Just better hope that wind stays up
Lou
1

2

I don't know if you want comments or not, but here is my opinion. I'm a total photograph amateur but I kiteboard almost everyday since 7 years. I'll suspect that you may not be a kiteboarder as you're doing the classic (and boring at least IMHO) pictures where the photographer try to 'squeeze' the 30 yards of line, the kite and the kiter in the shot and from the shore. The only way it does work is if you shoot the kiter jumping above you and then you've the kite somewhere in the background more in a vertical dimension, or if the kiter is gybing and then you take the shot with him heading back and the kite still low on the water. And with such shots you can really get a close shot of the the kiter. Consider kiting like wakeboarding: most of the pictures you only see the wakeboarder and not the boat or the cable. Same thing with tow-surfing on most of the shot you'll not see the ski pulling. In kiting (kiteboarding or snow-kiting) you want to shoot the kiter and not all the time include the kite (except if you get the right angle, i.e. either underneath with a water housing or above from an helicopter). And this is this type of shot, focusing on the athlete more than the kite that you see in the kite magazines. But for sure you'll still have 'landscape' photos with a bunch of kites/kiters or one kiter and his kite in a paradisaic location. Close to what could be your first shot. But with the simple ocean background it does not do it here (for me), as more than that they are not kiting away from the beach to go to Europe but more back & forth with a side-on wind and we still see the shore break waves and no swell, i.e. does not give the feeling of being in the middle of the ocean.
And even me as an avid kiter I've problem to take good (at least composition wise) kite photos from shore. The kite is really tricky to include in the photo, that's why is better not to want to include it except if you get the right angle, i.e. the kite behind the kiter. As an examples look at the covers of one of the kiteboarding mag.
As being a total photograph amateur I really don't like to be negative, but I wanted to give some inside info. Nonetheless I really like the colors rendering of #1. Good luck with your next kiteboarding shots!

JeffMerlet wrote:
I don't know if you want comments or not, but here is my opinion. I'm a total photograph amateur but I kiteboard almost everyday since 7 years. I'll suspect that you may not be a kiteboarder as you're doing the classic (and boring at least IMHO) pictures where the photographer try to 'squeeze' the 30 yards of line, the kite and the kiter in the shot and from the shore. The only way it does work is if you shoot the kiter jumping above you and then you've the kite somewhere in the background more in a vertical dimension, or if the kiter is gybing and then you take the shot with him heading back and the kite still low on the water. And with such shots you can really get a close shot of the the kiter. Consider kiting like wakeboarding: most of the pictures you only see the wakeboarder and not the boat or the cable. Same thing with tow-surfing on most of the shot you'll not see the ski pulling. In kiting (kiteboarding or snow-kiting) you want to shoot the kiter and not all the time include the kite (except if you get the right angle, i.e. either underneath with a water housing or above from an helicopter). And this is this type of shot, focusing on the athlete more than the kite that you see in the kite magazines. But for sure you'll still have 'landscape' photos with a bunch of kites/kiters or one kiter and his kite in a paradisaic location. Close to what could be your first shot. But with the simple ocean background it does not do it here (for me), as more than that they are not kiting away from the beach to go to Europe but more back & forth with a side-on wind and we still see the shore break waves and no swell, i.e. does not give the feeling of being in the middle of the ocean.
And even me as an avid kiter I've problem to take good (at least composition wise) kite photos from shore. The kite is really tricky to include in the photo, that's why is better not to want to include it except if you get the right angle, i.e. the kite behind the kiter. As an examples look at the covers of one of the kiteboarding mag.
As being a total photograph amateur I really don't like to be negative, but I wanted to give some inside info. Nonetheless I really like the colors rendering of #1. Good luck with your next kiteboarding shots!

Say Jeff Look guy I am sorry if I offended you as I was searching out Osprey nests for the Mass Audubon and was haveing some lunch in a parking lot where the surf was really blowing and I saw these guys do there thing. I just took a few photos as I had never seen them before so yes you are right I am not or did not ever know of this sport. Sorry man and if you PM me I'll be happy to delete it as it was just a fun thing to me and I offended you. Sorry
Lou

Hey Lou, absolutely not, and as I said i didn't know if you wanted C&C or not. Apparently not, and I'm sorry for that and for commenting on your photos. I thought that C&C were always welcome on FM when one is posting her/his work. I just wanted to give some inside, and I think that my comments were respectful, as not only I appreciate a lot your bird shots but I also mention that I was an amateur and it was my humble opinion.
But point taken about this forum as I'm new here, I'll not C&C except if one is explicitly asking for. Have a a good one and I'll still enjoy looking at your work. Jeff

JeffMerlet wrote:
Hey Lou, absolutely not, and as I said i didn't know if you wanted C&C or not. Apparently not, and I'm sorry for that and for commenting on your photos. I thought that C&C were always welcome on FM when one is posting her/his work. I just wanted to give some inside, and I think that my comments were respectful, as not only I appreciate a lot your bird shots but I also mention that I was an amateur and it was my humble opinion.
But point taken about this forum as I'm new here, I'll not C&C except if one is explicitly asking for. Have a a good one and I'll still enjoy looking at your work. Jeff

No Jeff Please a comment is always a good thing be it a good one or a bad one.Now to me what you said made a lot of sence and if I see these guys out there again I'll know to try another approach to a photo. God that water was to cold even for JAWS That is the first time I saw them with the sail in the sky but I have seen them on their surfbords with a sail and at that same spot. Chances are I'll not be going there again for awhile as the nest I was looking for is gone as I guess the Utility Co. knocked it off the pole X-arms.
Lou