hmmm just one of my shots for crit (added another shot)

[jamesw]

shadow is a bit harsh, perhaps the crop a little loose, but i still like it...

cheers

james

[Oz_Beachside]

this shot is well done, I like the forground left in as it gives scale to the height of flight!

maybe crop some from above subject...

[Dargan]

The action and placement of the rider is great but the light lets this shot down. It doesn't allow the rider to pop out of the scene, perhaps a play with cropping might help.

Actually its the shadow, from the wheel, across the riders chest which is distracting to me as a viewer. (edit)

[jamesw]

thinking back, yeah i think the lighting let me down in this shoot, particularly for that one shot. i was using lightstands and forgot the umbrella thingos, so i couldnt angle the flash angle that i wanted.

i think this shot is more effective, it still has a nasty shadow but it is on his helmet, less distracting. the lighting is probably a bit better, i had the flash in a diff spot. a lil later so the sky is nicer too...

[Matt. K]

James
Were you using some flash fill?

[jamesw]

yes, flash on the ramp (to the left, on the rail) and flash on the rider (to the right)

almost always use flash as a lot of the time you dont have the luxury of composing the shot to take advantage of whatever natural light exists. most of the time you are composing to get the most aesthetic angle of the trick and surroundings (to provide context for the trick)

[Dargan]

Yes. I think this is a better capture. Do you ever try capturing the bikers expression with a zoom? There's a lot of concentration going on there.