More MTB Racing - Pro Women's XC Racing..

[mtbbrian]

Here is another from the NORBA Nationals at Deer Valley.
This is from the Pro Women's XC Race.
Brian

[OldSchool]

Hi Brian,

Great colors on this one! The sharpness seems down though (resizing issue?). Also, I think going wide angle is a little distracting here. That front wheel looks just a little too odd.

BR,
Tim

[Photo-John]

Brian-
I like this one a lot. I'm not sure I agree with OldSchool about your choice of a wide-angle lens. I'm sure this shot would have been impossible without it. We always have to make compromises and I think this was a good one, for this composition. However, I can't help wishing it was a horizontal instead of a vertical. Even though it's neat to see all that blue sky, I'm not sure the top part of the image is adding that much to the scene. And I even find the one tree a bit distracting. I wish the emphasis was more on the riders and that I could see the women in the background better. Still, I have to say that your eye for composition in mtb photos has gotten better. I can see that you're looking at the whole scene, thinking about it, and consciously creating a composition. A lot of photographers just try to get the whole rider in and fill the frame. That's good - sometimes. But I like some context. To me, the best photos are those that give me a feel for the landscape as well as the compeition. On the other hand, sometimes the landscape isn't so great. In this case, I think I would rather focus on the riders.

Who is that in front, anyway? Was that the race leader? Is that a Luna jersey I see behind her?

[mtbbrian]

Who is that in front, anyway? Was that the race leader? Is that a Luna jersey I see behind her?

Thanks John...
To answer your question, it was not the race leader, that would would have been Shonny V.
It looks like the racer in the front is #22, Niki Gudex! ;)
I found that out HERE
She placed 23rd that day..
Brian

[SunnySideUp]

I rather like the wide angle and the wheel looking funky... But I am bothered for lack of better works on the sharpness or lack of or something... I am not sure... It isn't as crisp as I feel that it should be.
Shane

[the bull]

HUUGGEE!

The rider looks really white and bright.

It is an interesting picture, I like it.
Was the picture cropped? Something is throwing it off for me.

[mtbbrian]

HUUGGEE!

The rider looks really white and bright.

It is an interesting picture, I like it.
Was the picture cropped? Something is throwing it off for me.

No, cropping here. I did this with my 14mm lens. I kind of did a "no look" when I did the photograph.
Generally, I don't crop much with my stuff.
Brian