Post-Run Swim--First B&W attempt!

[D-B-J]

Here it is! Comments and critiques are greatly appreciated!

Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: 50mm 1.8
Filter: 52mm polarizing
ISO: 250
Shutter: 1/400
Aperture: 4.5

Taken in RAW and edited in lightroom, then photoshop. Converted to B&W in lightroom 3

 

[Derrel]

A lot less empty space on the right, and more diving board on the left would have really pulled this shot together. A vertical composition could have been a very strong contender.

 

[D-B-J]

A lot less empty space on the right, and more diving board on the left would have really pulled this shot together. A vertical composition could have been a very strong contender.

'

Thats exactly what i was thinking, but i wanted to make sure it wasnt just me. I went a lil crazy on the rule of thirds here. Tomorrow im going to retake it in vertical, with more of the diving board in play here to work some diagonal lines in. Still not sure about the "jumping off."
I tried diving, but i ended up facing the camera and it just looked weird. Any ideas?

 

[Derrel]

Well, yeah, I have a couple ideas....first off, color would really help the shot. Also, if the diver's legs were more shown, that would help. If the diving board were bent down, and he were in the air, it would look very realisitic....cropped to the bottoms of some long,modern style swim trunks would convey they idea of diving off a diving board quite well....but that would require a remote release in your hand and/or a second person with you running the camera...

A vertical shot would allow you to put the shoes in the foreground, show the diving board, and include the diver's feet and lower legs....if the diver were blurred a little bit, that would really look awesome....like shot at maybe 1/20th to 1/40 second, with everything else in the foreground sharp, and the diving board a bit blurred too....

Another option would be to shoot this at twilight, and use flash + rear curtain synch and a slow shutter speed....you could get a really cool-looking photo that would look like an advertisement for a shoe or sunglasses company...set the flash to second-curtain synch and shoot at ISO 400 at maybe 1/8 second at close to ambient light level, with just a tiny, low-powered squirt of flash to create that "ghosting" image on the diving board and the diver's feet and legs....might have to shoot at a higher ISO if it is late-late in the day...you would need a careful balance of daylight exposure + just the right amount of flash power,and plenty of attempts.

It could be awesome!!!!

 

[D-B-J]

hahaha, so many possibilities! i think i will attempt it again tomorrow. Lets hope it goes well!