Waterskiing shots

dwaugh · 08-19-2006, 11:01 AM

Ok, this was my first time out with my friend and his dad waterskiing, so let me know how I did. I think I got some good ones....

Jaedon · 08-19-2006, 01:23 PM

I love the profile in the last one. Really makes the rooster tail stand out. A few hot spots that I can see but that's the nature of shooting over water.

What gear were you using filter wise? I pretty much have a polorized filter welded to each of my lenses for shooting near water for glare reduction...although in the case of the last picture it would probably have cost you the shot by darkening the shot that tiny bit more. I believe the filter costs you one f-stop. Most of my over water shots are when fishing and usually have a fish in the focus so I am not sure how it would work with the action shots like this.

Over all the wall of water effect looks awesome. Looks like you had an awesome day with and without the camera in your hand lol.

Now all you need is a pro on the Skiis =P

dwaugh · 08-19-2006, 01:58 PM

I used my D50 with a 135mm lens and it has a filter on it of some kind, it says Skylight on it (it is an old lens and filter).

Anyway, my friend said he wasnt doing very good today. So, maybe next time he will be getting lower to the water on the turns.

OBie · 08-19-2006, 06:23 PM

Those are great shots, dwaugh. It looks like the horizon is a little tilted in that last one - if it was straightened out, his lean would really stand out.

Very impressive - especially seeing as you must have been in a moving boat!

dwaugh · 08-19-2006, 07:27 PM

I was looking at the last one thinking it might be tilted a bit - that's bound to happen slightly in a fast moving boat, although the lake was quite glassy, there are always bumps. I can take care of that tilt sometime.

**SmartWombat** · 08-20-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh

Ok, this was my first time out with my friend and his dad waterskiing, so let me know how I did. I think I got some good ones....

I think so too, the last one is my favourite.
Please bring some more over to the Sports forum !

I think you may have a problem with the focus, were you using AF or manual?
The water looks really sharp, and an impressive spray, but the skiers don't look as sharp.
I don't know whether it's their motion (I doubt it becaue the water must be moving too) or the camera has focussed on the water and not the skier.

dwaugh · 08-20-2006, 10:40 AM

The lens is manual. Some of the shots are a tiny bit out of focus because it was hard to keep it perfect all the time, but the first one and the last one are quite sharp - I checked when they were full size and the detail was great.
Thanks for the comments. I'll post more like this when I take more.

**mtbbrian** · 08-20-2006, 12:32 PM

These are some great first efforts!
The first one dosen't work all that well because, the background is way too busy with all the houses and what not, plus the skiers expression, placement in the frame just don't work either. Plus I think you timing in capturing him was not "the moment" for this particular photography. The lighting ROCKS!
The third one doesn't work all that well either, the skier is too centered and the action just isn't there.
The second and fourth I feel are your best, the back lighting works well and you still get a great sense of the action.I am kind of torn as to which is the better of the two, but I think the placement of the skier in the fourth one works best.
Welcome to PR.com BTW.
One thing I might suggest is uploading files that are no bigger than 600 and as small file size as you can. There are a lot of people "out there" that are still using dial up.
I look forward to seeing more!
Brian

LeeIs · 08-21-2006, 01:24 AM

2 & 4 are also my favourites out of the 4. I'm leaning towards 2 because the skier is lit better there than the 4th one. All nice shots though and congrats on the sticky!

dwaugh · 08-21-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbbrian

These are some great first efforts!
The first one dosen't work all that well because, the background is way too busy with all the houses and what not, plus the skiers expression, placement in the frame just don't work either. Plus I think you timing in capturing him was not "the moment" for this particular photography. The lighting ROCKS!
The third one doesn't work all that well either, the skier is too centered and the action just isn't there.
The second and fourth I feel are your best, the back lighting works well and you still get a great sense of the action.I am kind of torn as to which is the better of the two, but I think the placement of the skier in the fourth one works best.
Welcome to PR.com BTW.
One thing I might suggest is uploading files that are no bigger than 600 and as small file size as you can. There are a lot of people "out there" that are still using dial up.
I look forward to seeing more!
Brian

Thanks! I was thinking it at the time that the back lighting would look the best. Also, that is when they are having better runs since that is the second run for each of them, going back to the dock. Next time I go out, and that depends on if they can go out and the conditions, I will keep everything in mind.

Oh yeah, and I always upload pics for my website at 600 on the shortest side...

I'll see if I can chage that

- I use dial up too, probably the slowest out of all dial up ever.

**gahspidy** · 08-25-2006, 09:55 PM

These are all very good action waterskiing shots, but I think the 2nd from the top is the most appealing to me. I like the slight detail in the skier, and yet it is still strongly silhouetted. The curved arch outline of the backlit rooster tail looks great against the black bg. The 4th has strong appeal and well worthy of the sticky, but the 3rd is stronger, for me. Good work, and congrats on the featured photo.

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