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Back to an area I'm more comfortable with
Nikon D300s
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 at 70mm
1/250s
f/4.5
ISO 400
Centre weighted metering
I've slightly straightened this, then did lights and levels and a contrast adjustment. A little bit of dodging and burning on the rider followed by an unsharp mask
Thanks to all who have recently provided constructive critique
| Camera: | Nikon D300S  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | Nikon 70-200 f2.8 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | Screeny |
| Username: | 
kilo363 |
| Uploaded: | 23 Aug 2010 - 9:30 PM |
| Tags: | "glasgow, "joe, Motorcycle, Screen", Speedway, Sport, Sports / action, Tigers" |
| VS Mode Rating |
98 (0% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
 | Variant - Tests |
Comments
Never shot bikes before so more a question rather than critique, brilliant panning and pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm, is this due to the depth of field with f4.5 or was his arm dropping introducing a second plane of movement.
Brilliant shot with stunning detail and spot on exposure.
Gez
I'm not sure to be honest. Certainly as it's a constant left turn, and the rider is dropping toward the camera that could be possible.
I try various different settings, f4.5 is a little wider than normal for me, maybe if i'd stuck to 5.6
Quite pleased with it though
Thanks for the comment
Quote: pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,
The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus!
i have some mixed feelings here.
i like the composition and framing but i feel the top blue area of the background is a bit contrasty and distracting . the bottom dirt area is lovely. i wonder if different panning options would cause much longer streaks.
the offset against that is i really like the movement in the front wheel spokes, it is fantastic. exposure is great and so is sharpness.
i love the main subject, cant seem to get on with the totally unavoidable background.
regards
Phil
I'm in awe of the technical accomplishment here and I'm sure you've had and will have good critique regarding that. I'll just make two wee suggestions re the composition. First, I think the front wheel's just a tiny bit too close to the edge of the frame..and second, the whole subject sits centrally in the frame, which usually suggests passiveness rather than the high -action stuff here. Just cropping some from the right snd havong more in front than behind I think would make a big difference
Stephen
Quote: Quote
in sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus!
500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting.
Quote: Quite pleased lol, I'd be well pleased with this one.
Thank you 
As another writer says later, the b/g is an issue, but unavoidable.
Quote: I have some mixed feelings here.
i like the composition and framing but i feel the top blue area of the background is a bit contrasty and distracting . the bottom dirt area is lovely. i wonder if different panning options would cause much longer streaks.
the offset against that is i really like the movement in the front wheel spokes, it is fantastic. exposure is great and so is sharpness.
i love the main subject, cant seem to get on with the totally unavoidable background.
regards
Phil
What you have in the b/g are white plywood kickboards, topped off with a greeny blue nylon mesh. Last year the mesh was a neutral creamy colour, but they changed it in the close season. It's dreadful looking, but shooting from the inside there is no way to avoid getting it in the frame. I have and do try different panning options, sometimes going down as low as 1/80 or 1/100 s That makes it a much more hit and miss affair but I still get occasional good shots. I could desaturate or do something with the colour of the fence, however my shots are for several audiences many of whom are speedway fans and would wonder what had happened to the fence if I changed the colour Maybe for competition use it would be worth considering
Quote: I'm in awe of the technical accomplishment here and I'm sure you've had and will have good critique regarding that. I'll just make two wee suggestions re the composition. First, I think the front wheel's just a tiny bit too close to the edge of the frame..and second, the whole subject sits centrally in the frame, which usually suggests passiveness rather than the high -action stuff here. Just cropping some from the right snd havong more in front than behind I think would make a big difference
Stephen
Thank you Stephen. I was probably about 10 feet from the rider when I took the shot, and the lens was at 70mm, so it was a frame filling experience. That limits the amount of cropping I can do. In this case there isn't a dirt trail, but I often leave some space behind to show that. I also tried to get the head/upper torso on a third (or near to it) while I accept the front wheel is very central. Without cloning I couldn't add much space to the left of the frame for the bike to run into. I'm not a fan of retouching these shots, so tend to go with what I have. I'll try a wee crop and upload it as another variant.
Thanks to all who have commented
Hi Al,
Bit different to the cricket I must say but wow you've done a great job here of capturing the action, it really looks like the rider is moving fast so job well done I think.
I think there's been enough critique above so I'll not add anything to this image but can I ask you, when you go and shoot this again, can you try and get them a little more head on. If you imagine a horizontal circle around the bike in this shot and then if you moved say 45 deg to the left around that circle, I think it might make for a much better action shot. I've never tried this ever so I may be talking rubbish, but it might work. Also what about a bit lower POV, is that possible.
Hope you can get some shots like that and we get to see them.
DaVeS
Quote: 500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting.
Hi Al!
I was watching speedway when they all wore black leathers, Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs were the men to beat and they all rode upright JAWAs with their left foot stuck out in front of them!
If you want to see bikes running on real looney brew (nitro) try drag racing!
Cheers,
Bren.
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