View Full Version : Downhill bikes
rahmonster
Mar-19-2006, 03:08 AM
Gus, I really like the last one, and the 4th is pretty good too. You did better than I could have that's for sure.
Fred W
Mar-19-2006, 06:49 AM
Hi Humungus,
Nice series of pics. Great view perspective, I can feel the action. You must have spent a lot of time cleaning off lens dust.
Fred
ian408
Mar-19-2006, 09:24 AM
Or pre-focus and use an aperture that gives you enough DOF that everything
is in focus. I think you might be better off with multiple foucs points tho.
ian
wxwax
Mar-19-2006, 09:51 AM
Holy cow, Gus, you have some excellent shots there!
Man, if you can nail that mid-air shot, you'll really have something! I reckon for a shot like that, if your camera's AI Servo can't keep up, then do what Ian suggested and prefocus.
Even so, some of these are outstanding. I'm thinking of the bike directly over the camera, the tight shot of wheel spray, some others that I can't see while I'm writing this because they're attachments.
Man, you gotta go out and shoot them again (they have bigger brass ones than I'll ever have, I'd be wearing a suit of armor.)
DavidTO
Mar-19-2006, 09:55 AM
On the focus issue, maybe y'all could plan out the shots, and you could pre-focus on the action point. Set the shutter speed to something fast, and fire off a burst of shots.
wxwax
Mar-19-2006, 10:07 AM
On the focus issue, maybe y'all could plan out the shots, and you could pre-focus on the action point. Set the shutter speed to something fast, and fire off a burst of shots.
Good idea with the planning and the pre-focus. I'm thinking the burst isn't a good idea, this one's so delicate you'd really need to time a single shot for best results. Still, I'm not there, dying of thirst in the outback, trying to shoot bikes whizzing by. But I wish I were, it looks like tons of fun.
wxwax
Mar-19-2006, 11:04 AM
What was yoru aperature? Did you give yourself some leeway, make it f8 or similar?
wxwax
Mar-19-2006, 11:30 AM
No way mate...they were in under trees at 30mph...i was sitting on f2 (135mm) & f1.8 (50mm) most of the time. I think herein lies most of my woes. I might just leave it on ISO400 & 9 point focus next time to see what i get. Sound better to you ?
What I reckon is that you have such a narrow depth of field it's putting enormous pressure on your autofocus it get it right. f2 and f1.8 don't leave any room at all for error. And it looks like you have acceptable light.
You might try increasing your depth of field and then prefocus. You could still get some background blur, if you choose your location and your distance from the background carefully. A broader depth of field puts a lot less pressure on the accuracy of your prefocus. If the light level is too low, raise your ISO and make sure your exposure is spot on, should help control noise. By doing a prefocus you avoid asking your camera to do something it's not really built for - sports-type autofocus.
Still, easier said than done, you're the one in the bush struggling to figure it out.
I'd think some panning shots, with a slower shutter speed, might also look great.
wxwax
Mar-19-2006, 11:47 AM
I was also a bit paranoid as the place is crawling with brown snakes..sort of takes your attention of the job when you are not watching the ground all the time :rofl
:uhoh Australia, the most dangerous country in the world!
pathfinder
Mar-19-2006, 11:58 AM
I'm not sure you can shoot that kind of fast action, that close in, in that low light at f2.0 with a 20D Gus. That's what the 1DMkll was designed for....:uhoh
How about shooting closer with a wider angle lens than the 135, which is effectively a 200mm lens on a 20D? That should give you more DOF.
What was your ISO?
Can you use a flash or auxilliary lighting?? You will need to shoot at f5.6 or so to get the depth of field you are wanting. Flash will help reduce your aperature for more DOF.
How many bikes landed on top of you or went directly over you?? :D :D
Great set of shots - but be careful out there.:):
robert mccane
Apr-10-2006, 06:04 PM
orright great:):
ryan_wedemeyer
Apr-11-2006, 03:52 PM
idon't understand why you are having such a focus problem? and i'm not being too sarcastic, i hope, when i say that - perhaps - it's because i shoot nikon?
it can't be. however, i have skiers and boarders hurtling towards me and my silly D70 - in all light conditions - usually with a 2.8 lens and set to servo or continuous and focus is the least of my problems. timing, with only 3 shots per second, is more key. sometimes i prefer a single shot to guarantee i get THEE moment. with my F5? - no problem - if i can afford the film, i'm gonna get the shot, put the hammer down!!1
maybe, if your action enters the frame from the side, it's because you aren't setting your focus field to the one closest to where your action enters the frame?
are you opened up so far that your depth of field is too thin?
are you prefocusing to the spot where you know you will first see your action - then, when the action enters the frame are you moving with it, while holding your shutter button down halfway - giving your camera time to hook the action?
am i too annoying?
i'm a technical moron, so i should give it up........good luck!
gotta admire you for getting so close to your action!
i don't know why, but getting close to skiers and boarders doesn't seem as intimidating as spokes and steel. plus - i get snow all over my stuff (especially when i forget to shut my backpack all the way), and climbing chalk dust does tend to get all over my gear, but that outback dirt looks really nasty.
wxwax
Apr-11-2006, 05:11 PM
Too large an ap was indeed the problem...shot hundreds today a lot lot faster & in worse conditions ...sat on f4.5 to f5 & nailed almost every shot. Thanks guys.
I can't wait to see the new shots, Gus. The first batch were exciting enough.
DavidTO
Apr-11-2006, 05:15 PM
I can't wait to see the new shots, Gus. The first batch were exciting enough.
Yeah, show us the money!
ryan_wedemeyer
Apr-11-2006, 05:50 PM
[QUOTE][Too large an ap was indeed the problem...shot hundreds today a lot lot faster & in worse conditions ...sat on f4.5 to f5 & nailed almost every shot. Thanks guys./QUOTE]
DOH! guess i missed this final post.
where are the pics?
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