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Had the opportunity to shoot with the 70-200VR today. Stephanie's work colleagues had a team-building weekend that included surfing lessons. She was pretty happy about standing up first time:



It was a very dark and cool day but the available light did wonderful things for colours. Another member of our group and his daughter shell-collecting:



C+C very welcome!!

Teambuilding. This has just made me shiver. There is nothing I would hate more than working for a company that practices this kind of crap.

Back to the topic - No. 1 is excellent, nice and sharp and most importantly the emotions are captured excellently.

Alex

Simon - well done to Steph, that's awesome. I tried (unsuccessfully) for more than a season to get the hang of surfing...great effort. This is a great shot, sharp as a tac too, gotta love that 70-200VR!
The 2nd shot is beautiful and simple...it's a candid I know, but the bottle of water in the Dad's hand is distracting (to me). The contrast of the reds in their clothes with the water colour is great. Nicely done.

Thanks Geoff - they had some pro surfer (don't remember his name) teaching them and I'm not sure what tips he gave but they were all standing up on their first or second wave. The conditions were perfect too so that may have contributed. I was itching to get out there myself but I wasn't putting that lens down for anything!

Good point about the water bottle - here's a quick clone:

Great clone job Simon

Alex wrote:Teambuilding. This has just made me shiver. There is nothing I would hate more than working for a company that practices this kind of crap.

Alex,

Don't you like "Management By Magazine Article"???

Simon,

The first of these is great, Good colour, framing, exposure ..... a difficult but great capture.

Alex wrote:Teambuilding. This has just made me shiver. There is nothing I would hate more than working for a company that practices this kind of crap.

Alex

Oh I don't know...where's your sense of adventure... I would love it...

and Simon that first one is magic.. I also like the second one.. water bottle and all...

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Oh I don't know...where's your sense of adventure... I would love it...

[/quote]

Well, I don't know spending weekend with family or spending weekend with the people I see at work every day... tough decision...

Alex

Alex - this weekend away was for all the families as well. Teams work better together when they understand the motivations, needs and values of their colleagues and opportunities like this are brilliant for that. Not all work places/companies get it right. This one does and is recognised worldwide for it. Their people strategies are the envy of many companies and they're what makes them so successful.

Love the first image - very infectious sense of joy evident there.

I think it's a real achievement to stand up at all, let alone on the first try. I have enough trouble balancing on a surf ski. Something to to with the amount of water I displace, probably.

Thanks Trevor. You and me both - I'm an old battleship driver myself though it's been a while since I've dusted off the old ski and diced it with the board-riders.

Only a few have said anything about the second image - can I have some critique as to what's wrong with it?

Hi Simon,
Great images, I like both, great use of your 70-200 and DOF. I think the first one gets more comments because of the greater obvious emotional content, Stephanie looks deservedly very happy.

hi Simon

Because you asked, Ill give you some thoughts on the second image. These are the kind of thoughts that I have when I am trying to compose an image. (yes I know some are beyond your control - that's why photographers are patient : ) )

I ask myself "is this interesting?"
Lets look at the subject - Dad with kid collecting shells - not a great deal of engagement between the two. Interaction between the 2 would increase interest.

Colour Composition - Great colour composition with the red coat and blue background

Image composition - Main subject may work better in the bottom right third. So many images look better when a point of interest is on one of the thirds.

Hope this is useful
Cheers
Greg

Thanks Glen and Greg for your comments.

Greg - I certainly understand your point and agree. For me, the interest was more in the colours than anything else. There was a bit of background to the image as well in that "Dad" had suffered a massive bout of food poisoning the previous night and was very lucky to still be walking that morning. His daughter reamins, as all kids do at that age, totally oblivious to the issue and is only worried about getting more shells for her collection.

As I followed them for a few steps in the viewfinder, the wave started to break behind them and the image was made. I've cropped a small amount off the sides so would probably have some leeway to reposition them into one of the thirds positions.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Simon

There is nothing "wrong" with the image, I think it just doesn't engage the viewer enough. No specific point of interest, in my view.

Knowing the story behind the subjects in the second image helps me understand why Dad looks like he just doesn't want to be there! It makes it a personal pic that I'm sure the family would get a lot from.

And of course, it's nice and sharp and the background wave looks good too. And huge.

Great picture of Stephanie and congrats to her - took me three separate sessions to manage to stand on one of those things.

Cheers,
Elena

Simon, I find the second to be to dull (yes I know the conditions were that way) and the image needing a crop to bring the viewer closer to the subjects.
I've had a play here and find that lifting the brightness and the crop help excite the eye towards the subjects.
Don't know what the taboos are here so won't put anything up.

Thanks Elena. I waited for the wave to break 'just right' so I'm pleased others like it too.

Stephen - I think you're probably spot on. I'll have a go at it tonight and see how your suggestions go. Thanks!

Simon I really like the first image. Great scene great feel and great capture. I think the second has appeal too in the way the subject has been separated by the wave. There is great depth to the image.
cheers
marco

Cheers for that Marco - much appreciated.

Hey Simon
Great shots, and tell Steph I said she did 'bloody fantastic' I know that if I tried to stand up on a board, it would either sink, or I'd spend all of my time face down in the water LOL. The look of pride on her face is spot on too
I really like the second shot too, and the removal of the bottle makes it even better !!
Hugs
Rel