Help me improve this in-air cycle shot

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

08/09/2004 05:16:50 PM · #1

Sorry! typed the ID in the title then forgot when i posted it :(

Can anyone give me some advice on this pic. I'd have liked it to be lighter on his visor and under the bike and i wasn't sure how to crop it.

Any tips would be appreciated!

Message edited by author 2004-08-09 17:19:13.

coolhar

08/09/2004 05:33:58 PM · #2

I think you have cropped it a little too closely, especially on the bottom. If the idea is to show a bike and rider flying thru the air while performing a trick, we need to see more empty space, or "air', beneath them.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/09/2004 05:50:36 PM · #3

Cheers coolhar.

Thanks to whoever sorted my title :)

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

08/09/2004 05:56:17 PM · #4

i'm not sure, but it looks like you need to clean your sensor...i usually only get those round spots when i have specs on my sensor. check on the left, in the center. please correct me if i'm wrong.

skip

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/10/2004 06:12:17 AM · #5

Ah yes, i see it. Haven't noticed that before. I'll check my other pics. Cheers for pointing it out!

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

08/10/2004 07:02:45 PM · #6

if you aren't sure, shoot a clear sky (or a white piece of paper) at F/22+ with as slow of TV as possible. if it's there (and it will be both noticeable and consistent), search the threads for sensor cleaning tips. good luck. this can be a major pita.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/10/2004 07:39:12 PM · #7

Try this...

I think adding more space "in front" of the rider gives the composition a better feel. Given how harsh the light is, I think maybe the best you can do is to convert it to B&W. It looks pretty good in black & white, with some curves and a new crop. To add the extra sky I just used a gradient fill and some blurring. Sucks to lose the nice red in the rider's suit, though.

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

08/10/2004 08:22:15 PM · #8

Great shot. Post processing on this version was pretty simple. I just did autolevels then selected just the background with "select color range" then "select Inverse" to get me just the biker. I then copied that onto a new photo and made a gradient for the background. I also ran unsharp mask at 100, 0.3, 0 to bring back out some of the detail. I don't think there was anything other than pure black under the visor and the bottom of the bike so there was no way of fixing that but I think the photo is very well exposed how it is. Great capture. Hope that helps.

Message edited by author 2004-08-10 20:25:08.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/10/2004 08:26:00 PM · #9

Holy smokes, JPR! You and I have similar tastes. I did that exact same post-processing just before conversion to black and white.

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

08/10/2004 10:34:23 PM · #10

Originally posted by bledford:

Holy smokes, JPR! You and I have similar tastes. I did that exact same post-processing just before conversion to black and white.

Cool. Why did you decide on the black and white one? I personally don't like the look of gray skies. Skies only look good in black and white images if you have interesting clouds.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/11/2004 12:27:55 AM · #11

Originally posted by JPR:

Originally posted by bledford:
Holy smokes, JPR! You and I have similar tastes. I did that exact same post-processing just before conversion to black and white.

Cool. Why did you decide on the black and white one? I personally don't like the look of gray skies. Skies only look good in black and white images if you have interesting clouds.

I don't know actually. The black and white version ultimately just spoke to me a little more. Maybe I felt the red of his shirt clashed with the blue sky.