo 540 at this point. I was at the top of one of the larger jumps, so all except for #1 was shot looking almost straight up as they came up for their tricks. I can see where the direction of travel might be confusing with all the darkness...it was just a dark night out.

So after the explanation, do you think I should still add black to the left side? Would only take a second to do I guess if so.

Yes Bitter, those numbers are for you! lol

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Well, I am not a sport shooter, so I may be off base...the solo shots on black are slightly interesting, but being in an all black frame there is no frame of reference. I think, looking at it like them from naive eyes to the sport, they are kinda meaningless. I don't mean that to sound rude. But I look at big #2 and I can appreciate more of what is going on. I see what you are saying with your decision on bold #4, but on that one, since I don't really see the yes I use the direction of the face as my visual cue. Try cropping that one with half the black space on the right, and equal space on the left (centered). It might feel better.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

#5 is just so visually confusing to me. His body seems disjointed, and separated by the black "thing". Then the angles are strong, and break the frame edges, I struggle looking at this image trying to find something meaningful.
#3 suffers similarly, in that body definition is lost, and the subject is just kinda blobby. Maybe not h best angle for this trick. Again, keep in mind I am clueless when it comes to sports, BUT if I were looking at these images I should come away with a better understanding. No?

The first one just works on many levels that the others fail to deliver.

 

[Ryan L]

#5 I agree with, its too tight, and I can see it being confusing. I like it only because I was there and know what he was doing, but to tell a story it does not.

#4 Is actually my favorite shot, you only have a millisecond during a flip like that to capture a the face. I might try giving a little more on the left side though and see what it does.

#3 I don't see being too confusing, the blobbiness I think is his jersey being blown behind him if thats what you mean. In the sports world, its a simple grab trick and shouldnt be too confusing to a snowboarder.

#2 Is just ok for me, wish I would have shot a little further on the left.

#1 I like, but find it on the boring side to shoot. I like the action, and them on rails doesn't do it for ME. It was more exciting to shoot the jumps, but I can see needing a reference.

I have a bunch more, but didn't want to post an entire shoot!


At the angles I was at with my 70-200 it was challenging to compose, focus, and shoot. I couldnt see them coming until they actually hit the jump so I had to listen for them to come ripping though. I was going to use my 50mm 1.4, but felt I wanted the reach for some of the higher shots. Thanks, I appreciate critique that isnt familiar with the subject, if the photo doesnt tell the story, and is only understood by the photographer, its kinda useless huh.