Our ski trip to the French Alps
Discussion
I don't think I've started my own topic in here yet so I thought I'd have a go now with my most recent set of photos.
A few friends and I went skiing in the 3 Valleys in the French Alps last week and I've been sifting through the photos in the evenings since. I've ended up with a few I'm quite pleased with so I thought I'd share a selection of them. They were all shot on my Canon G9 compact if that makes any difference.
I'm still learning so I'm after some constructive criticism too if any of you have the time. I won't improve if everyone is nice.
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I'll just add that the last picture is an HDR image that I'm still messing around with in Photoshop. I appear to have made all of the shadows slightly blue, but I quite like that it's so bright with strong contrast. It does look quite unnatural though I admit.
A few friends and I went skiing in the 3 Valleys in the French Alps last week and I've been sifting through the photos in the evenings since. I've ended up with a few I'm quite pleased with so I thought I'd share a selection of them. They were all shot on my Canon G9 compact if that makes any difference.
I'm still learning so I'm after some constructive criticism too if any of you have the time. I won't improve if everyone is nice.
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I'll just add that the last picture is an HDR image that I'm still messing around with in Photoshop. I appear to have made all of the shadows slightly blue, but I quite like that it's so bright with strong contrast. It does look quite unnatural though I admit.
Yeah, the snow was superb. Half the time we were out there it was snowing hard. The other half it was as per the photos. My camera stayed in my Camelbak when it was snowing because I'm not sure how waterproof G9s are. Mind you, I do know they're quite shock proof judging by the number of hits it was subjected to that week!
If you don;t like the blue you should be able to colour select it and adjust the hue.
The two overcast shots (guess it had been snowing) are hiding some really nice detail (as posted).
The 'trail' shot comes up nicely with a bit of white balance adjustment and some saturation to taste.
The two people 'resting' near the hut also has some detail to be winkled out of it. They both look a tad flat when compared to the brightness and brilliance of the others.
Great scenery though and it sounds like satisfying week over all.
The two overcast shots (guess it had been snowing) are hiding some really nice detail (as posted).
The 'trail' shot comes up nicely with a bit of white balance adjustment and some saturation to taste.
The two people 'resting' near the hut also has some detail to be winkled out of it. They both look a tad flat when compared to the brightness and brilliance of the others.
Great scenery though and it sounds like satisfying week over all.
Yeah, it looks like it. We were actually there the same week last year too but the snow was much better this year. There was more than you had in your pictures.
I actually did a sunset time lapse video from the same angle as the picture above. You can watch it here if you're interested.
Time lapse video
I think I'll have a play about with the photos with the suggestions above and see if I can make any improvements.
I actually did a sunset time lapse video from the same angle as the picture above. You can watch it here if you're interested.
Time lapse video
I think I'll have a play about with the photos with the suggestions above and see if I can make any improvements.
Suggestions mentioned above. The software managed to double the file size but hey.
Edit to add: I have assumed they were taken in that interesting flat dullish light found under snow clouds, so left them quite dark. But re-balanced. So lightening further would not be a problem but on the second one could be counter productive for some of the detail. Unless one went extreme ...
Edit to add: I have assumed they were taken in that interesting flat dullish light found under snow clouds, so left them quite dark. But re-balanced. So lightening further would not be a problem but on the second one could be counter productive for some of the detail. Unless one went extreme ...
Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 3rd February 01:33
Paul
Some good shots there and some great looking snow. My only suggestion is to try to get ahead of/level with your subject skiers rather than behind, and try to capture their movement.
This is my favourite skiing pic because it has movement(I have a load that are rubbish that didn't come out).
Unfortunatley, because I only take a cheap compact it's hard to control shutter speed etc to get really good results. To me skiing is about movement and glorious views. You've got the views.
Some good shots there and some great looking snow. My only suggestion is to try to get ahead of/level with your subject skiers rather than behind, and try to capture their movement.
This is my favourite skiing pic because it has movement(I have a load that are rubbish that didn't come out).
Unfortunatley, because I only take a cheap compact it's hard to control shutter speed etc to get really good results. To me skiing is about movement and glorious views. You've got the views.
Thanks for all of the tips guys.
When I looked at the trail shot I was disappointed that I didn't think of setting a longer shutter speed to try to capture some movement of the scenery. Just a little bit of motion blur would have made it a great shot I think. As it is it's ok. I'll know for next time.
Having played about with the white balance as suggested you are quite right that a simple tweek gets rid of the blue. I hadn't noticed the dropper in Lightroom to set it before either. Very useful!
I liked the picture of the 2 guys near the hut because it illustrated how much powder there was about just off the pistes. The guy in black's skis just disappeared when he sat down! You're right about there being extra detail in there though. I've had a play with LR and have come up with this:
compared to the original:
Much improved so thanks for the input there.
