I've been getting pretty tetchy about the crap weather recently. So I was please to be able to get out for a short walk today - fluffy white clouds and blue sky, yipeeee.

For those who have been looking at my long lens shots, these are from a lens at the other end of the scale. A Canon 16-35mm f2.8L. The camera was my 1DsmkII. A circular polarising filter was used, and the scenes were metered with a Sekonic L-758D.

This was one of a set of chainsaw carvings along the riverside.

A 'chocolate box' image destined for the stock agencies.

that place looks familiar, is that guildford?

Dapdune Wharf in Guildford.

Edited 15 July, 200817 yr by JamesRothwell
Can't spell Guildford properly, due to general retardation.

Cracking pics mate.

Davy

Great snaps

Another triumph cruff

Great pics - glad you raced out there before the weather turns again!

Only thing for me is the water disturbance in the 2nd shot, on the right hand side? That patch seems to draw the eye in, and detract from the rest of the image.

Steve

Great pictures.

Any other processing done on them, apart from adding the border?.

Another triumph cruff

I can't see any motorbikes?

Taxi for Lance....

Very nice

Nice work as usual. Looking at that narrow boat shot made me want to buy fudge:D

I can't see any motorbikes?

Here's some for ya at the recent Skerries Road Races The orange helmet is a medic bike, those boys were pushing more than the competitors

Btw Scuff sorry to hijack your post Top quality pics from you as usual

Great pictures.

Any other processing done on them, apart from adding the border?.

Just resized and sharpened for the web.

Here's some for ya at the recent Skerries Road Races The orange helmet is a medic bike, those boys were pushing more than the competitors

Btw Scuff sorry to hijack your post Top quality pics from you as usual

Thats OK Gaff.... I'll just Hijack it back.

This one from an Enduro at Weavers Down. Canon 1DsmkII with a 70-200f2.8L and 580 flash.

A slow shutter speed allowed some blurring. A drop of flash was blipped in to freeze some of that movement and have some critical sharpness (such as the riders eyes).

This next one was taken at the Castletown races in the Isle of Man.

Canon 1DsMkII with a 300mm f2.8L and a Canon 2x converter.

Suitably hijacked ???????

Road Racing? Bike racing at it's best!!

Suitably hijacked ???????

Very nicely done

Love the second picture.

What kinda camera set up due you use for these? Do you auto focus or manual? Prior to bike coming or on previous?

Basically when you take your came out of your bag what type of things do you adjust before you start shooting, even the most basic things (don't worry about offending me with stupid simple things as I've a lot to learn )

Btw whats a 2x converter?

Very nicely done

Love the second picture.

What kinda camera set up due you use for these? Do you auto focus or manual? Prior to bike coming or on previous?

Basically when you take your came out of your bag what type of things do you adjust before you start shooting, even the most basic things (don't worry about offending me with stupid simple things as I've a lot to learn )

Btw whats a 2x converter?

Thanks Gaff..... Firstly, this is a 2x converter Canon Extender EF 2x II EF Lenses - Canon UK - So my 300mm f2.8 lens became a 600mm f5.6 lens.

Whilst at the Isle of Man taking loads of 'travel' shots for the agencies, they were holding the Castletown Road Races. Now that was irresistible to me as a long time biker and a photographer.

I mostly see the image I want in my head before I get the camera out. So I scouted the locations to see if I could get into a position for the type of shot I wanted. I needed the sun to be shining in the direction it was. Once my position was chosen, I knew that I needed a long focal length to fill the frame and a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus and make the subject stand out.

I set the camera on aperture priority and chose an aperture that would give the depth of field effect I wanted to keep most of the bike sharp and the background out. I then adjusted the iso to 200 as this would then make the camera set a shutter speed of 1/400th sec. This shutter speed allowed the image to exhibit some 'movement' in the wheels to give the impression that the bike was actually moving! I left the Camera on continuous auto focus - the 1d series cameras are streets ahead of the 'cheaper' bodies in this respect, being extremely fast and accurate.

It was quite a tricky balance, but the shot turned out exactly how I wanted it. Finally a steady panning motion was required to keep the image sharp, as 600mm and 1/400th sec would easily show camera shake without good technique.

I hope my explanation shows the amount of thought and planning that I give to each of my shots before I even get the camera out. And when I do, I know exactly how to set the camera up to do what I want it to do.

Do I get issued with my anorak now

Cheers for that, its funny with just learning you sit down ready to take a shot, having an idea in mind its just mind boggling the amount of settings on these cameras. And then it hits ya what button does what again ????

I suppose its a lot of trial and error getting used to which shutter, ISO, apeture, f-stop settings to use.

You can sometimes get too caught up in it, especially when starting out.