Mountain biking shots

[Buter]

Long time loiterer, first time posterer.

Pretty much all I shoot is freeride mountain biking. Composition, exposure and lighting are a complete pain in the whatsit, but, as getting loose on a bike is my main passion in life, I still enjoy it.

By all means, criticise anything I post into oblivion - I'm not here for a pat on the back, I'm trying to get a bit better!

Cheers

Buter

 

[molested_cow]

I think the second one is great, but a bit under exposed.

 

[ronlane]

I like the panning effect on #2. #1 would have been great with a different angle, perhaps to camera right to get the other photog out of the picture.

 

[runnah]

Butter, are you using a speedlight? If you are it seems like you need to boost the power.

 

[Mully]

Two is good ...will be great with a little brightening

 

[imagemaker46]

Second one I like, have you tried cropping the first one into a vertical? I think there is enough room to crop and still not have the rider leaving the frame. The only problem I see is that you'll end up with the rider dead centre in the frame, it's worth playing with.

 

[Buter]

Hi guys

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm really surprised to hear multiple people say the 2nd image is dark. Even looking at it objectively, I still don't get that. Yes, where we ride I have to shoot with speedlites. To say it's hit and miss would be an understatement! I'll start going slightly brighter and see what happens.

WRT the composition in the first shot - God bless the D800, that is a tiny crop of the original! I was trying to showcase the size of the gap, but the rider didn't whip the tail out until he was nearly at the landing, and it was the tail whip that takes the picture from 'meh', to 'cool'. I've always struggled composition wise with this jump (and many others ).

Cheers

Buter

 

[Sarmad]

Second one is better than the first one, but is a bit underexposed and the flash wasn't powerful enough so it looks kinda unreal!

 

[DBA]

I was trying to showcase the size of the gap, but the rider didn't whip the tail out until he was nearly at the landing, and it was the tail whip that takes the picture from 'meh', to 'cool'. I've always struggled composition wise with this jump (and many others ).

I shoot (& ride) motocross so I know where you're coming from. Have you considered more of a head-on shot? Down low and slightly to the side of the landing?

 

[texkam]

Looks like you know where to set up to capture the action. Keep shooting and posting. Have a look at the work of the great Tom Moran. Tom was a 2005 inductee in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in the Journalism category. He covers cycling events around the globe.

Mountain Bike Photos

 

[Buter]

Thanks guys!

I'll have a look at Tom's photos, Tex.

We've had nothing but wind and rain since June of last year, give or take the odd day, but we've been blessed with blue skies and that big ball of fire in the sky for the past couple of days. I was having too much fun riding yesterday but managed to get the camera out for about 20 mins and got about 5 keepers.

One is a bit soft and the one of me on the gap jump is struggling a bit composition wise, but we still had a blast. Need to go through the ones from today, but here's a couple for your viewing pleasure!





Cheers

Buter

 

[runnah]

The last one is best IMO. The first two aren't really impressive as far as size of the jump, especially on soft tails.

 

[Sarmad]

I really like the last ones, runnah is right about the first two photos. I think the problem in the first post photographs was only the lack of light!

 

[Buter]

?

It's a 35 foot gap...

 

[Buter]

By way of comparison, this is a 17 ft. gap with a 10 ft. stepdown - the drop you think is not very impressive is just over twice this distance and has no runout.



Yeah, I could have cropped out my mate who was holding the flash, but I actually liked the shot better with him in it.

B