Help required for a man in awe of a Nikon 7200: Many of u guys have had fancy and updated kit to use. Well ol' Billy due to self imposed prudent financial constraints has not. He had...

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Many of u guys have had fancy and updated kit to use. Well ol' Billy due to self imposed prudent financial constraints has not. He had an old Pentax until recently when fortune shined upon him and he was able to afford a new camera, He bought a Nikon 7200 and is just blown away by it. No wish to start a war with Canon guys but I got a stupendous deal on the Nikon. Im sure the equivalent Canon would impress me equally. So I am busy studying books and learning this Nikon which is a complicated item I find.
These are my first ever action shots and first sports shots. Camera is amazing, focus locks on and just follows your intended victim.
So shots with minimum PP taken with a Nikkor 18 - 200 mm some on Aperture priority and some on Shutter priority.
The Wakepark where I took them is walking distance from my house so going back to practice some more is easy.
Please look judge and give me any help hints tips settings etc to improve the way I capture these.
In my opinion they are a tad short of mediocre.
Longer lenses remote controls etc not an option. Budget exceeded and back on one bowl of thin gruel per day shared with two dogs and Norman the cat.
Any help much appreciated.

Small files due to very slow internet connection here.

Number 6

(Download)

Number 5

(Download)

Number 4
Number 4...

Number 3

(Download)

Number 2

(Download)

Number 1

(Download)

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

A D7200 yet, not 7100 but 7200, hmm, does Mrs. Billy get only one bowl of thin gruel per day also? Like your "snapshots" Billy but be careful, you might turn into a starving artist. :)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

jenny wrote:

A D7200 yet, not 7100 but 7200, hmm, does Mrs. Billy get only one bowl of thin gruel per day also? Like your "snapshots" Billy but be careful, you might turn into a starving artist. :)

Mrs Billy is an Asian lady programmed to serve her man. She gets to lick the bowl after Norman!
I may well starve sweet jenny but my Maker did not give me the talent required to be an artist so have no fear that artistry or lack of it will play any part in my journey to malnutrition. Also do not worry if you get an ear in your mail, it will not be one of Billy's.
I'm glad you like my snaps now get ya brain into the right gear leave the other threads to fester away and ponder away the imponderable and give me the help I asked for please.
I thought you were knowledgeable about this snapshot taking malarkey?

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

Duh, you mean that critiquing stuff where if we tell people they're artists hey, love us and and if we tell the truth they cut their ears off...or ours maybe. I jes like to look at pitchers 'n' stuff. Y'hafta find people who know what noise is, I'm very quiet. And those stray pixels that get outta duh leading lines, don't know where they're supposed to lead to. I think you done good with snap shootin' tho, corse that's just based on pinions, right?

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Billyspad wrote:

Any help much appreciated.

Quick assessment.

#1 - Delete
#2 - Loose the parking lot.
#3 - I dunno..is the ramp suppose to be level?
#4 - Would help to have the whole board.
#5 - Parking lot.
#6 - Has promise..needs more pop, do your magic.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Billyspad wrote:

Many of u guys have had fancy and updated kit to u... (show quote)

I'd like to help Billy but your are in unfamiliar territory. Never made a sports shot and never liked most of what I have seen. Not anyone's problem but my own. Just the way this old fart is made up.

Action happening to fast, suppose. My poor brain can't keep up. And maybe I am just jealous of good sports photographer's abilities to do something so far out or reach.

Seems like neither one of is ever satisfied with what we are doing at the moment and always have to be trying something different.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I would not call these mediocre. I'll agree with Frank13 on most of what he says. I do like 4 and 6. As Frank says the rest of the board in 4 would be nice but I like the water sprays and the expressions on their faces in both of these. 6 could use a little exposure adjustment.

Keep practicing!!! You are definitely headed in the right direction!!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Frank2013 wrote:

Quick assessment.

#1 - Delete
#2 - Loose the parking lot.
#3 - I dunno..is the ramp suppose to be level?
#4 - Would help to have the whole board.
#5 - Parking lot.
#6 - Has promise..needs more pop, do your magic.

Frank these aint posted for PP suggestions I can do that in my sleep.
Looking for help with camera settings etc. Like look at the exif data.
Was ISO too high would Shutter priotity work better etc.
Number 1 was only one I like so why delete?

I know Ill give em all some glowing edges and an orange tint and then we can discuss if they are art lol.
Might have posted these in wrong forum young Frank. Perhaps this place only caters for questions with no answers?

