bikes in the dirt

rgy1993 · 25th August 2007

hi all
haven't posted in a while so i thought id start off with a few pictures i took the other day of my mates riding their stunt bikes...

just wondering if i could get some comments and suggestions composition/technical wise

comments appreciated!
cheers
rolando

enjoy:

this pic i reckon would have looked cool if autofocus hadnt jammed up on my cam:

once again comments appreciated!

sammy888 · 25th August 2007

You basically have the right idea as to how to capture the shot. That will only improve with time as you get more familiar with the way they do their stunts and capturing them at just the right moment. What you need to tackle is lighting. That is the most crucial thing you will have to face especially shooting a sport like this. This is because most of the scene looks very nice from bottom shooting upwards to the sky. A blue sky is preferred. But the problrem with sky is...it can blow up the exposure issue. You end up with very dark or near dark forms of the person and bike you shoot. What you need is a fill-in flash which will compensate for the lack of lighting on the underside of the skyline which is the cyclist and his bike.

Alternatively, shoot when the sun is in the later afternoon or early morning when the sun is not high up in the sky but more to the side. That way you capture your subject in side lighting which can be pretty dramative if you get it right.

The pictures with the trees in the background with a white-out is well messy. It distrupt the shadow form of the cyclist and the bike. It would be better to just have the sky minus the trees and just capture the action as dark outline.

KhazamPC · 25th August 2007

Originally Posted by sammy888

You basically have the right idea as to how to capture the shot. That will only improve with time as you get more familiar with the way they do their stunts and capturing them at just the right moment. What you need to tackle is lighting. That is the most crucial thing you will have to face especially shooting a sport like this. This is because most of the scene looks very nice from bottom shooting upwards to the sky. A blue sky is preferred. But the problrem with sky is...it can blow up the exposure issue. You end up with very dark or near dark forms of the person and bike you shoot. What you need is a fill-in flash which will compensate for the lack of lighting on the underside of the skyline which is the cyclist and his bike.

Alternatively, shoot when the sun is in the later afternoon or early morning when the sun is not high up in the sky but more to the side. That way you capture your subject in side lighting which can be pretty dramative if you get it right.

The pictures with the trees in the background with a white-out is well messy. It distrupt the shadow form of the cyclist and the bike. It would be better to just have the sky minus the trees and just capture the action as dark outline.

True. Lighting is hard to achieve. Or you could get a good flash unit, then take at night. There's been some really good photos by fellow togoparters.

sammy888 · 26th August 2007

Originally Posted by KhazamPC

True. Lighting is hard to achieve. Or you could get a good flash unit, then take at night. There's been some really good photos by fellow togoparters.

Ehh...you can use your flash in daylight too as a "fill flash" you can shoot on TTL, Matrix or you can set it to Manual which you adjust the output in very difficult lighting condition. That way you can still have your bright sky in the background and the under side of the biker which would be in the dark will now be illuminated. ANd a good fill-in flash shot will also bright out the nice colour if the biker wears something very colourful and stylo and also show off the bike's body and parts.

kruger · 26th August 2007

Well, seems like you are luckier. Been there a few times with no riders except the regular caretaker and builder. You still have to understand about the direction of light. Your angles of shots are about but still lack the impact.

kruger · 26th August 2007

Oh, wrong section too.

deckard · 26th August 2007

the background is the problem.

rgy1993 · 26th August 2007

Originally Posted by kruger

Well, seems like you are luckier. Been there a few times with no riders except the regular caretaker and builder. You still have to understand about the direction of light. Your angles of shots are about but still lack the impact.

yer... i have a fill in flash but forgot that day.. stupid mee
currently saving up for like a cable connector so i can have the flash elsewhere and take the photos from another angle... very cool effect if you do things like street and park riding

which section is this supposed to be in? im a noob to these forums

Alleyboy · 26th August 2007

Nice!! Can you PM me the place and where to get the MTB from the first pic?
Thanks alot!!
I've been wanting to shoot such photos too... yet without opportunity.
If you are kind enough, probably we can shoot together? or ride together as well!

kruger · 26th August 2007

They should be in Reportage and Sports. I've found the only shots I have at this location.

rgy1993 · 26th August 2007

^^I like...
did you use a fill in flash for those by any chance?
oh and um would u know the price roughly for a flash cable connecter thing so i can like take photos from one angle and have the flash at another..

my father has the infra red unit to do that... i wouldnt mind one too but that is wayyyyyy over what my budget can handle..

rgy1993 · 26th August 2007

oh and a few more pics i took today towards the night time with a fill in flash:

25th August 2007	#1
rgy1993 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 648	bikes in the dirt hi all haven't posted in a while so i thought id start off with a few pictures i took the other day of my mates riding their stunt bikes... just wondering if i could get some comments and suggestions composition/technical wise comments appreciated! cheers rolando enjoy: this pic i reckon would have looked cool if autofocus hadnt jammed up on my cam: once again comments appreciated! Last edited by rgy1993; 26th August 2007 at 08:58 PM.

25th August 2007	#2
sammy888 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The East Sider Mountain Biker Posts: 915	Re: bikes in the dirt You basically have the right idea as to how to capture the shot. That will only improve with time as you get more familiar with the way they do their stunts and capturing them at just the right moment. What you need to tackle is lighting. That is the most crucial thing you will have to face especially shooting a sport like this. This is because most of the scene looks very nice from bottom shooting upwards to the sky. A blue sky is preferred. But the problrem with sky is...it can blow up the exposure issue. You end up with very dark or near dark forms of the person and bike you shoot. What you need is a fill-in flash which will compensate for the lack of lighting on the underside of the skyline which is the cyclist and his bike. Alternatively, shoot when the sun is in the later afternoon or early morning when the sun is not high up in the sky but more to the side. That way you capture your subject in side lighting which can be pretty dramative if you get it right. The pictures with the trees in the background with a white-out is well messy. It distrupt the shadow form of the cyclist and the bike. It would be better to just have the sky minus the trees and just capture the action as dark outline.

26th August 2007	#5
kruger Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampines Posts: 894	Re: bikes in the dirt Well, seems like you are luckier. Been there a few times with no riders except the regular caretaker and builder. You still have to understand about the direction of light. Your angles of shots are about but still lack the impact.

26th August 2007	#6
kruger Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampines Posts: 894	Re: bikes in the dirt Oh, wrong section too.

26th August 2007	#7
deckard Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,244	Re: bikes in the dirt the background is the problem.

26th August 2007	#9
Alleyboy Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Yew Tee Posts: 240	Re: bikes in the dirt Nice!! Can you PM me the place and where to get the MTB from the first pic? Thanks alot!! I've been wanting to shoot such photos too... yet without opportunity. If you are kind enough, probably we can shoot together? or ride together as well!

26th August 2007	#10
kruger Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampines Posts: 894	Re: bikes in the dirt They should be in Reportage and Sports. I've found the only shots I have at this location.

26th August 2007	#11
rgy1993 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 648	Re: bikes in the dirt ^^I like... did you use a fill in flash for those by any chance? oh and um would u know the price roughly for a flash cable connecter thing so i can like take photos from one angle and have the flash at another.. my father has the infra red unit to do that... i wouldnt mind one too but that is wayyyyyy over what my budget can handle..

26th August 2007	#12
rgy1993 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 648	Re: bikes in the dirt oh and a few more pics i took today towards the night time with a fill in flash: