|
Olympic images with an artistic approach
Workshop at the Ranch
October, 2004 Edition
Hi and welcome to the October issue
of Workshop at the Ranch. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games are still
vivid in my mind. During any event there is usually time to take
close notice of the graphic elements in relation to the athletes
that might be pleasing to the viewer. The incorporation of graphic
design into your photography will be well worth your efforts.
Editors always take notice of these kinds of images in your portfolio
and many publications use them as double page spreads and openers
for the feature article. With a mind set on graphics and design
let's take a look at some Olympic images with an artistic approach...
Image #1 There are some very interesting
things going on in this image of a swimmer gliding underwater
after his racing start. To begin with, the photographer
must study the scene and look beyond the typical sports
image. Take time during the qualifying rounds and qualifying
heats of competitions to walk around the venue and study
LIGHT, SHADOW, COLOR, SHAPE and DESIGN that surrounds
the athlete. In this case, the pool floor is tile and
an Olympic pool is quite shallow. At 10:00am the sun LIGHT
strikes the swimmer and casts a SHADOW on the pool floor.
The water refracts the LIGHT and causes interesting SHAPES
of the tiles. The aqua COLOR and contrast between the
swimmer's body, the SHADOW and the refracted tiles, along
with the positioning of the athlete in the upper 1/3 of
the frame is.......interesting, different from the norm
and, well......GRAPHIC. Nikon D2H, ISO200, 1/1000th sec
f9, NEW Nikon 200mm G VR f2 lens, WB Cloudy, Lexar 1G
Flash Card.
|
|
|
|
Image #2 An athlete against
a background of solid color is always a nice change of
pace for the photographer, the editor, and the viewer.
If I had positioned myself directly overhead I would have
seen the spray of water that breaks the water surface
for the diver in my frame. Positioning myself off to the
side cleaned the background completely. Perfect form and
a red suit helped complete this image of Wu Minnxie of
China during the 3m Women's Diving Finals. By placing
her in the corner of the frame I have not only made the
design more interesting but left room for copy as well.
Nikon D2H, ISO500, 1/1250th sec, NEW Nikon 200mm G VR
f2 lens, WB 5800K, Lexar 1G Flash Card.
|
|
Image #3 This time I have slowed down
the shutter speed to allow the action of the rowers to dominate
the viewers imagination. Design is sometimes the use of
elements in a picture to stimulate the viewers imagination.
I was positioned in a truck that drove parallel to the rowers
as the raced down the course. The truck kept pace with the
rowers thus allowing me to pan at a slower shutter speed
for multiple frames. COLOR, SHAPES and LIGHT along with
the DESIGN created by the motion of the athletes result
in a picture that captures the feel of Olympic rowing almost
as if I were in the race. The road was less than smooth
but the VR feature of the Nikon 200mm - 400mm G VR lens
smoothed the horizontal lines thus holding the image together
for the viewer. Nikon D2H, ISO200, 1/25th sec at f45, Nikon
200mm - 400mm G VR lens (VR Active mode), Nikon TC14E 1.4X
Teleconverter, WB Coudy, Lexar 1G Flash Card.
|
 |
|
|
Image #4 This image of Synchronized
Swimmers from Russia was captured during training through
an underwater window. The silhouette effect caused by the
sunLIGHT on the bubbles and the athletes in SHADOW floating
in an almost monochromatic setting is already GRAPHICALLY
unique, but the inverted position of the group really draws
me into the picture. This sport is choreographed to music
and athletes will repeat a sequence of their routine several
times until perfect. Take advantage of training sessions with
these kinds of sports. If the athletes are willing to repeat
skills 20 times, the photographer should watch, learn and
THEN capture an image. Nikon D2H, ISO400, 1/400th sec at f6.3,
Nikon 35mm - 70mm lens, Lexar 1G Flash Card. |
|
Image #5 Architecture has always interested
me and the Olympics usually bring out the most unique designs
of the time. This is the Olympic Archway in the OAKA Olympic
park area. Spectators can walk from the Velodrome to the
Tennis Stadium and Olympic Stadium for Athletics during
the heat of the day for 250 yards or more and be shaded
by the arches at mid day. At night the Olympic Arches LIGHT
up. More often than not the photographer is so busy downloading
and sending images that they seldom take the time to look
around after the event is over. I knew when the sun would
set and when evening COLOR would be in the sky. The SHAPE
of the arches and their COLOR and placement in the frame
along with the reflection and LIGHTS in the water all add
up to GRAPHICS and DESIGN. Simple, yet, pleasing to look
at. Nikon D2H, ISO320, 1/40th sec at f5.6, Nikon 12mm -
24mm G lens, WB7000K, Lexar 1G Flash Card.
|
 |
|
|
Image #6 Slow shutter action
again. In this image I have allowed the LIGHT reflecting
on the water, the COLOR of the water and waterpolo ball,
the HIGHLIGHTS and SHADOWS to work in harmony with the action
and placement of the athletes. A GRAPHIC DESIGN that say's
"waterpolo". The ladies GOLD medal match between
Greece and Italy was played under the lights so I used the
elements at hand to capture something both ARTISTIC and
GRAPHIC. This scene did not happen in the first few frames.
It took some patience and study to see were the LIGHT best
reflected off the water, were the players would position
themselves, and choosing the correct shutter speed from
past experience with this sport to capture a pleasing image.
I get my best results when I work the scene rather than
a "shotgun" effect and hope for the best. Nikon
D2H, ISO320, 1/13th sec f5, Nikon 400mm f2.8 lens, WB6300K,
Bogen Carbon Fiber Monopod, Lexar 1G Flash Card.
|
Shooting artistic/graphic images
is perhaps new to many of you. It may not come easy at first but
with a strong effort to look for LIGHT, SHADOW, COLOR, SHAPE and
DESIGN surrounding the athletes it won't take you long to see
results. If the photographer would divorce themselves from the
standard image for a few minutes of each game or event and concentrate
on these elements, then they will begin to see the graphic and
artistic dimension of sport. I believe your editors will thank
you, but most of all you will find your images being used larger
and with more prominence. Until next time at Workshop at the Ranch.......................Adios,
Dave
|
|
