Ho'okipa Windsurfer

[mentaltorment]

20D ISO 400 1/320 f10 EF100-400 IS USM 400mm
Another shot from the same day at Ho'okipa. Usually I do not shoot handheld for these types of shots- but I forgot my tripod

Everyone I have seen doing this type of work is using a tripod- so I guess I always thought you needed one! That is not the case- Without the tripod, I had greater mobility and was able to capture shots that I would have otherwise missed. The 100-400 is kinda heavy- but I was able to relax between sets- so the weight was not to bad. Having a lens with IS couldn't have hurt either.

Any comments or opinions on this type of photography? With Tripod or without? Any area on this one to improve upon?

All comments are appreciated!

[JK_Photo]

I love these kind of shots. Don't get much opportunity for them here on the Canadian prairie.
I agree with your mobility issue. It's nice to be free of the tripod. Tripod will guarantee sharpness though and you'll probably have a higher percentage of keepers. I think you could probably get away with a wider aperture which would give you a faster shutter speed when racked out to 400. There's a lot of light out there.
I'm not crazy about you're cropping on this one (I looked at your other one as well). Too centered and high up in the frame. Lower and off to the right would be more pleasing.
Exposure and contrast are nice. It's got snap.
Are you standing right at the edge of the surf? In the surf?

[mentaltorment]

You know I have never heard that before on croping- I really think you're right on too- Bringing the windsurfer down and right would help- There was no croping in this one. There was a little in the other.

With the 20D there are 9 little square focus points- The center focus point is suppose to be the best out of the 9- so I find myself with centered subjects- which makes for nice sharp images with unappealing composition. I am working on it though!

Thanks JK!

[JK_Photo]

You know I have never heard that before on croping- I really think you're right on too- Bringing the windsurfer down and right would help- There was no croping in this one. There was a little in the other.

With the 20D there are 9 little square focus points- The center focus point is suppose to be the best out of the 9- so I find myself with centered subjects- which makes for nice sharp images with unappealing composition. I am working on it though!

Thanks JK!

I've got a 20D as well. You're right about the focus points. The centre one is a cross hair and is more sensitive to contrast. I think in your case this would not be too much of an issue, considering the loads of contrast at the beach, and if I were you I would try using the follow focus locked on one of the other points to see what results you get. I'm willing to bet it will be quite accurate.

[jar_e]

I'd have to agree with JK. A tighter crop of just the windsurfer would help this pic out alot. With saying that, I also like the white water of the waves in the foreground, though some of it seems overexposed to me (just might be my monitor settings). Great shot though, and getting away from a tripod is always a good thing!

Great shots,

Jared