Bike

[Jay C]

Just finished up my architectural design project, which has had my full attention for the past 3 or 4 weeks, so I can finally start taking pictures again. Was messing around with my brother, backgrounds are distracting, but we didn't feel like leaving my house. Really need to take these in a pig parking lot or something.

[daq7]

I think the angle of these shots works really well to emphasize the stunt. The compositions are a bit more centered than I would prefer, but not a huge deal. Obviously the harsh sunlight is at least a bit displeasing. It would be fun to flash these to kill the ambient a bit. I think it would make the overall lighting more satisfying. That is done with a high-speed sync, right?

[jetrim]

Something worth trying if you don't have an off camera flash available is to bounce some light in with a reflector, this would even out the ratio between highlights and shadows and eliminate the dark sunken "dead" eyes. Composition wise, the ultra low angle and tilt are really working here, gives the subject an aura of power and control.

[Jay C]

Thanks guys, I'm actually picking up a Speedlight 430 EX II today, so we'll have to give it another shot.

[daq7]

Very cool. I am interested in seeing how a high speed sync fill changes the nature of these shots.

[Jay C]

What flash do you use on all your shots daq, I just borrowed the 430 from a friend, it seems to fill nicely, not sure if i would really need the extra power and speed of the 580. I would mostly be using it for stuff like these and indoor portrait pictures, nothing crazy. But unfortunately, its pouring outside, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to re shoot these.

[daq7]

I have two 580ex2.

[daq7]

Not to tell you how to take the shot or anything, but here is what I would try. Set a really high shutter speed to underexpose all the background by a stop or two. Then set up your flash using high speed sync to get a good flash on the body and the bike. Or just take the ETTL reading and then set the exposure compensation for the camera but not the flash a stop or two lower. This will darken the daylight stuff and make the light richer and more mysterious while balancing the light on the figure. I still have not tried this technique myself because I keep forgetting....

[Jay C]

Thanks Daq, its still pretty crappy out, but I will give your technique a try as soon as it gets sunny.

[Jay C]

7pm was probably not the best time to try the new flash, the sun was really low, but these were my 1st attempts with it.

[daq7]

The light in these is definitely better. I will try to comment more in a bit.

[jetrim]

You seem to be getting more fill, which is good, but you seriously need to find a better background to shoot against! First and third shots would have been very nice, if not for the myriad of power lines slicing the photos and your subject in half. Second shot may even be a keeper if cropped by about 50% (with less of the busyness of the background to compete with the subject, it may be OK)

If it were my shoot and I HAD to stay in this general area I would shoot him against that plain masonry wall on the left side of the third shot in your first post or find some green space that doesn't have any extra cars/rusty fences/houses/travel trailers/basketball backboards/etc... to take the viewer's attention away from the subject.