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

jim hill wrote:

I'd like to help Billy but your are in unfamiliar ... (show quote)

I always want to try something different Jim. And having bought a camera that's as fancy as hell with bells and whistles I have to master it.
Hence sports shorts and stopping fast moving objects. As yet no one has actually responded as I wanted. Like I think they would be better all round if movement showed ie a slower shutter speed. But what speed is the sort of input I wanted. Early days yet we shall see who pops along.

Or failing that as I said to Frank Ill titivate em' give em a burst of a few filters cover them with a texture maybe skew em a bit to get a leading line or three and and call it art.
That should ensure the discussion carries on for a few days heading exactly nowhere lol
Thank you for dropping by my friend I wil keep you posted on the new sports snapper on the block!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

luvmypets wrote:

I would not call these mediocre. I'll agree with Frank13 on most of what he says. I do like 4 and 6. As Frank says the rest of the board in 4 would be nice but I like the water sprays and the expressions on their faces in both of these. 6 could use a little exposure adjustment.

Keep practicing!!! You are definitely headed in the right direction!!

I really do appreciate your input but its not PP suggestions I was after so maybe I did not make that clear.
It the basic stuff I need advice on for any further foray into the world of fast moving sports photography. Like camera settings, A mode or S mode and why. Would they actually be better with some clear indication of movement. If so what shutter speed. Stuff like that luvmypets.
Im 2700 shots into a very fancy bit of kit (fancy for me) and need some advice on the way to set up this super duper fantabulous best thing I ever bought happy as a pig in muck shiny new Nikon

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

jenny wrote:

Duh, you mean that critiquing stuff where if we tell people they're artists hey, love us and and if we tell the truth they cut their ears off...or ours maybe. I jes like to look at pitchers 'n' stuff. Y'hafta find people who know what noise is, I'm very quiet. And those stray pixels that get outta duh leading lines, don't know where they're supposed to lead to. I think you done good with snap shootin' tho, corse that's just based on pinions, right?

You are about as much use as a chocolate tea pot my gal. Its at times like this I question why I luv ya like I do!!!!!!!!

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

Since I'm certain you have a very good understanding of the exposure triangle, I can only suggest experiment while shooting full manual to get a feel for what this baby can do. If you are in a situation that you don't have time and just want to get the shot A & S priority will be two of your best friends. I use S more for stopping the action and A more for controlling DoF.

If you have the software to PP raw (NEF), just wait until you see what kind of DR you have to play with :D

Billy, we will be expecting lots more great things from you. Also, these action shots are pretty darn good, especially considering it's an unfamiliar piece equipment . :thumbup: You are a sharp guy, learning this will come easy to you. If I can figure it out, anyone can.

Congrats! Bill :-D

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Flyextreme wrote:

Since I'm certain you have a very good understandi... (show quote)

Hya Bill and thanks for dropping by. I only ever take in Raw and the latest version of Camera Raw opens files from the 7200.
I think its all about experimenting but if you have done any stuff like this what shutter speed would you use so I can maybe freeze the face but still get movement in the limbs. My main gripe with these is they are too static. Camera makes it easy to kill the motion I want to selectively kill it but in camera not with Photoshop etc.

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

Billyspad wrote:

Hya Bill and thanks for dropping by. I only ever take in Raw and the latest version of Camera Raw opens files from the 7200.
I think its all about experimenting but if you have done any stuff like this what shutter speed would you use so I can maybe freeze the face but still get movement in the limbs. My main gripe with these is they are too static. Camera makes it easy to kill the motion I want to selectively kill it but in camera not with Photoshop etc.

I think with this particular type of sport (boarding) one shutter speed may not fit all, because of the variations in the speed of the subjects. If it were me and I lived as close as you do, I would simply spend some time in shutter priority and vary the shutter speed until I got the effect I wanted. Also, it's not like a car or bike, where car speed is fairly consistant and the wheels are spinning (moving) faster than anything else.

A tripod with the camera pre focused may help with the motion effect, rather that following the subject with your camera, which would effectively make the background move. In other words, your camera needs to be static to show motion in your subject. I don't know if I'm telling you basic things you already know, I'm just kind of thinking out loud just to put it out there.

I don't have much experience with action shots but, this is where I would start :wink:

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Flyextreme wrote:

I think with this particular type of sport (boardi... (show quote)

No all your points are valid and welcome. This is very new territory for me.
The tripod is a great idea but probably impossible. A guy with a camera can sort of become invisible whereas a tripod makes it look very official.
This wakeboarding is a very expensive pastime by Phils standards. I went ouch when I saw the cost of a day ticket. Its inhabited and used by the better off and some rich and famous. I can see some of them not wishing to be photographed at all and especially if they crash land badly etc. A tripod will alert security who will question, quite rightly, why I am there and do I have permission.
But all your other points are logged into the three brain cells I have that continue to function.
Thanks for your time fella.