Yesterday morning I ventured over to Place de la Concorde where they have numerous outdoor venues in one area. I was there to photograph Olympic skateboarding for the first time. I was hoping to photograph this in Tokyo, but my schedule just didn't allow it. The first thing I did was check the weather to see if it would be hot or not, and it turned out to be a really nice day to be shooting outside. The high temperature was around 80 degrees F and there were nice puffy clouds in the sky. I like that!
When I got to the venue and walked around, I really liked that I could see the Eiffel Tower and the Luxor Obelisk. I started taking photos with the
Canon R5 MKII and the
RF 24-70mm lens. I love that you can see those sites in the background, but the skateboarder is just too small in the frame. I also was not thrilled with the big TV camera boom in the shot, and all the other distractions.
From that same vantage point, I decided to switch to the
Canon RF 100-500mm lens. I knew that this was a good thing and a bad thing. I would be able to fill the frame with the skateboarders, but I would also love the cool scene in the background. So I decided to use the Olympic rings as my background.
The skateboarders would get pretty high, but not high enough (in my opinion) to get them with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
I moved to a different position and decided to photograph them mainly when they were low in the bowl. Once again I included the Olympic Rings, but it was frustrating me not to get the killer shot.
I was being totally indecisive and switched back to the
RF 24-70mm lens to try once again. I was able to get this shot, which was decent. The skateboarder is still too small, but I like that I got the tower, the obelisk and the rings in one shot. I would love to Photoshop out the TV boom, but we are not allowed to do that. :(
I then decided to switch back to the
Canon RF 100-500mm lens and shoot straight onto the Olympic Rings, which had a white fabric wall behind it. I saw these two skaters rolling and talking behind the rings and thought that was funny.
It did not take me too long to get the shot I wanted, with the skateboarder right in the middle of the rings. (I was once again using the pre-capture mode on the
Canon R5 MKII to make sure I did not miss any good shots.)
I also got the same skater right in the middle of the first ring.
And a wipe out.
I also got another skater in the first ring.
And this leads to my question for all of you. Which image do you like best, the skater dead center or off center in the first ring? I am really torn on this one. I need your help deciding which one goes on the home page of my web site.
I then moved to yet another photo position just in time to catch this skater from France, who was enjoying the massive applause from the crowd.
From this photo position I could get some photos of the skaters with some of the Parisian architecture in the background.
I did photograph the skateboarders in front of the crowd, but felt like they got lost in the crowd.
I would alternate between photographing them in the bowl and in the sky. One interesting thing about photographing this sport is that nothing is choreographed. Unlike gymnastics where the athletes perform the same routine over and over (and is somewhat predictable - especially to those who know the routines well), these guys are making up the routine on the fly. This makes it harder to shoot. Especially for a first timer like me!
As I do in any Olympic sport, I almost always aim to include any rings or logos to show where they were taken.
This photo made me laugh. Even though there are a ton of distractions. I love the height that the Japanese skater got, and the reaction of the other skaters watching below.
Before I left the venue I had to take one more stab at the wide shot. This time, I decided to zoom in more to include all of the Eiffel Tower but only part of the obelisk. And, seeing the shadows that were being cast, I decided to use that to draw your attention to the skater. The shadow is the subject and the skater becomes the secondary subject. I really like this photo (minus that darned boom again).
All in all, it was fun to capture these images and to try something new once again. Now...don't forget to let me know which image you like the best!
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23 comments:
I like the shot with the skater offset in the first ring. The centered one is a good shot, but something about that off-center shot just appeals to me more. I watched The competition on TV… Did you get any shots with Tony Hawk in the background?
I'd go with the one where the one in the red-shorts is in the blue ring, facing right and reaching with his hands towards the rest of the rings – makes it feel like they're going to be part of his move, rather than them being behind him, falling out of them.
In the centre ring shot his black shorts also blend in with the ring which makes his position a bit less stand-out.
Usually I like subjects in the middle of the rings but there is something about having the skater in the left ring. Maybe it shows more motion of the skater going up or down the rings. Anyway I like the skater on left side of ring best. I really like the shadow of the skater included with the Eiffel Tower. And I would also be complaining about the boom in my shots too so that made me chuckle. Great work!
I love the last one!! I adore shadows in images! For me having that shadow drew my eyes first to the shadow, then the skater, then the background and it was so well done! It was a little symmetrical too - Eiffel towel and obelisk in the back & shadow and skater in the front!
I prefer the last photo with the boarder ascending on the logo. And also the last one of the crouching boarder with the crowd in the backround. There is perfect sharpness of the boarder and adequate blurring of the backround to make the juxtaposition work well.
I like the off center skater facing up in the blue ring the best. I also normally like things in the center but if I had to chose off center wins for me. I knew you would focus on those rings. My favorite is the shadow pic.
First ring—the skater is enclosed. The center skater breaks the frame of the rings.
I love the skater dead center in the first ring I think it is the best!!! And also right in the middle ring is great too!!! And I love the one with the shadow that is a cool picture
My favorites are the skateboarders in the rings!
The third one, with the limbs of the skater leading the eye into the frame. It's the most compositionally coherent.
Ordinarily I would like the center ring but I like the two blue ones shown here.
I prefer the rider in the red shorts, centered in the blue ring...his position more indicates speed, just rising into the frame and heading into the rings, ready to take on competitors from all continents.
I like the rider in red shorts, centered in the blue ring, reaching forward towards the rings. To me, it shows momentum...and the fact he's heading into the rings intimates the desire to take on competition from all continents.
I really like the shot with the shadow, and off center. Editor would likely pice the center on though.
I agree for the same reason. The limb and position of the skater in the red shorts leads the eye into the frame more so than the others.
Excellent shots. The TV towers don't bother me, they are all part of the scene. Of the three images my vote is for the third one (blue ring, red shorts)
Prefer 2nd picture of the rider in the blue ring as if he was riding down the yellow ring
I would choose one of the photos of the skater inside the blue ring. It's good to see the national designation of the first one, but I prefer the skater position of the second one. Also love the last shot with the skater's shadow!
Love the last shot with the shadow and Eiffel Tower - it’s unique! Post Olympics are you allowed to remove the TV boom for your personal use?
I like the off center shot the best as it has him centered in the ring.
I prefer the off-centre skater in the blue ring. He fits right inside the ring and it looks like he's riding and holding the yellow ring. The skater in the centre black ring would've looked more cool if he was instead above the black ring.
For me the fact that the skater's black shorts and knee pads are confusing to the eye with the center black ring, so I like the skater in the blue ring. NOTE: I have to say as a "hobbyist sprots photog," having the tack clear photos to choose from, and the attention to detail to get Olympic rings to commemorate the scene is amazing work.
My choice is the skater in the first ring. I’ve just finished reading all your posts from the second half of the games. I enjoy the images and love your explanations of the thought and processes that go into them. Thank you!
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