Urban Mountain Biking

[Photo-John]

Wall ride in an Orange County "river". I'm not sure if this came together as well as I'd hoped. What do you think?

[SunnySideUp]

I really like the first shot... I would actually like to see the shadow of the ground blacked out also. Maybe a little more of the wall too.

[ThoughtfulPirate]

Thats awesome John, I really like them both, my favorite thing about the first one is the space between his foot and his pedal. My favorite part about the second is his face and his brake cable in the air. Great shots.

[NorCal]

Nice shots, both of them. The only problem I have is the one with the rider's back to us, that one has to much shadow on the rider.

[Photo-John]

NorCal - are you joking? I can't tell. That's called a silhouette.

[natatbeach]

but the first really packs a punch...very stiking image with the silhouette (just wish that one tiny light area in the middle was unified with the rest---burn it in)...really that's my only nitpik...otherwise i really like this one

[Photo-John]

Which light area? You mean the space between his legs?

[natatbeach]

around where his lower back or waist would be left kidney...maybe it's kid boogers on the monitor-lol
let me check... yeah it's slightly lighter area...that's different from the other value(black)

maybe i'm neurotic (very possible) but I noticed it right off.

[gahspidy]

Hey John,
I can only say that I like both shots as they are for what they are. Both are excellent. Just a question. . How much less exposed was the setting to create the silhouette shot,and also I'm thinking the rider was a bit deeper in the area and somewhat out of the light which helped give the dramatic silhouette. Nice work

[JDub]

Wall ride in an Orange County "river". I'm not sure if this came together as well as I'd hoped. What do you think?

I'm really liking the first one. I like the urban feel with the snow caps in the background, gives it a sense of irony. I love silhouette shots for mtn biking, but typically I've seen them done at sunset.

[CB Photo]

Wall ride in an Orange County "river". I'm not sure if this came together as well as I'd hoped. What do you think?

I like the first shot the best.

Nice Job

[brianc]

Wall ride in an Orange County "river". I'm not sure if this came together as well as I'd hoped. What do you think?

But the framing of the channel slope and the bridge support is much better in the second shot. So to me if you had combined the bridge/slope of the second and incorporated it with the sillouette of the first would be a much stronger shot.

To make it perfect, I'd love to have seen the mountain not be so washed out, but you did shoot in L.A. so I guess that's impossible with the "air" you're shooting through.

really nice shots, though John,

[Photo-John]

Brian-
Thanks for commenting. And congratulations on getting a photo in Mountain Biking. I picked up a copy from Alan when I was down there but I don't remember what your photo was of.

With these photos I think the faintness of the mountains is more of a focus issue than being washed out. They're too soft. When I was shooting a really shallow depth-of-field seemed like the the right thing to do. In retrospect, I wish I had of stopped down a bit more for a little more sharpness and pop. Live and learn, right? I almost decided to go back this past weekend because I wanted the chance to shoot again before the snow goes away.

[brianc]

you're probibly right,

Looking at them again, IF you do go back(you should!), maybe try and get lower so that you can get the rider to be floating above the mountain. I think that would be sweet, if possible.

Thanks. I'm sure we'll have it on the shelf in a couple of days.

[ichiu]

Wall ride in an Orange County "river". I'm not sure if this came together as well as I'd hoped. What do you think?

The first one's definitely the better of the two, in my opinion....


Ivan

[mtbbrian]

They are both good images, but the silhouette is by far the better of the two.
I think the DOF works well, the maountains in the background and all.
I always like how you compose your photos John. Be it a rider on the trail with a city in the background or a rider like this one, in an urban setting with the mountains in the background.
Good Stuff! Is this Cameron MaCaule(sp)?
Brian

[Photo-John]

Yep. The silhouette is Cameron. You can tell by the shock on the bike. All the other riders there were on hardtails.

[bobbythebandit]

Powerful imagery, especially the first though i also like the look of concentration on his face in the second one.Excellent post.
Bobby