Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Got a thin skin? Then look elsewhere. Post a link to an image that you've made, and invite others to offer their critiques. Honesty is encouraged, but please be positive in your constructive criticism. Flaming and just plain nastiness will not be tolerated. Please note that this is not an area for you to showcase your images, nor is this a place for you to show-off where you have been. This is an area for you to post images so that you may share with us a technique that you have mastered, or are trying to master. Typically, no more than about four images should be posted in any one post or thread, and the maximum size of any side of any image should not exceed 950 px.

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please note that image critiquing is a matter of give and take: if you post images for critique, and you then expect to receive criticism, then it is also reasonable, fair and appropriate that, in return, you post your critique of the images of other members here as a matter of courtesy. So please do offer your critique of the images of others; your opinion is important, and will help everyone here enjoy their visit to far greater extent.

Also please note that, unless you state something to the contrary, other members might attempt to repost your image with their own post processing applied. We see this as an acceptable form of critique, but should you prefer that others not modify your work, this is perfectly ok, and you should state this, either within your post, or within your signature.

Images posted here should conform with the general forum guidelines. Image sizes should not exceed 950 pixels along the largest side (height or width) and typically no more than four images per post or thread.

Please also ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is.

Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby biggerry on Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:21 am

Last weekend saw the Tough Bloke Challenge down at Cataract Scout Park, my sister competed in the event (completed it in 1 hr 4mins with one penatly too :up: ) so whilst all manner of people traversed the course I took the opportunity to have a look at the obstacles and track and take a few pictures.

For the second time round (following on from my session at the AFL) my hat's off to sports photographers again...it ain't as easy as it looks! There were a number of pro guys/gals there at set positions getting shots of the competitors, given the conditions of the obstacle course getting nice shots was hard, lots of shadows and very bright sunny day and fast competitors.

I was operating on the semi auto mode which was my first mistake, I found after a while switching to the fully manual gave me much better results, from a exposure point of view anyway. Composition was hard - I was trying to get lots of isolation between the competitors and the background, but given the close quarters and having only a wider angle lens this was hard. Looking back through the images the next week, I reckon you really need to get in front of the competitors to get them running into the frame with a full frontal style!

Anyway, thoughts and suggestions for this kind of thing for next time?

DebT with her hippo series gave me the idea for the series image here too... (its pretty close too 200kb and within 800px so hopefully it only counts as one image)

Image

Image

Image

Image
gerry's photography journey
No amount of processing will fix bad composition - trust me i have tried.
User avatar
biggerry
Senior Member
 
Posts: 5930
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 12:40 am
Location: Under the flight path, Newtown, Sydney

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby aim54x on Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:36 am

Nice pics there Gerry, and I would agree that it would have been a tough gig....you really have captured the action in these shots...and I do like the first pic (or is it three?)
Cameron
Nikon F/Nikon 1 | Hasselblad V/XPAN| Leica M/LTM |Sony α/FE/E/Maxxum/M42
Wishlist Nikkor 24/85 f/1.4| Fuji Natura Black
Scout-Images | Flickr | 365Project
User avatar
aim54x
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7305
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Penshurst, Sydney

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby sirhc55 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:49 am

I have always believed that some of the women I have known were blokes and after correlating your title plus the images of those lovely young ladies it would appear that I’m right :rotfl2:

Seriously, all images give a great indication of the tough course and as such, they are winners :up:
Chris
--------------------------------
I started my life with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left
User avatar
sirhc55
Key Member
 
Posts: 12930
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: Port Macquarie - Olympus EM-10

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby Frankenstein on Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:27 pm

You've got a great bunch of shots there; they really convey the toughness of the course (not to mention the competitors). I've never heard of this event - it sounds like fun and if I was about 50 years younger I'd have a go!

Frank
My photo gallery: http://www.frankalvaro.net
>>>> Nikon D300...Nikon 18-200 VR...Sigma 10-20...Tamron 90mm macro <<<<
"I've got an idea--an idea so smart that my head would explode if I even began to know what I'm talking about. " Peter Griffin
User avatar
Frankenstein
Senior Member
 
Posts: 504
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:23 pm
Location: Ruse (Sydney)

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby Matt. K on Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:46 pm

Gerry
Not bad, but all of those pics would have been improved with a little fill flash to open up the shadows. I often use my SB800 with minus 1.3 dialled in and it makes a big difference.
Regards

Matt. K
User avatar
Matt. K
Former Outstanding Member Of The Year and KM
 
Posts: 9981
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:12 pm
Location: North Nowra

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby colin_12 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:35 pm

Now you are trying new things aren't you. :mrgreen:

I also like #1. The different emergence strategies are great to see.
Regards Colin
Cameras, lenses and a lust for life
User avatar
colin_12
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1853
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:10 pm
Location: Hazelbrook

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby biggerry on Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:18 pm

you really have captured the action in these shots

ta Cam!

women I have known were blokes

hopefully not too intimately :roll:

those lovely young ladies

some were very nice indeed and my hats off to them for getting in risking the nails to have a crack!

great indication of the tough course and as such, they are winners

that was what I was trying to do, i am glad it came across...

I've never heard of this event - it sounds like fun and if I was about 50 years younger I'd have a go!

the great thing about the event is you can do it at your own pace and skip whatever obstacles you feel you are not up too!

little fill flash to open up the shadows. I often use my SB800 with minus 1.3 dialled in and it makes a big difference.


great idea, I wish I had thought of that at the time! that probably would have saved alot of images that I had to dump...

Now you are trying new things aren't you.
I also like #1. The different emergence strategies are great to see.


trying to get out of the comfort zone :cough:

yes, these emergence strategies were very, very funny....definitely an advantage if your a small bloke!
gerry's photography journey
No amount of processing will fix bad composition - trust me i have tried.
User avatar
biggerry
Senior Member
 
Posts: 5930
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 12:40 am
Location: Under the flight path, Newtown, Sydney

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby surenj on Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:21 pm

Gerry, nice captures! Looking at the environment and harsh light, I would have given up before taking a picture. Love the tryptych tunnel exit! Great idea.

I think this one would be great to try out some hanky panky from CLS... What if you had one or two sb600's or something clamped to some of those trees........ :mrgreen:
User avatar
surenj
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7197
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:21 pm
Location: Artarmon NSW

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby biggerry on Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:14 pm

Love the tryptych tunnel exit! Great idea.

ta

try out some hanky panky from CLS... What if you had one or two sb600's


yes that would have been the smart thing to do - it did not even click after walking past one of the photogs who had an external flash rigged at ground level off to the left and then was shooting from head on with another flash onboard - oh it did not help that I left the flash at home.... :violin:

Looking back, I did not even consider flash - I will remember that for next time tho!
gerry's photography journey
No amount of processing will fix bad composition - trust me i have tried.
User avatar
biggerry
Senior Member
 
Posts: 5930
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 12:40 am
Location: Under the flight path, Newtown, Sydney

Re: Tough Bloke Challenge 2009

Postby aim54x on Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:46 pm

How could you forget the flash??? I hope your having fun with it!
Cameron
Nikon F/Nikon 1 | Hasselblad V/XPAN| Leica M/LTM |Sony α/FE/E/Maxxum/M42
Wishlist Nikkor 24/85 f/1.4| Fuji Natura Black
Scout-Images | Flickr | 365Project
User avatar
aim54x
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7305
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Penshurst, Sydney


Return to Image Reviews and Critiques