Skate Park at Somerset MRT

[rhp]

2. you dont have to shoot using remote flashes. try shooting with the available remote light. focus on finding good angles before you worry about buying remote flashes to light up an area.

although your other points are mostly valid, i would have to disagree with this point. being skateboarder myself, over the years i have learnt many things about shooting skateboarding. remote flashes is one of the most important tools of a professional skateboard photographer, and some leading skateboard photographers such as Scott Pommier (www.scottpommier.com), usually does not use less than 2 remote flashes in his shots, and sometimes even uses around 7, and with his precise aiming of these flashes he is able to create some fantastic photos. using no remote flash would cause the background to be brighter, and the subject darker than if you were to not use it, and often makes the subject look extremely dull and uninteresting. the only moments you dont have to use a flash to make it look good is in silhouette shots.

 

[rhp]

This that you Stefen? Stefan hehe

no, its romke. didnt you get my email?

 

[charleslim]

hey - just checked through my mailbox - can't find yer email

 

[dslang]

although your other points are mostly valid, i would have to disagree with this point. being skateboarder myself, over the years i have learnt many things about shooting skateboarding. remote flashes is one of the most important tools of a professional skateboard photographer, and some leading skateboard photographers such as Scott Pommier (www.scottpommier.com), usually does not use less than 2 remote flashes in his shots, and sometimes even uses around 7, and with his precise aiming of these flashes he is able to create some fantastic photos. using no remote flash would cause the background to be brighter, and the subject darker than if you were to not use it, and often makes the subject look extremely dull and uninteresting. the only moments you dont have to use a flash to make it look good is in silhouette shots.

fair enough, i see where you're going with this and it makes sense. i'm just trying to put the emphasis more on creativity/composition/angles as everyone gets super caught up with their remote flashes all the time. an OK lit photo with original ideas and good comp is usually better than a well exposed shot with bad composition and an unoriginal idea.

by the way, how long has scott pommier been shooting professionally compared to everyone else? it's no easy task to use 7 flashes. takes TONS of experience, and in most situations 2-3 flashes will suffice.

 

[charleslim]

tried a top down angle yesterday - the 1/250 xsych speed or flash begaining to show it's limits - jatt did a reverse loop

 

[charleslim]

 

[charleslim]

 

[charleslim]

If you read the stuff the on his site - he uses it to light the eniviroment too.
I guess 3 on the person and the other 3 on the space -

 

[dslang]

1. nice and dynamic, you can see his take off, his landing, you know what he's doing cuz he's looking for his landing. get closer tho, make it more dynamic. when objects are close to the lens it looks freaking dope. shoot it portrait, and frame it such that his boot is close to the lens and takes up the top half of the shot. it's a risk but the results are usually amazing, and most of the time you'll probably have to stretch out your hand and draw it back quickly.

if you do it right, the effect is cool and will look something like this

2. tilted, cant see his landing, boring trick. if you're going to light him up, light his environment as well. exposure is bang on tho.

i can name so many guys who rarely use remote flashes, and when they do use them, use them minimally and help add to the photo. everyone uses them most of the time, but how many people can do them to not only get the overall exposure of the photo right, but also ADD to the photo? there really is no need to get so caugh up with all this remote flash business.

http://www.frankowski.ca/

look at this guy's stuff. he got best photo of the year from bike mag, no remote flashes involved.

 

[charleslim]

You got a good point about that wideangle in yer face perspective angles - I am going to try it out.
maybe it's time to use my waterhousing - and let them bang a couple of times
Good points - Dslang

 

[charleslim]

Just looking through the shots that I took that day and found this.

 

[dslang]

although your other points are mostly valid, i would have to disagree with this point. being skateboarder myself, over the years i have learnt many things about shooting skateboarding. remote flashes is one of the most important tools of a professional skateboard photographer, and some leading skateboard photographers such as Scott Pommier (www.scottpommier.com), usually does not use less than 2 remote flashes in his shots, and sometimes even uses around 7, and with his precise aiming of these flashes he is able to create some fantastic photos. using no remote flash would cause the background to be brighter, and the subject darker than if you were to not use it, and often makes the subject look extremely dull and uninteresting. the only moments you dont have to use a flash to make it look good is in silhouette shots.

sorry for bringing back an old thread, but i just wanted to prove my point-

http://www.wheelsandwax.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=50,m=1140480492

"Quoted from Alexisparadis, posted February 22nd, 2006, 5:16pm at here
'You guys tells that is just a 50-50 but.. that's a backside 50-50. The timing is great, but that's look a bit soft, a flash would help the rider to pop out well... colors clothes too. Comp is nice too.'


Ok, so why is the answer to EVERY CRITIQUE here now just pop some flash and you are set. Does anyone actually use that whole sun thing anymore? How about better composition and exposure control to make the image better. How about neutral density filters and other filters. How about not shooting at noon which is what this one looks like it was shot at? How about not being dead center, how about better focusing, how about reflectors, how about proper white balance, how about the rider being lower on the rail, more contrast, proper white balance (wait i already said that)....

Come on guys flashes aren't everything."

 

[archlover]

omg... all the photos make me speechless...
now i want go there too and have a try... huhuhu...