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  1. #1
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Urban Mountain Biking

    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?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Urban Mountain Biking-802c1285.jpg   Urban Mountain Biking-802c1292.jpg  
    Photo-John

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  2. #2
    Member SunnySideUp's Avatar
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    the shadows

    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.

  3. #3
    Member ThoughtfulPirate's Avatar
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    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.

  4. #4
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    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.

  5. #5
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    NorCal - are you joking? I can't tell. That's called a silhouette.
    Photo-John

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  6. #6
    ...just believe natatbeach's Avatar
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    both are great

    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
    "I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer.
    I wasn't trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time.
    I didn't think of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important.
    I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be, or any other way to live."
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  7. #7
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Which light area? You mean the space between his legs?
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  8. #8
    ...just believe natatbeach's Avatar
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    Talking

    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.
    Last edited by natatbeach; 03-12-2004 at 08:01 PM.
    "I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer.
    I wasn't trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time.
    I didn't think of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important.
    I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be, or any other way to live."
    .
    Bettie Page

    My Temp site...

  9. #9
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    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
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  10. #10
    What does this button do? Ooops. JDub's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 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?

    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.

  11. #11
    CB Photography CB Photo's Avatar
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    first shot for me!

    Quote Originally Posted by 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?

    I like the first shot the best.

    Nice Job

  12. #12
    Member brianc's Avatar
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    Of the two I like the silouette effect of the first one best.

    Quote Originally Posted by 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?
    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,

  13. #13
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Focus

    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.
    Photo-John

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  14. #14
    Member brianc's Avatar
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    I thought about the DOF, but I didn't think hard enough.

    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.

  15. #15
    Junior Member ichiu's Avatar
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    Nice sillouette.

    Quote Originally Posted by 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?

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


    Ivan

  16. #16
    Moderator of Critiques/Hearder of Cats mtbbrian's Avatar
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    I think....

    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
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  17. #17
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Yep. The silhouette is Cameron. You can tell by the shock on the bike. All the other riders there were on hardtails.
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  18. #18
    Intermediate member bobbythebandit's Avatar
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    Powerful imagery, especially the first though i also like the look of concentration on his face in the second one.Excellent post.
    Bobby

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