Red Bull 1

[GB1]

I attended the Red Bull air competition in San Diego yesterday using my 200 mm zoom and Nikon D200. Not long enough to get serious close ups, but OK for bigger picture stuff. With over 500 shots I have a heck of a lot of reviewing and editing to do, but here's a few.

Question - doesn't the lighting look "Ughh.... " here? Not sure how to adjust in PP to fix it.

Thanks for all C&Cs.

G

[MB1]

I'm thinking I like the first one better than the second.

Even though the second image has foreground interest (I'm big on that) I think there is too much in the center of the frame which makes the whole image static to me.

The first image pretty much has nothing in the center of the frame which keeps me looking all around checking things out.

Perhaps.

[SmartWombat]

If the lighting was "ugh" then I think there's not much you can do to it quickly.

I have a problem with "first" and "second" because they get swapped around almost at random. So I'll say the one with the orange plan is the best. Better light on the plane, better composition.

You're shooting through haze though, so you need to bump up the curves a bit and maybe do it selectively on everything that's not airplane
I think the smoke trail will be the challenge, getting detail into that.

When you've sorted it out, please post on the sports forum !

[shootme]

Wow that must have been exciting. Great shots, really nice. Cheers S

[PRB]

I agree with shootme -- what a fun event to photograph!!!

I prefer the composition in the first one but I sure do like that orange plane in the second shot. Maybe when you've gone through the rest of the images you took, you'll find more to share with us, (hint, hint!)

My Best to You,
Penny

[Overbeyond]

I think you have done very well here GB and both shots convey the excitement of the event. The lighting is not a problem for me. I like the second one best because I can see the viewers in the foreground and the larger audience in the background which also contains some interesting dockside shapes.
The positioning of the plane is good and I can hear the noise it makes.

[GB1]

Thanks everyone. Haven't had the chance to look at the rest of the images. I think that the haze is just the remnants of the smoke trails they were leaving as they zipped around.

I will play with the colors and density some more in PP. Not sure I'll be able to much, however..

-GB

[SmartWombat]

GB - I've had a little go, for my own education.
Want to see what I've done ?

[GB1]

GB - I've had a little go, for my own education.
Want to see what I've done ?

Of course: anyone can edit my photos and repost. Let's see what you have

G

[SmartWombat]

I tried not to overdo it.

A layer over the smoke trail - curves slight lightening
A layer over the water - curves slight darkening
A layer over the ship's funnel with wings on - curves slight darkening

[GB1]

I tried not to overdo it.

A layer over the smoke trail - curves slight lightening
A layer over the water - curves slight darkening
A layer over the ship's funnel with wings on - curves slight darkening

Hey Paul

It's discrete but I do see the difference, and I think it's an improvement. So what you did was, using layers, individually adjusted the smoke, water, and funnel? Via custom masks?

G

[SmartWombat]

Yes, exactly