Waterskiing shots

[dwaugh]

Also in the photo critique forum, although less photos in this thread.

Got out of bed at 7:45 and was on the lake within 15 minutes for this second time taking photos on the lake. This time the lake was even more smooth than the first time and I got some good photos I think. I was personally loving the reflections that I managed to get.

[SmartWombat]

Thanks for coming and posting here, too !
I really like that second one, the X of the composition with the skier, the spray, and their reflections is a real eye-catcher.
The exposure is spot-on for the water and so you get a wonderful silhouette.


The last one, I feel in exposing a bit more for the skier the water is over exposed ?
The only solution is a flash I guess, though at that range even the 580EX on my Canon would have trouble at maximum power filling in the shadow. And then you have a good change of losing that wonderful spray in the blur of the slower shuitter speed.

First one, I've worked it out, I think. The water spray is in focus, the reflection is in focus, but the skier is not. The extra distance in the path for the reflection I think makes the difference.

[dwaugh]

I agree, and I dont know what happened on the first one, the focus. The second one I think is the best in all ways, and it is very sharp too. The third, I darkened it a bit in contrast so in the beginning more of the skiier could be seen. I really like the third for the reflection and the water.

[Photo-John]

Interesting. Those are neat. And I appreciate that you got up early to take these. I have a hard time getting up early for photos. But sometimes that's the key. No other time of day is like morning.

Not sure what to say about these, technically. I did one day of wakeboard shooting and it was pretty enjoyable. I felt that shooting from the back of the boat was a pretty easy. Focus shouldn't be an issue at all since the subject's distance doesn't vary much. I found that I wished I could be out of the boat - in another boat, or even in the water. I know that some pros shoot from inner tubes, in between the boat and the skier/boarder.

The reflections are nice. I feel like something is missing from these photos. But I'm not quite sure what. Background, maybe? I guess the rooster tail is your background. I like the first one the most. Would have liked to see one strongly lit from the side instead of just the front and the back.

I know this is kind of a scattered post. Hope it's somehow useful. I do like the photos and I'm always happy to see something new on this forum. I think these are the first waterski photos.

[dwaugh]

I really can't get lighting from the side, due to the direction the lake is and where the sun is in the morning.
As for backgrounds, I think in the second one at least, that would be the spray.
I can imagine that these might well be the first waterskiing photos, not everyone has friends who live so nearby and waterskii on the lake that is a block down the street.

[Old Timer]

Really like the water spray on the #2. Nice to have a little variety on the forum. Hope you'll give us some more water sport images.

[Photo-John]

I can imagine that these might well be the first waterskiing photos, not everyone has friends who live so nearby and waterskii on the lake that is a block down the street.

Yeah - I was thinking about how nice that must be. I was also thinking about how rare actual water skiers are these days. I thought pretty much everyone had swictched over to wakeboarding. And I was wondering how cold that water must be at 8 AM!

By the way, I've spent a little time up there and think that part of Washington is beautiful. I had a friend who lived on Whidbey, right near Deception Pass. We tried to mountain bike Galbraith Mountain, which is just south of Bellignham, I think. But we couldn't find the good trails. Someday I'll make it back up there for another try. The weather must be perfect right now.

[masdog]

I love the second one, Dwaugh. Its a very interesting shot that captured my attention right away. Thanks for sharing.

[dwaugh]

Yeah - I was thinking about how nice that must be. I was also thinking about how rare actual water skiers are these days. I thought pretty much everyone had swictched over to wakeboarding. And I was wondering how cold that water must be at 8 AM!

By the way, I've spent a little time up there and think that part of Washington is beautiful. I had a friend who lived on Whidbey, right near Deception Pass. We tried to mountain bike Galbraith Mountain, which is just south of Bellignham, I think. But we couldn't find the good trails. Someday I'll make it back up there for another try. The weather must be perfect right now.

Well, my friend wakeboards too, but not in the morning.

As for Galbraith, it is on the edge of town, right up the hill from me. I bike and do many many hours of trail work up there so if you ever come back this way, I can show you any trails you want.