What do you think?

[Preston]

Hello all! This is my first post. Here are some pictures from Lake Havasu taken with my D70. Just wanted to know what you guys thought, and if there is anything I could do to make them better.










Enjoy!

[Nicole]

Welcome to the forum. I've edited down your picture size to 600px on the longest side per the forum rules. Also you should keep posts to a single picture for future posts for critiquers so that they can focus more on a single picture. Again, welcome

[siopaopei]

um, sorry to remind you but forum rules state that you can only post one photo for critique at a time.

that being said, i like the first shot more among the others because of the details and the colors, but the horizons are a bit awry in all the photos.

[siopaopei]

oops, we were posting at the same time.

[Preston]

Originally Posted by siopaopei

i like the first shot more among the others because of the details and the colors, but the horizons are a bit awry in all the photos.

Sorry about the picture sizes, and the multiple shots. I should have read the rules before posting, and for that, I apologize. Yes siopaopei, the horizons are a little awry because you must remember Im taking these pictures from a boat moving at 30 mph, on a choppy surface, and with the boat in a full turn, at 45 degrees. We are not going straight at all. The hard turns cause a "sling shot" effect with the tube. With all those circumstances, I feel that the horizons would be just fine at those angles. Thanks again, and any other tips are appreciated

[JazzaGirl]

Those are GREAT images!! It shows great action too!! The first photo has a crooked horizon, but i can understand that cause you're in a boat! Great job!

[morfasie]

Like the action shot, maybe a bit closer crops would accentuate the sport

[mysticeyesx]

hi and welcome to the group. nice captures! very brave taking your camera near water

[Peach]

Hi there, welcome to the forums!

First, this looked like it was one fun day! I can't wait for summer to hit again; I am so sick of this cold weather!

Now, onto the pictures. I really like the first one, it's a great action shot, it's well focused, color is great, contrast is good, and it's humorous. However, the slanted horizon does kill the picture for me. I get that being on a boat it's hard to get the horizon straight and while sometimes a slanted horizon adds to the picture, I don't think it does here. I think this picture would look much better if you straightened it.

The second picture is a great spontaneous portrait. It tells a little bit about the subject (you?) and his interests. It's got good color, again good focus, not too tightly cropped or awkward. A portrait to be proud of. In this case, the slanted horizon does not, for me, detract from the picture since the focus is very clearly on the guy. The only thing that bothers me a little bit is the over exposed sky. Granted, it looks like it was a bright sunny day, it'd probably be very hard to get a sky that wasn't blown out like that. Maybe a polarizing filter next time would help?

The third picture is great. I really like it. Like the first picture it's a great action shot, has a bit of humor, it's focused perfectly and everything seems to be in the right place. The straight horizon is also perfect. The water from the boat motor, however, is a bit over exposed. Again, a polarizing filter (I think) might have helped with retaining some of the detail there. Other than that, it's a great snapshot of a fun filled day.

The final picture is a nice snapshot of your flag. Color and focus is great with no camera shake visible. Well done!

Overall, I think your photos are great! Just a little post processing work on the horizon is all you really need. Horizon is something that, while I try to be conscious of, I don't fret a whole lot because it can usually be fixed in post processing.

Cheers!

[Preston]

Originally Posted by mysticeyesx

hi and welcome to the group. nice captures! very brave taking your camera near water

You're telling me. I do get nervous at times, but Im getting used to it. I have some pictures from Kern River where Im standing in 4 ft of moving water, and im holding my camera 2 inches over the water to get the shot I want. Believe me, it was a nerve wrecking moment. I thought I was in the clear after the shot, but as I was walking back to land, I slipped on a slippery rock and fell completely underwater. The only part of me not in the water was my arm from the elbow, to my hand with the camera. That was a scary moment, but it survived.

Originally Posted by Peach

I really like the first one, it's a great action shot, it's well focused, color is great, contrast is good, and it's humorous. However, the slanted horizon does kill the picture for me. I get that being on a boat it's hard to get the horizon straight and while sometimes a slanted horizon adds to the picture, I don't think it does here. I think this picture would look much better if you straightened it.

Im going to play with it in PS:CS3 and see how it looks straightened out.

Originally Posted by Peach

The second picture is a great spontaneous portrait. It tells a little bit about the subject (you?) and his interests. It's got good color, again good focus, not too tightly cropped or awkward. A portrait to be proud of. In this case, the slanted horizon does not, for me, detract from the picture since the focus is very clearly on the guy. The only thing that bothers me a little bit is the over exposed sky. Granted, it looks like it was a bright sunny day, it'd probably be very hard to get a sky that wasn't blown out like that. Maybe a polarizing filter next time would help?

I knew the overexposed sky was going to come up I didnt own any filters at the time, but I do now, so I will be ready. This is not me, but it is my best friend Craig (currently in Iraq). The portrait is pure as can be. No cropping, color changes, or anything other post processing OTHER than resizing for posting and adding my watermark with border. It was one of those shots that you love right out of the camera.

Originally Posted by Peach

The third picture is great. I really like it. Like the first picture it's a great action shot, has a bit of humor, it's focused perfectly and everything seems to be in the right place. The straight horizon is also perfect. The water from the boat motor, however, is a bit over exposed. Again, a polarizing filter (I think) might have helped with retaining some of the detail there. Other than that, it's a great snapshot of a fun filled day.

Filters....check! Since the sun is behind the riders, and they are about 50ft behind the boat, do you think I should pull out my SB600 at full power and see if I can lighten them up a bit, or no? What do you think?

Originally Posted by Peach

The final picture is a nice snapshot of your flag. Color and focus is great with no camera shake visible. Well done!

Its one of my favorite pictures. I love the color.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I appreciate it! It was a very fun weekend, and I love watersports. We also own a motorhome with the boat, so we are always at the lakes. Our first lake trip this year will be memorial Day weekend (water is warmer then) so stay tuned for more tubing pictures!