Another surf shot - does it work?

[sheepie]

Taken with the 12-24DX - distance becomes very deceptive with this lens, I was only about a metre from him...



Comments would be appreciated - am still coming to terms with what works and doesn't work with this lens!

[sheepie]

[bump]

I'm not one to promote my own posts usually, but it looks like this has missed the radar and I'd appreciate some feedback on this one please.

Thanks heaps

[the foto fanatic]

sheepie, I think your subject is too small in this pic.

It does give the impression of a small surfer in a great big ocean, which may have been your intention, but I think it would work better if you were a little closer to him (and also a little lower, but I know there'd be concerns about water v D70).

I find that I use this lens for groups of people or landscapes mostly.

[Alpha_7]

I'd have to agree that your young fella is a little too small in this pic.
If you were trying to make him look small compared to the surf I would of tried the lower perspective (being careful of the sand and water).

[avkomp]

my first thoughts when I saw this was that it reminded me of a happy snap taken with a point and shoot camera.
At the time I thought that the shooter needed to be closer to the shootee.

Reading deeper, I notice that you shot it with the 12-24 and that you were only 1 metre from the subject.
I havent had my hands on this lens but I just find it amazing that you get this much water between you and the subject from 1 metre. I dont think the perceived distance in front of the subject compared to the background works.

In that case perhaps you could try shooting it not as wide but still shoot very close to the subject and try to exploit the typical wide DOF of the lens.
I think I would try to shoot from lower also

Steve

[sheepie]

Thanks for the advice all - agree that Lucas is too 'far away' in the pick, and have a feeling getting lower may have helped as well.
As it is, it's like so many pics - it's a great memory. As such, I'm still happy with it - it's sharp, colours are nice, and it (to me at least) gives me a sense of the movement and fun being enjoyed

[lejazzcat]

Thanks for the advice all - agree that Lucas is too 'far away' in the pick, and have a feeling getting lower may have helped as well.
As it is, it's like so many pics - it's a great memory. As such, I'm still happy with it - it's sharp, colours are nice, and it (to me at least) gives me a sense of the movement and fun being enjoyed

Sheepie - ide like to suggest that you recrop (zoom in) and use a filter blur (radial or motion blur and lens blur to change the dof) and a reverse mask to help create a stronger sense of motion around your boy. Its all too frozen (imho).
Its a pity that its not capturing a climactic point of action,such as the wave or whitewash crashing into him, if you know what i mean - a action shot...
With such a wide angle portrait, you really need to have a strong foreground and background point of interest , and thats rather lacking on both points. the stationary water at the front and a cloudless sky at the back.

I mean no critisism - just another opinion.

[sheepie]

I mean no critisism - just another opinion.

No critisism taken - I like your suggestions! As I say, I'm coming to terms with what does and doesn't work at these wide angles. Want to get some technique working for me b4 NZ