Val Thorens has a strict policy of being a no car resort, apart from drop offs and deliverys. All cars must be parked in one of the car parks located around the village. It makes it a nicer place to walk about. There is a one way system in a lot of it but it seems to be routinely ignored by the tourists. Surprisingly the locals are quite good at following the rules though.
Mike, you're quite right about missing out on the action shots. I was one of the poorer skiers in our group having only been a handful of times. Others in our group were instructors or had been skiing since they could walk. As a result whenever I stopped for a photo they were gone before I could get ready. They were then surprised that there weren't many shots of them skiing.
I did get a few though. There are a couple of the action skiing thread, but I've put them down here.
They are ok but the guy I was taking photos of shot off into the sun and behind my back rather than going down the bit of piste he said he would. As a result the shots weren't as good as I would have liked. It's a shame because the scenery was great in the other direction too!
And to finish :
Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. Further criticism welcomed though.
When I looked at the trail shot I was disappointed that I didn't think of setting a longer shutter speed to try to capture some movement of the scenery. Just a little bit of motion blur would have made it a great shot I think. As it is it's ok. I'll know for next time.
Having played about with the white balance as suggested you are quite right that a simple tweek gets rid of the blue. I hadn't noticed the dropper in Lightroom to set it before either. Very useful!
I liked the picture of the 2 guys near the hut because it illustrated how much powder there was about just off the pistes. The guy in black's skis just disappeared when he sat down! You're right about there being extra detail in there though. I've had a play with LR and have come up with this:
compared to the original:
Much improved so thanks for the input there.
Val Thorens has a strict policy of being a no car resort, apart from drop offs and deliverys. All cars must be parked in one of the car parks located around the village. It makes it a nicer place to walk about. There is a one way system in a lot of it but it seems to be routinely ignored by the tourists. Surprisingly the locals are quite good at following the rules though.
Mike, you're quite right about missing out on the action shots. I was one of the poorer skiers in our group having only been a handful of times. Others in our group were instructors or had been skiing since they could walk. As a result whenever I stopped for a photo they were gone before I could get ready. They were then surprised that there weren't many shots of them skiing.
I did get a few though. There are a couple of the action skiing thread, but I've put them down here.They are ok but the guy I was taking photos of shot off into the sun and behind my back rather than going down the bit of piste he said he would. As a result the shots weren't as good as I would have liked. It's a shame because the scenery was great in the other direction too!
And to finish
:Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. Further criticism welcomed though.
Road2Ruin said:
Pic no.2, if you remove the black and yellow poles that would be quite a nice one.
Aye, I did think that when I was taking it. Apparantly that's bad form on the slopes though as they let you know where rocks are. I am tempted to have a go with the clone tool in PS and try to do something about it. If I do I'll post it up in here. Reluctant model eh? I ski ahead, point to where I want my buddy to ski past (for best scenery, sun etc) and then have her ski from above me to about 30m past before repeating the exercise. Do this about 5 times and you'll get 30 photos exactly how you like, rather than spending the whole day chasing them.
After all, it's in their best interests to have decent photos taken of them as a keepsake, unless they're Lord Lucan.
After all, it's in their best interests to have decent photos taken of them as a keepsake, unless they're Lord Lucan.
mikee boy said:
Reluctant model eh? I ski ahead, point to where I want my buddy to ski past (for best scenery, sun etc) and then have her ski from above me to about 30m past before repeating the exercise. Do this about 5 times and you'll get 30 photos exactly how you like, rather than spending the whole day chasing them.
After all, it's in their best interests to have decent photos taken of them as a keepsake, unless they're Lord Lucan.
He asked me to take some action shots so I don't know what he was doing. After all, it's in their best interests to have decent photos taken of them as a keepsake, unless they're Lord Lucan.
I think you're spot on with your plan. I will have to try it next time (probably next year now
).Was in Mottaret for a couple of weeks over Christmas and took a few of photos and loads of video. This one was planned the day before and positions spotted. Took the new 5DMk2 up on the mountain along with all the lenses. Quite heavy to ski with but too chicken to board with all the gear.
Was very impressed with the focusing. Not one shot out of focus and exposure spot on.
I have had Tim from Fluid Images make an A3 canvas for the chap in question and it looks fab. Thanks Tim.
Was very impressed with the focusing. Not one shot out of focus and exposure spot on.
I have had Tim from Fluid Images make an A3 canvas for the chap in question and it looks fab. Thanks Tim.
gingerpaul said:
Road2Ruin said:
Pic no.2, if you remove the black and yellow poles that would be quite a nice one.
Aye, I did think that when I was taking it. Apparantly that's bad form on the slopes though as they let you know where rocks are. I am tempted to have a go with the clone tool in PS and try to do something about it. If I do I'll post it up in here. 
Heres one from my trip to chamonix that had a load of things removed and a panorama done.
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