Photoshop 01

I have now started to work on an image I intend to submit as part of my final portfolio. I am only working with basic tools in photoshop.

One of which is a layer tool. With this I can create numerous layers of the same image allowing me to modify one but not the other. It is an easy way to back up your work whilst still working on it. Any changes made on one layer can easily be discarded without effecting the original.

Shown below is some work in progress with multiple layers.

With this image I decided that because most of the background is almost gray I would desaturate it and increase the vibrancy of the colour in the foreground. The image below shows the saturation and vibrancy tool.

Final Selections

As I am now into my final 4 weeks of the course, I have started to select photographs I feel are suitable to be considered to be submitted as the final 12 images.

Images have been taken from most of my shoots including Aviemore, Austria and Swadlincote. Reviews of these experiences and shoots can be found on my blog.

So far I have selected 20 for consideration. In addition to this I intend to include images from a shoot scheduled for Saturday 24th April. The shoot is of a snowboard and ski freestyle competition being held at Swadlincote.

After the shoot I will select 12 for my final portfolio. These will then be post produced in Adobe Photoshop (if necessary) and printed at various sizes.

Inspired Image Techniques

After reviewing Bob Martin's work and taking into consideration the feedback I have had from steve I went out to another 'Ramp and Rail' freestyle night. 

I have said previously about the problems I have had with the limitations on my camera flash, but I decided to persevere and try some close up shots with what I would call off axis angles.

I managed to take a couple of images I am quite happy with however there is still a small amount of blur on them, mainly with the objects closer to the camera. Shown Below.

When shooting these type of close up shots I am getting maximum use from the frame which is what I am aiming for.

Aviemore Review

During my time at Aviemore, Scotland I had only one day of decent weather to do my photography. You can see the images from this shoot on the slide show labelled 'Aviemore Scotland'.

After my tutor steve looked through the work I produced from my trip to Soll, Austria, he gave me some advice about using fill in flash in my work. The idea was to use this during my time in Scotland, however a mistake on my part was thinking the levels of lighting were sufficient.

Something I did and always try to do is try to gain more obscure viewing angles for images. This is why Bob Martin's work appealed to me. This is evident in my image shown below.

Whilst there is some risk in taking images like this because the subject has to jump over me, they create really good obscure shots.

The downside to not having used fill in flash is that some images are slightly in shown and not quite as much detail has been picked out as would have been possible. Example below.

Research - Bob Martin

Bob Martin is a photographer who specialises in action and sports. He has had a career in this field for over 20 years and during this time has had many acomplishments.

He has a broad client list and his work has featured in magazines such as Time, Stern, Bunte, Sunday Times, Telegraph.

For the last five years he has been contracted to Sports Illustrated in New York however he spends most of his time on the road covering major sporting event such as the Olympics.

It is a testiment to his acomplishments that he is the only photographer for Sports Illustrated based outside of the USA not only that but he has been recognised by over 53 national and international awards.

I have created a slide show showing some of Bob Martin's work. But shown below are a couple of my favourites.

After looking through Bob Martin's work, this image jumped out at me. My favourite thing about it is the angle of the vantage point. Throughout my own work I stive to find new and more obscure angles which complement the sport. I think Bob Martin has managed to achieve this. Another impressive point is the depth of field. You can clearerly make out the backgroung whilst still being able to see all the detail in the immediate foreground.

This is another image which stood out. Due to the fact that all of my work is based around the sport of snowboarding I can appreciate the quality of the image. The main subject of the image is positioned perfectly, framed by the background and foreground. If the subject had been much lower the overlap between them would cause the sharpness around the finer details like the snowboard to be lost.

Night Shoot Review

I have had chance to put my new kit to use. This includes the flash and acetate strips. All of the photos can be seen in the slide show labelled 'Night Shoot'.

The setup was quite basic. Every Wednesday night, Swadlincote Ski Centre is setup for freestyle. 

I positioned the external flash half way down the slope just before the ramp. The idea was to produce a back lit image with the subject coming towards the camera.

Looking at the images captured I can now see I should of moved the flash further up the slope or behind the ramp. However I am limited the distance at which the flash can be set. Approx 25ft is the limit.

I am happy with the arrangement of the shots and where I have have managed to capture the snowboarders in relation to the ramp. I would of liked to kept the angle shown in most of these shots but at closer range.

As I have mentioned before I am restricted to a maximum shutter speed of 1/200 when the flash is synchronized. Because of this I am limited to how close I can get to fast moving subject before the image starts to blur.

I am hoping to arrange another night when these can be re-shot. Though I am having to do these types of shots after 10pm when the centre is closed to the public. This is because all of the lighting is turned off therefore creating a heath and safety risk to the public.

The only people in these shoots are staff members.

Having shown the results of this shoot to Steve, he has had several suggestions. Because of the kit I have available is limited to shutter speeds of 1/200 with the flash he has recommended that I try doing the same but in daytime.

He also said to try having the flash a lot closer to the subject (under the ramp, facing up) and taking the photograph from beside the flash. The flash should have more effect at this range.

Kit Update

I have recently purchased a flashgun and tripod for my camera.

The intention behind this was mainly to be able to use the flash remotely. This will enable me to position it behind the subject of my images and balance the amount of light in the foreground and background.

As a little add on to the flash gun I purchased some acetate sheets. The idea being that I will be able to change to the colour of the flash. My inspiration for this came from the images seen on the pages reviewing Dan Medhurst.

Nissin Di622 Speedlite

Velbon CX-540

Acetate Sheets.