Dive Series

[Lava Lamp]

I shot these this weekend with a Nikon D700 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, mostly @ ISO 3200, f4/ and 1/640. Your comments, critiques, and suggestions are warmly appreciated.

[gahspidy]

I like what i see LL but only wish the background in the diving action shots were less distracting. I'm not sure if standing in a different spot so there may be less behind the subject was viable solution for you.
I'm wondering why b&w. Is it to bring about more of a documentary type feel? I only ask because I feel like the colors, as in the other swim shots would be atractive and add.
I love that first one, but wish that railing waas not right behind her. Not too big a deal, and overall these are pretty cool
Good work

[Lava Lamp]

I like what i see LL but only wish the background in the diving action shots were less distracting. I'm not sure if standing in a different spot so there may be less behind the subject was viable solution for you.
I'm wondering why b&w. Is it to bring about more of a documentary type feel? I only ask because I feel like the colors, as in the other swim shots would be atractive and add.
I love that first one, but wish that railing waas not right behind her. Not too big a deal, and overall these are pretty cool
Good work

Thanks, Gary. I'm looking forward to a new venue for this. The pool is indoors and very dark, with light coming from a series of glass garage doors behind my shooting position. Moving to the other side of the pool has me shooting into the sun, which creates a silhouette-type shot. I'm going to try with a long telephoto at the far end of the pool next time - 100 yards or so away. The background is not good, which is largely why I went with B&W. (The colors aren't as good as an outside shot.) I also liked the B&W to focus on the lines and shapes, which is sorta the point of diving.

[Canyon Hiker]

Great series. I think B&W was a great call here. When I see the photos I immediatly focus on the subject at hand. The contrast is perfect. I wish you would have saved the EXIF so I could see it. Your shutter speed was perfect. #1 is my favorite. Too bad her left foot and hand are over exposed. Too be honest, in my monitor almost every shot has small areas that are overexposed. I'm sure this is due to the sun shineing into that area. Most of the time, thats an easy fix in PS useing the burn brush.
Here is just a suggestion. Next time try using the largest aperture possible to bump down the ISO a bit, decreaseing your DOF. If you shoot in Raw you can underexpose shots like this and correct the underexposed shot in processing, leaving no areas that will be overexposed. A underexposed shot is always workable, but a over exposed shot is almost always lost. Shots like this I will meter the brightest spot that I think the subject will cross, leaving the shot underexposed RAW. In processing its and easy fix to bump up the exposure to correct it, leaving no.loss in detail. Just a suggestion.
Now this is just nit pick stuff and suggestions, The overall series is awesome!!

Darin

[Grandpaw]

I have never tried shooting anything like this so I don't have any suggestions to add to what has already been made. I would be interested in knowing what type of metering you were using, such as spot or metrics. Maybe trying another setting would give you different results, Jeff

[Shebang]

Technically, I can't add anything. Though these are good, I do prefer your other shots over these, mostly because of the color (personal preference) and the more pleasing backgrounds.