Here is a few of the photos i took over the weekend. Any c&c welcome.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0303-2.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0413.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0438.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0459.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0350-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0180-2.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0466.jpg

Big high 5 to you! These are great, sure wish the rider woulds scoot back some in the first one lol, hope the rider is ok in the 3rd one, good shots of the power wheelies in the 4th one too! 2nd shot is my fave.

Ok I know I've said it before, but seriously your photos improve each and every time! These are head and shoulders above where you were not too long ago! It looks like you've got the panning technique down perfectly.

First shot, I like the idea, but I agree with Lori, it's just much too far right and too much empty space. If the bike was placed in the left third of the shot and you blurred the background behind him, I think the effect would be much more powerful because it would really add a sense of speed and the open road in front would give the bike somewhere to go in the image. Try a shot like that next time.

I agree with Lori again - the second image is definitely my favorite. The blue jumps out well from the background and the panning effect is perfect.

The last image, I like the idea, but only the bike and rider should be colored, not some of the patches around them.

In the color images, the contrast seems just a hair too much. The blacks look fine but the whites look overblown in some parts. But I understand the light isn't great (classic Britain right?), so you may have had to push it up to get a decent look out of it. I'd definitely say it falls within the range of personal preference.

Again though, these are GREAT images and thanks for sharing them! I loooooooves me some Superbike racing :)

Thanks for the comments. The lad in the crash picture was fine

Its the first time i have really had a go at editing my photos so wasnt to sure if the first one would work.:blush2: I wanted to try and make something a wee bit different to my normal efforts.:)

Do you think this looks any better
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0303-3.jpg

Brad you are spot on with the last one i just didnt have a clue how to get just him in colour and not bits of the background :D I would also like to remove the marshalls head from it.

With the colours, would that be something you change on the computor or is there a way to set the camera for better colour. :confused: I also found a lot of my photos were very dark. Not sure how to fix this i tried different iso settings with no luck, is it simply down to needing a lense that lets more light in. :confused:

Found a similar one to the 2nd one
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0423.jpg

Thanks again wull

Nice photo's wull.

The crash one - interesting to note that the visor is up! a bit dangerous isn't it. But I like the fact that the marshalls are already on the move and he's not finished crashing yet.

Glad he was ok.

Roger

Thanks Roger.

His visor must have flipped open during the crash cause it was down on the way into it

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0435.jpg

Wull - I like the new version of the #17 bike much better, but if it were me I'd leave the blur on the left side (behind the bike) and make the right side clean. In my mind's eye, at least, that would really give a great look of speed and the clean right side would give the bike somewhere to go.

On the darkness, I agree, they do look a little dark. Those lighting conditions really are extremely difficult and that considered I think these are fine. But for the future, if you're shooting in any mode other than manual, just bump up your exposure compensation on the camera. There should be something like a " +/- AV " button on it somewhere. Move it up about a notch or two (I think that would be 1/3 to 1/2 stop) if your photos are looking a bit dark next time. Make sure you check a few shots to see that you haven't gone too far and overexposed. That should also help the look of the colors a bit.

The reason changing the ISO didn't work is because the camera is always going to readjust back to what it thinks is "right" as long as it's doing the metering, which can be too light or too dark depending on the situation. You know, you can take a shot at ISO 100, f/4, 1/250 shutter and a shot at ISO 400 f/8 and the camera will make them look the same exposure-wise. That's where the exposure compensation comes in, where you tell the camera to either brighten up or dim down.

Thanks a lot Brad for the advice.:thumbsup: I will search that button out and have a go.

I see what you are saying about the blur and once i figure out how to do it i will stick it up :D

Thanks again

Wull

Do you think this works :confused:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/wull_bucket/DSC_0412.jpg

I have shown it to a few people who love it. Any thoughts

Oh wow, yes, I love that myself. The white bike really jumps out from the dark surroundings and the little dark streaks onto the track on either side really give a motion effect. Very nice! (Sorry it took a few days; I've been out of town)

Thanks Brad

THAT I like! I have been out of town and just back today. Nice improvements all the way. Good work!

I have to say bravo, you really have some great looking shots here. Your improvement to your pictures are awesome I do have to say. Keep up the great work.

Thanks very much for the comments:) All improvments are down to the advice on here

I checked my exposure compensation settings which were at - 0.7. I take it this would cause the photos to look darker in overcast conditions. :confused:

Am i right in saying if i put it up to say - 0.3 or 0.0 that would brighten them up and give them better colour. Any advise would be appreciated. The lens i am using is a 55 - 200 mm vr 1.4 - 5.6 g. I hear people talking about f2.8 lenses. What is the difference between that and mine and how much of a difference would it make. Sorry for the long winded question:D

Thanks Again
Wull

Ah ha, you've found the culprit! Yes, -0.7 makes every shot nearly a full stop darker than "correct" exposure. That explains the dark shots! You should set it to 0.0; you would adjust it up if the camera is underexposing, or down (as it was) if the camera is overexposing. But under most conditions you don't want exposure compensation.

On the lenses, a constant F/2.8 would give you 1 full stop more light at the wide end and 2 full stops more at the long end. This allows you to keep your shutter speeds up / ISO down in lower light. It would also give you a thinner depth of field - more area out of focus - for a more professional/subject-isolated look. Depending on exactly which lens, faster focusing performance. Those are the ups. The downs: much heavier due to the larger glass, and VERY expensive!

Do you need it? Not in my opinion, although a faster focus would probably track a bike better. Are they nice? I'm sure, but I wouldn't know. Maybe one of our resident pros can jump in. I think you shoot Nikon if I remember correctly, so I'm not as familiar with their specific lenses.

Magic, Cheers Brad.:thumbsup:

Hopefully that will be another wee improvment. The dark images were a pain.

Yes i have a Nikon D40. Had a look at the prices of f2.8 lenses. :eek: :eek: Think i will be sticking with what i have got for just now.:D

Wull

Way to go Wull, shooting bikes takes the same thing it takes to get into Carnegie Hall .....practice, practice, practice lol Your shots are great! A more expensive lens may work better but I seem to learn more when I have to work out what works (if that makes any sense *sigh) I'm looking forward to more photo's!

Thanks Lori

Alex will be at Donnington Park next weekend so hopefully i will get a few shots there.

We will be waiting :D Good luck to Alex too!