Skateboard Shot-Nikon 10-24mm

[Ryan DS]

First time out with the Nikon 10-24mm with some friends at the skatepark this morning. This is also one of my first times out seriously shooting skating. I've been skating quite awhile but just now started getting into the photography aspect of it. Still don't understand why it took so long . Anyways this was one of my favorite shots from today. I adjusted the curves and levels in photoshop and cropped it down to make a tighter shot.

How is the composition?
The colors?
The timing?

Any other comments or critique is welcome as well.

Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO Speed: 160
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[jdepould]

Composition is pretty good, you've got a strong symmetrical/centered thing going on, which seems to work pretty well here. You're tilted a little (or it appears that way); the right side of the frame is lower than the left, if that makes sense.

The colors aren't bad, but you could probably punch them up a bit.

Timing seems good, placement is between the two foreground features, seems more or less mid-trick.

You may want to reconsider your time of day and placement with regard to the sun. You've got strong midday backlight here, which results in a contrasty--but not very dramatic--image. The backlighting can work, but you've got to really go for it. Wait until the sun way down on the horizon, literally behind your skater (manual exposure of course).

It looks like a pretty big park, so you could probably get some nice side-light going as well. Explore your environment. Avoid front light (it's really flat and boring).

Also, if your skater is hitting the same features over and over, just park it somewhere good with a tripod and fire off three or four sequences. The tripod will slow you down and force you to think more. Just make sure you're not in a spot where you'll get blindsided by a skater coming from another direction. Head on a swivel.

[Jensers]

Jamie makes all of the great points. I just wanted to add to his by agreeing that the concept of the shot is great - add the things suggested and you should have a wonderful image.

[Ryan DS]

Thanks for the comments jdepould. This was really just an impromtu shoot. I was out earlier shooting some other friends at a different location and when I came back to my car my friend you see in the photo was there so out came the camera The downside was it was 11am, which with the AZ sun, the light is pretty harsh.

I definitely want to go back around 530-6pm and reshoot this as the sun would be perfect from that angle.

And yes, I was tilted far to the right side, but I cropped the original to make it less prominent. I think the crop helped, but I do wish it was completely straight.

Thanks for the idea about the tripod. I'm so used to shooting handheld, especially now with the 10-24 since I can get really close, but I have some ideas with a tripod and a longer focal length for sure.

[gturner]

Just to add to what Jamie has said, I think a flash would do wonders for this image. You would get that great sky but it would light up your main subject and pop all the colours on his board

[Ryan DS]

Originally Posted by gturner

Just to add to what Jamie has said, I think a flash would do wonders for this image. You would get that great sky but it would light up your main subject and pop all the colours on his board

After going through the set of photos from this session, I was thinking the exact same thing. A flash is definitely the next thing on my list to buy. Just need to replenish my funds a bit after buying the 10-24

[GadgetRick]

Yes, add a little fill flash, straighten the tilt and make the colors punch more and it's a great shot.

[jillmp13]

Originally Posted by gturner

Just to add to what Jamie has said, I think a flash would do wonders for this image. You would get that great sky but it would light up your main subject and pop all the colours on his board

This was my first thought as well, the skater could be a bit more lit up!

Also - if you're daring enough, to get a cool angle maybe try getting closer almost so he's jumping over you, but it'd be tricky depending on the position of the skater to not just get a butt shot! but could be fun

[AndreiV]

Hi I'm a skate photographer.

Things to think about usually in a skate photo is to not center it, it makes it look tacky (we want skating to at least look like a beautiful thing ). Rule of thirds is an awesome thing. Wide angles as a faux fisheye is never good. Leaves you with too much dead space.

The tripod thing doesnt really help at all. Skating is all make it or break it, sometimes youll be able to skate spots for hours ends or youll get caught and be forced to leave. Tripods limit your movement, and you'll be moving and composing alot. You'll always be at low angles or sometimes high angles.

Flashes are the best idea but as an off-camera flash, so invest in some slaves. On camera doesnt really work so well. Mid-day is like a nightmare to shoot without flashes.

I'd have more to say but ill cut it short here.

[sk66]

Why does it seem like most people think the "rule of thirds" only applies left to right?
The subject here is very close to being on the upper third line and it works. I think the crop could be a little less tight at the top, and a bit tighter on the sides, even better would have been a little closer position when taking the shot but that can't be changed now.
A wide angle can be very cool for these, but you have to be VERY close....like them jumping directly OVER you or nearly running into you....and it's hard to catch action from that close.
Flash would have been a big plus. If the shot was taken in RAW I think it's savable, I'd try a shadows/highlight adjustment in PS.