Biking pics from Scotland... first attempts with new camera

[Louisa911]

Hello

Acquired a new 550d a few months ago and had chance to try it out at Glentress in Scotland on a biking trip. Hadn't previously had time to have a proper play with it, and the fact the weather was very cloudy was against me, but think I managed to get a couple of half decent results! Won't post many up as I haven't had time to go through them all / edit yet.

Only really done snap-happy picture taking with my 300d on holidays etc before so this was my first attempt at creating something thought-out, with some post-processing.

Comments and criticism appreciated, hoping to make a short film with the 550D this summer with a pal who has some experience with video editing... and hopefully improve with the MTB (and everything else) photography too!

1


2


3



Anyway- Cheers for looking
Louisa

[craig_s]

I have to say, those are really rather good if it's the first time you've done any MTB photos! I know what the lighting can be like at Glentress, there's always a well placed tree casting a massive shadow over the area you want to be shooting so you've managed to avoid that really well.

Anyway, in my very humble opinion, the first could maybe do with at least part of either the takeoff or landing ramps being in the bottom of the frame. It tends to give a bit of context to the photo and allows the viewer to see what is going on a bit better if that makes sense. It's something I always try to do but obviously isn't possible or indeed necessary in every single shot. Apart from that though I really like it.
The second two are very nice too. The second one reminds me of the expression I usually get when I ask for one more run because I was too early/late with the shutter last time. The last one wouldn't look out of place in the brochure for the bike at all. If I was to make a change it would be to have the bike the other way around so that it's pointing into the middle of the frame rather than to the outside, but that might just be a bit of OCD coming out .

Got any more because I'd quite like to see them.
And here's a couple of mine from when I was there on Friday just because there can never be too much Glentress in a thread


Day 64 by craig__s, on Flickr


3 by craig__s, on Flickr

[ezakimak]

things that i always strugle with when photographing MTBs are getting an off camera flash remote trigered from low down or a reflector of some sort to light the face of the rider can be good. and longer shutters and panning whilst tracking the rider to show that the wheels are turning and there is an element of speed.

Ryan

[Louisa911]

Thanks for the comments. If I get chance I'll edit the others and get them up this weekend. Liking your pics! Glentress has so much potential for great shots but its getting all the variables to come together at the right time thats the hard bit! Weather, right time to press the shutter, lighting, finding somewhere without getting in the way!

Know what you mean about the bike pointing outwards, thought about that afterwards but it wasn't intended to be a good composed photo, just snapped it as I was waiting for the bf to get his arse round the bike park to the next jump Will remember next time though.

Cheers