How do you rate this

[gsgary]

Here's another from this weekend, What do think, what could i do better next time any tips much appreciated
Thanks for looking
Gary

http://gsgary.smugmug.com/photos/34097005-L.jpg

[ltdesignphotovideo]

It looks to me like a great shot. A couple of suggestions, you should focus on his helmet. Part of the bike is in focus but his head area isn't. Another thing, adjust your colors. Make it pop. I like the shot. I think it's great it just needs some adjustment.

[StevenV]

I'd also back off just a little, widen the shot so he's not quite as centered, give some room in front of the bike, give the subject somewhere to go.

[Steve Cavigliano]

Gary,

Nice work on this one :thumb :thumb

I agree with Lindsay and Steven's comments. More room on top and on the left side. The tip about focusing on the helmet/head is a good one too.

The exposure looks to be right on. I like the way you can see the rider's eyes through the visor :clap The white parts of the bike are a bit over-exposed, but you should be able to mute them a little in post processing. I think Lindsay's point about "makin' it pop" with some more post work, also is worth investigatiing.

Thanks for sharing,
Steve

[gsgary]

Thanks for the tips. at the left side there was a marshalls car and at the bottom someone walked through my shot so i cropped them out, dont know much about how to use photoshop but on Thursday i am joining Chesterfield photographic society so may be able to get some help

Regards
Gary

[StevenV]

re: leaving a little space for the rider to move into... it doesn't need to be a lot. The shots at http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=17548 are a good example, imho.

-s

[gsgary]

Thanks Steven
but i shot the examples and the background got a bit of stickre: leaving a little space for the rider to move into... it doesn't need to be a lot. The shots at http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=17548 are a good example, imho.

-s

[mercphoto]

Here's another from this weekend, What do think, what could i do better next time any tips much appreciated
Overall I like it. The helmet focus issue I see as well, but I'm not sure why its not in focus. With a slow shutter you are going to have a small aperture, so depth-of-field is not the issue. What I think probably happened was driver movement, and that you cannot fix with technique no matter how hard you try. It might be as simple as the driver's head moved in relation to the bike.

What I'm struggling with in regards to panning shots of motorcycles is how seldom they sell for me. When I'm doing my MX races I try to get a lot of keepers at 1/640 a second. This is slow enough to show some tire and spoke blur (but not much), and fast enough that most shots I take are keepers and are sharp. Then I start doing shots at 1/160 and pan. What surprises me is that even when I get a tack-sharp pan, people don't buy it. They always buy the 1/640 shutter shots.

I'm not sure why.

[mercphoto]

Almost forgot, try sharpening your panning shots. However, I've found that USM is useless for this type of shot. Instead, search the forum for the high-pass filter sharpening method. Give this a shot and see what you think. I've been very impressed and I use it on all my kart and motocross racing pictures.

Give it a shot on this picture and post the result. I think you'll find a much more detailed rider as a result.

[gsgary]

Thanks Bill will try but not really up on photoshop yet i only have elements two at the moment. I had it set on center focus could this have caused the focus problem and possible al focus after a pro set it to al servo
Thanks for your help
Overall I like it. The helmet focus issue I see as well, but I'm not sure why its not in focus. With a slow shutter you are going to have a small aperture, so depth-of-field is not the issue. What I think probably happened was driver movement, and that you cannot fix with technique no matter how hard you try. It might be as simple as the driver's head moved in relation to the bike.

What I'm struggling with in regards to panning shots of motorcycles is how seldom they sell for me. When I'm doing my MX races I try to get a lot of keepers at 1/640 a second. This is slow enough to show some tire and spoke blur (but not much), and fast enough that most shots I take are keepers and are sharp. Then I start doing shots at 1/160 and pan. What surprises me is that even when I get a tack-sharp pan, people don't buy it. They always buy the 1/640 shutter shots.

I'm not sure why.

[Michiel de Brieder]

It looks to me like a great shot. A couple of suggestions, you should focus on his helmet. Part of the bike is in focus but his head area isn't. Another thing, adjust your colors. Make it pop. I like the shot. I think it's great it just needs some adjustment. I especially agree on the focus part :D it's a very nice shot though!!!

[gsgary]

Thanks Michiel this was my first attempt at panning only had DSLR for 4weeks so hope to do better next time and will have 1.4x coverter
Regards
Gary
I especially agree on the focus part :D it's a very nice shot though!!!