p.1 #1 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Hello,
I am simply looking for some feedback on my three photos which I took this past weekend at a local race.
Personally, I like the idea of motion and the pop of colour and instant freeze that was created by my flash. This was taken with a 24-70 and one SB-800 camera mounted as I had no room to safely put the flash off-camera. As it was, I was flat out against the wall with the riders zooming by me quite fast.
In the third photo I balanced the flash with ambient light than decided to get more of a ghosting effect for the first and second photos. I have not received any feedback from riders that have seen my photos and am just curious if this type of photography is more art, bad technique or has no place in magazines. I do sell my photos and interestingly enough I only had one sale of this type. The others that sold are more traditional type of action photos. I guess that alone says something right there!
I appreciate and welcome all comments and thanks for looking.
Added this photo in response to a user wanting to know if it was possible to shoot from a different location in the barn.
Added this photo in response to a user wanting to know if it was possible to shoot from a different location in the barn.
p.1 #2 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
I like the third shot with the panning effect the most.
I do feel like the first two are more artistic, or can be used to show the "course" off, however shot 3 works for me if you're shooting for the rider.
p.1 #4 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Pedwatt - I was shooting both in and outdoors. The race went through a barn...which is not usually something that happens. I wanted to incorporate the barn in my photos as it's unique, plus, I liked the textures in the wood panels. And, shooting indoors is different for me and I wasn't getting sunburned
p.1 #5 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Slay12345 - Thanks for the feedback. This is what I was looking for. I sometimes tend to get too artistic and tend to forget that not every rider wants something fancy - thus I should be thinking more like a ride. Which is funny because I am and I like to have both action and artsy photos. Maybe it's because I'm a girl and I like both
p.1 #6 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Ok I will give feedback now.
1. Images 1 and 2 are a cool effect if you were providing image for the track, but in my opinion they need to wider for that purpose, they still feel like you were trying to take a picture of the rider and not the track, as tight as you have it. Maybe if you had climb the ladder, had the light streaming in through the dust and riders blurr riding through the length of the barn.
2. All three images feel like you looking down on the subject, aka standing. Try squatting, sitting or lying down for a different perspective, anyone on fence can get a picture at this perspective. They want the images from you, that mom can't take.
3. Image number three is what a rider would buy here. Things to remember when dealing with Motorsports pictures. You not there to capture only a member, but to capture a advertising piece. These riders that buy your work, add them to their portfolio when they talk to sponsors, they post them to facebook to brag, and use them to study what their doing wrong.
I do have a personal policy of looking up a person work when they critique me to see their background. So here is a recent post with some of my work in it, Number 8 is very similar to your concept https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1214202
p.1 #9 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Pedwatt - all 3 points very well taken and great advice.
To clarify though, I actually was squatting (my knees hurt a lot by the end of having over 175 riders go through the barn at different times of the day pending on category). But, I was on a small step that had a door. I was actually on the step, on my knees as far back as I could go and more or less flush with the wall (hard to explain). If I went back further I couldn't get the full rider in as the door frame would have gotten in my way. I also had to be on the step as I would most likely have gotten hit by the few riders that came in close to me. Luckily, most went wide. I don't yet have the sweet 14-28 mm lens that I would like and had my 24-70mm right at 24mm. For some shots I barely got the rider in.
I decided to stick with this location as I had a bunch of other 'safe' shots and wanted to try something different and new. And, yes, the feedback about the part where 'mom' can take these photos hits hard but this is the type of feedback I need. I need to be different as I'm charging people for these pics. But, need to be different with good shots.
As for the part about getting sponsors - you are absolutely correct. And I should know this as I'm a former pro racers myself and was always looking for sponsor shots. I just get wrapped up in fancy techniques sometimes that I lose my way and thank goodness for this forum to set me back in line again
Thanks again for your invaluable feedback. I will take a peak at your work and am looking forward to it!!
p.1 #10 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
Experimenting is what takes our safety stock photos from great to amazingly awesome. Keep experimenting and posting and we will all keep growing. The mom comment was not meant to hurt, but I had been shooting MX for about 6 monthes and I meet a photographer from MotoPlayground and we had a great conversation and he invited me to send him my work so he would help me evolve to the next level. So I emailed him about 10 pictures and his entire response was "Mom on the fence with a $200.00 point and shoot took these, where is you work? It's your job to get what no one else can, not what everyone can." and that changed my entire paradigm on photography
p.1 #11 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
That's a great quote which I will take to heart. I'm always striving to better my work and create art where I can. Thanks so much for sharing!!
I'm off for a photo shoot tomorrow. Get to ride my bike with about 50lbs of gear on my back for a client who needs photos for his website. Your quote will come in handy while I shoot and get something different.
p.1 #12 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
2wheelterror wrote:
To clarify though, I actually was squatting (my knees hurt a lot by the end of having over 175 riders go through the barn at different times of the day pending on category).
I have a small (short) three legged stool that rotates… about $20 at Wal-Mart…
Saves knees...
p.1 #13 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
For the barn shot, is there anyway to get the coming or going with the opening and the rider going through? Maybe it doesn't show enough wow factor, but that's what came to mind.
Personally I like the pan in 3 the best. Capturing the rider and the motion affect IMHO make for a shot not everyone can do. I don't think people appreciate the blurred driver and the back flash for affect. I think the average viewer says wow you messed up that shot, didn't even freeze the cycle.
I've been sitting on a flipped over milk crate. I used it to carry extra gear in (knee pads) then use it as either a seat or a stool depending on where I'm at :-)
p.1 #14 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
jspytek - Here's a photo of the inside of the barn, shot with my 24-40 at 24mm. I didn't like this vantage point, nor the backaground (I liked the wood and the ladder in the photos above).
I also shot one as the rider was coming out of the barn. This could have had more possibility with a different crop. Perhaps next year I will try this location instead.
And, I was wearing knee pads as I was getting around the 10km loop on my trials bike so was wearing my mx boots and knee pads as well. however, it was the constant up and down that finally did my knees in. Guess I'm not 20 anymore
p.1 #15 · Shutter Dragging in Off-Road Motorcycling
#3 is good IMO, like others said grab those that sell and when you have a solid mix of those then grab those that give you that personal satisfaction. I like motion in my shots but I have also had the same experience that they are not the favorites of those I photographed.
Also, try taking a lower stance and shooting at an angle up. It gives the riders more of a presence in the frame.
