2017 Project 52 - 1st Quarter by Mal Schulstad

Week 6 Photo 3
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/278/31...744d5ac9_o.jpg_DZ18974 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

Here is also another one of my personal favourites. As great as it is to capture a single rider and the expression of joy on their face, I think capturing several riders at once really expresses what Mountain Bike Riding is all about - taking on a challenge with others that share your passion to enjoy the ride. Dust combines with light breaking through the tree canopy from multiple riders in action to create for me what is a really captivating image. Now, if only I can find the same sort of effect in other places!

Week 6 Photo 4
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/567/31...93ef2a4f_o.jpg_DZ19012 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This particular scene is part of a set that I struggle to make anything of. Dull light and difficulties in attempting to portray what is actually a fairly high bridge (it's about two metres above the ground) frustrated me through this series. I moved around several times trying to capture something that was remotely interesting - until I stumbled across this setting (once again purely by accident) where the rider is framed in a series of vertical lines by the bridge and trees on either side.

While I still don't think it's perhaps the most exciting scene, it was still a reasonable capture in that it reminded me to keep an eye on natural attributes that will help frame a subject for future photographic opportunities.

Week 6 Photo 5
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/453/31...73645e31_o.jpg_DZ19068 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I took this photo using from the same place as the Week 6 Photo 2 shot, hoping to replicate the scene to a degree. The main difference however was that it was a half hour later, and I had at this stage realised that I needed to shoot a faster shutter speed for some of the more advanced riders. With less light and the ISO at 1800 this created an image with obviously more noise.

However in this set I had more riders coming through the scene and although not as sharp as is should have perhaps been - I probably needed a greater DoF which would have further compromised the ISO. TO be honest, attempting to increase the DoF to capture a sharper image across the entire scene and seeing what the impact of the extra noise from the increased ISO is probably something I need to stick on my list of things to experiment with.

That being said, I did mange to capture the first rider's rather unique facial expression (I think he's trying to stop his tongue from coming out in future jumps) while also simultaneously capturing two riders jumping at different locations in the scene against a setting sun. The only way is up for future versions!

Week 6, nice ones.

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Originally Posted by Shadowman

Week 6, nice ones.

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Thanks John

Week 6 Photo 6
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/698/32...8d000aed_o.jpg_DZ19116 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This photo was taken just prior to starting a particularly torturous ride - over 45 km in distance and 1300 metres of climbing. To be honest I was bored while I was waiting for everyone to get ready when the light through the canopy caught my eye - particularly in the way it lights up the road (kind of showing the way to go in the scene, even though we headed in the opposite direction) In hindsight I probably should have removed my backpack from the bottom of the picture...

Week 6 Photo 7
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/293/32...b7e42bc5_o.jpg_DZ19163 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I'd originally selected this one just to once again talk about how difficult it is to portray how steep a climb on a mountain bike trail is (this was leg screaming steep - especially after climbing for almost an hour already). However I noticed something even more interesting with this photo.

As usual, riders at the very edges of the frame are not as sharp as they could be. Initially I thought this was a function of the shallow DoF (shot at f2.8). Then as I looked at the trees near the edges of the frame some of the detail there seemed to be okay so I began to think it was a function of the shutter speed (1/250) - even though they were going slow which is the case when people are climbing.

After more thinking I've come to the conclusion that it's a function of both a shallow DoF and shutter speed combined. The camera has focused on the riders in the distance resulting in a less than optimum light capture in the foreground. Combined with the motion of the riders it was enough make the riders appear to be diminish any chance of getting the riders on the edge of the frame sharp, while still being able to capture some of the detail in the stationary trees.

Week 7 Photo 1
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/576/31...604129a1_o.jpg_DZ19140 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I've almost caught up! I think this is just a nice example of some of the scenery you can enjoy when you're out in the wilderness.

Still loving these, Mal. Keep 'em coming.

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Originally Posted by Donald

Still loving these, Mal. Keep 'em coming.

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Thanks Donald :) I'm just slowing down now that I've caught up to where I'm supposed to be :D

Week 7 Photo 2
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/306/32...33cb6909_o.jpg_DZ19314 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

An attempt at something artisticish - if you can call trying to highlight the names of bikes artistic. I took this from several angles, from low behind the bike wheels to using a large DoF to get the detail in the background in. I like this one the best. I did remove the greens and yellows to take the focus away from the background a bit.

