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New photo critique/help

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.Prospect
Posts: 30 - Karma: 21
Now that our ski season is almost done we are starting to break the kayaks out
We were trying to get some night shots and this is what we ended up with

Click for larger image

Shot on a Nikon D2X, shot at f/5.0 13 second exposure, ISO at 640? i think, focal length at 34mm

The kayaker is lit up by a person sitting on the rocks to the kayakers right with a speedlight

I like the shot, and think it has potential. I'm looking for critiques, and ways to capture the kayaker better.
Thanks
Apr 25 2010 5:13PM
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.Prospect
Posts: 30 - Karma: 21
and of course please click for better color and bigger
Apr 25 2010 5:13PM
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Elife
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 44
its going to be really challenging to get the kayaker crisper than that with such a long exposure.... I really like the effect though with the passing car and without that the shot just wouldn't be the same. So I'd suggest a littlle photoshop shenanigans, take two shots (one of the kayaker illuminated by the speedlite with a shorter exposure and one like the original with the car blur) and combine them. Sick shot though.
Apr 25 2010 6:11PM
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.Prospect
Posts: 30 - Karma: 21
thats an interesting idea,
we are going to try to get back out at night next weekend, we'll have to try that
Apr 25 2010 6:19PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
No no no, do it properly in one shot. You need more light in the rest of the shot though, pop the flash a few more times from different positions or have someone else with another one stand in. Or just more ambient.
Apr 25 2010 8:27PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
i was the one holding the flash.
we couldn't just pop it a few more times, the kayaker is moving
i think my bud is picking up another speedlight, so maybe that nikon speedlight transmitting system deal would work.
ambient light isn't the problem, the problem is the light on the kayaker i think
but thanks, we're going back to try again next weekend
Apr 25 2010 8:58PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Pop it a few more times on the background, you've got 13 seconds. The rest of the frame is way too dark, you need to light that with either more ambient or with flashes. Was this in full darkness? Try it at twilight and it'll turn out way better.
Apr 26 2010 4:32AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
This.. Im sure you could get that one speedlight to pop at a higher power. Manually control the flash and put it at 1/1. I think BamBam also said it, but your scene as a whole is too dark. Longer exposure or bring the flash down to somewhere around a 16th and light up the scene a bit.
Apr 26 2010 2:40PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
bump
May 7 2010 6:19PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
i think putting a little depth in the foreground would do allot for the composition. Maybe adding soft flash on the rocks up front? i guess thats my opinion...
May 7 2010 11:17PM
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