Motocross action


This 3/4-framed action shot is exactly what I was looking for: a tight crop, blur in the wheel spokes but sharp rider and bike. I used a low ISO (100) so I could keep the aperture open (f/4) and the shutter speed at 1/500th.

The image is uncorrected, but could probably benefit from a tweak to the contrast and sharpening.

Caon 1DMk2, 300mm f/2.8 IS @ f/4, 1/500th, handheld.

All the detail…


This is two images combined in PhotoShop. Call it High Dynamic Range or call it Tone Mapping, I’m not fussed: I just like the fact that it doesn’t really look to far from being a standard, everyday snapshot – except no camera short of a medium-format DSLR can capture that amount of dynamic range – either the shadows of the house are pitch black or the sky is blown away. By combining multiple images you can get the detail you want.

Canon 5D Mk2, 24-105 f/4. Handheld.

Arc de Triomph…


I was looking for drama with this image, so I chose a low angle and as long a shutter speed as I was comfortable with hand held. The drab, overcast day meant low contrast, but tweaking in Aperture has rendered the image reasonably dramatic, with a 1960s’ Kodachrome feel.

Olympus EP-1, 14-42 @ 14mm, 1/15th @ f/22, ISO 100.

If you got it, flute it…


This image shows a musician’s intensity, despite her youth. Shot with available light in a school hall, the shadows show noise but the image is still sharp and looks great, despite the
High ISO. This shot would have been almost impossible to capture in the film days, for image stabilization has prevented camera shake despite the relatively long exposure and long focal length.

Bush ATV Action


Sport/action photo of child riding an ATV quad bike.

This action shot of my son on his ATV was captured using a Canon 1D MK2N, 70-200 f/2.8 @ f/5, 1/400th, ISO 400.
Heavily side lit by the low winter sun, just enough light has made it through to light up Damien’s face, while the blown-out highlights don’t bother me.
The noise in the skin tones reflects an aging camera and the fact it’s been cropped by about half: later model pro Canons hold together better, but it’s a shot I’m very happy with anyway.
In Post: cropping, dodging (bright areas), highlight recovery, burn (face), sharpen.

This action shot of my son on his ATV was captured using a Canon 1D MK2N, 70-200 f/2.8 @ f/5, 1/400th, ISO 400.Heavily side lit by the low winter sun, just enough light has made it through to light up Damien’s face, while the blown-out highlights don’t bother me.The noise in the skin tones reflects an aging camera and the fact it’s been cropped by about half: later model pro Canons hold together better, but it’s a shot I’m very happy with anyway.In Post: cropping, dodging (bright areas), highlight recovery, burn (face), sharpen.

Posted September 16, 2010: accidentally deleted and reposted a day later.