Unfortunately I've had no offers from the bike manufacturers for sponsorship :(

Week 7 Photo 3
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/772/32...ae0f0bec_o.jpg_DZ19248 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This is my attempt at creating a page out of "Where's Wally". The rider and his bike are both yellow and green which make him difficult to stand out against the background - in colour or black and white. So I didn't fight the scenery but decided to try and make him part of it (I think it's still a nice scene).

I did consider increasing contrast and possibly strengthening the reds to create a bit more black in the scene but I feel it would have been too intrusive. There's something about the way this current scene is finished that I find serene and relaxing.

You'll notice the grass that's smack bang in the middle at the front of the frame. You can call it distracting, or you can see where it leads you into the scene... (at least that's my excuse anyway! :D)

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Originally Posted by Goldcoastgolfer

Week 6 Photo 6
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/698/32...8d000aed_o.jpg_DZ19116 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

This photo was taken just prior to starting a particularly torturous ride - over 45 km in distance and 1300 metres of climbing. To be honest I was bored while I was waiting for everyone to get ready when the light through the canopy caught my eye - particularly in the way it lights up the road (kind of showing the way to go in the scene, even though we headed in the opposite direction) In hindsight I probably should have removed my backpack from the bottom of the picture...

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Interesting composition, really lost in the foliage.

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Originally Posted by Goldcoastgolfer

Week 6 Photo 7
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/293/32...b7e42bc5_o.jpg_DZ19163 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

I'd originally selected this one just to once again talk about how difficult it is to portray how steep a climb on a mountain bike trail is (this was leg screaming steep - especially after climbing for almost an hour already). However I noticed something even more interesting with this photo.

As usual, riders at the very edges of the frame are not as sharp as they could be. Initially I thought this was a function of the shallow DoF (shot at f2.8). Then as I looked at the trees near the edges of the frame some of the detail there seemed to be okay so I began to think it was a function of the shutter speed (1/250) - even though they were going slow which is the case when people are climbing.

After more thinking I've come to the conclusion that it's a function of both a shallow DoF and shutter speed combined. The camera has focused on the riders in the distance resulting in a less than optimum light capture in the foreground. Combined with the motion of the riders it was enough make the riders appear to be diminish any chance of getting the riders on the edge of the frame sharp, while still being able to capture some of the detail in the stationary trees.

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Nicely framed action.

Week 7 photo#1, I like the composition but those colors are too off. Did you process to reveal the blues or is this what your gear provided you in auto ISO?

Week 7 photo2 is understandable with the levels of blue as you stated you were looking for something artistic. Nicely composed.

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Originally Posted by Shadowman

Interesting composition, really lost in the foliage.

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Always something I find a challenge when taking these photos - and probably why some of these photos aren't the best candidates for B&W.

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Originally Posted by Shadowman

Week 7 photo#1, I like the composition but those colors are too off. Did you process to reveal the blues or is this what your gear provided you in auto ISO?

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Definitely over processed to reveal the blues - it was a very bright, washed out kind of day from that vantage point by the time we go to where we were.

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Originally Posted by Goldcoastgolfer

Week 7 Photo 2
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/306/32...33cb6909_o.jpg_DZ19314 by Mal Schulstad, on Flickr

An attempt at something artisticish - if you can call trying to highlight the names of bikes artistic. I took this from several angles, from low behind the bike wheels to using a large DoF to get the detail in the background in. I like this one the best. I did remove the greens and yellows to take the focus away from the background a bit.

Unfortunately I've had no offers from the bike manufacturers for sponsorship :(

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I like the concept here but I think you need more of the bike and a less cluttered or near background. I do think that the best product shot is the one where it's being used.

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Originally Posted by Kaye Leggett

I like the concept here but I think you need more of the bike and a less cluttered or near background. I do think that the best product shot is the one where it's being used.

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Thanks for the feedback Kaye. I did actually have shots encompassing all of the bikes in the setting but I didn't like them as much. I also tend not to touch other people's bikes or deliberately move anything to set up a photo - everything I take is a photo of is just a snapshot of a scene as it happened. All I do is see if there are reasonable angles and light to work with. As for the background - finding an uncluttered background where we ride is pretty much next to impossible.

You'd probably find the standard mountain bike product shot amusing - it's literally a flat side on shot of a bike normally!