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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Man on Fire - Your input welcome....
Kyle Carter, Photographer
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Meridian | MS | USA | Posted: 2:05 PM on 12.15.06 |
->> I just finished this photo set with Kemper County senior Marcus Green. Green has already orally committed to Mississippi State University for next football season, so we are working on a package about him. I am just wondering which photo you guys would go with....there are 10 to choose from.
Of course, for all who are wondering, I used rubber cement and a big BIC lighter along with many assists, fire extinguishers and one VERY excited senior - along with permission from coaches.
There is no photoshop shop work on the images, if it looks like his jersey is on fire, it is on fire - just go to my members page and let me know what you think or what I could have done differently - thanks so much guys.....Kyle |
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Mark J. Rebilas, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | USA | Posted: 2:11 PM on 12.15.06 |
| ->> I think a better background, perhaps a MUCH darker one, would really make these images look much better. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 2:21 PM on 12.15.06 |
->> Kyle,
Just coincidence (?) you have 9 fire shots and one explosion victim (#6) in your gallery?
I agree with Mark, the background is too busy and bright. |
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Kyle Carter, Photographer
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Meridian | MS | USA | Posted: 2:30 PM on 12.15.06 |
| ->> Hey Eric, thanks for letting me know - I think that fixed it - thanks also Mark, I wanted to use a dark blue or even black background, but the new fieldhouse was about my only option on this one....Thanks again, Kyle |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 2:39 PM on 12.15.06 |
| ->> Of the choices, 3 has the best combinations of cool flames and expression. |
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Ronda Churchill, Photographer
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Las Vegas | NV | United States | Posted: 2:55 PM on 12.15.06 |
->> 5 is nice. I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but the background and lighting is key. I think if the lights would have been down, the flames would have popped and the background wouldn't have been busy. Also, you could throw kickers with subtle lighting on the other items in the photo, jersy, gear, whatnot. If this is your first try, it's good.
Best of luck! |
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Michael McNamara, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 3:09 PM on 12.15.06 |
->> Mark and Eric are right...darken the background. If that means putting the softbox closer to him and turing the light down, turning down your ISO, using ND filters, using black foam core to prevent light spillage, you'd still see the lockers, but they wouldn't be as loud. If it was impossible to knock out the background, how about lighting it separately with some gels or something to make it more interesting? Also, seeing the white ceiling is distracting, especially with the shadow that's projected on it.
I'd also add a light behind him (with probably a 10 degree grid) for some rimlight.
I'd go with number nine because he fills more of the frame. In the ones where he is sitting down, his head is dead center, and there is a lot of dead space. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 3:56 PM on 12.15.06 |
->> Kyle,
I should have also added that you got balls! Setting the kid on fire.... man don't let your insurance agent see that one! My wife is in insurance and that's the kinda shot that she'd be humming about for a week! I'll give you props for setting the kid on fire and getting everyone to go along. Cool.
Hey now that CS3 is being touted around why not try the new wand tool. It may make setting him apart from the background a little simpler. |
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Dan Powers, Photographer
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Appleton | WI | USA | Posted: 4:03 PM on 12.15.06 |
| ->> I agree...I think the lighting is too even...it has no feel to it. On some of the images I can see the rubber cement. Also, there is absolutely no expression in the kids face...he looks like he's just going through the motions. Actually, there is one image where he seems to be getting into it a little. Nice attempt, but I think it's one of those "almost there" photos...Dan. |
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Daniel Tunstall, Photographer
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Pearland (Houston) | TX | USA | Posted: 11:15 PM on 12.15.06 |
| ->> Wow, lighting a high school kid on fire. I don't care what the shot looks like, this is dangerous. Permission from coaches to light my kid on fire, hmm, I must check those papers I signed at the beginning of the season and re-read the fine print.... |
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Kyle Carter, Photographer
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Meridian | MS | USA | Posted: 11:18 AM on 12.16.06 |
->> I just updated a photo that I worked on a little in photoshop.....it is #10 in the gallery. Let me know what you think about it - Kyle
P.S. Thanks once again from everyone at SS.com - I've learned so much and have so much still to learn!!! |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | Az | USA | Posted: 12:14 PM on 12.16.06 |
->> Kyle, I'm going to go out on a limb, but I think you need to be told here. I think that was a bone-headed thing to do. You may have an army of people standing by with fire extinguishers, perhaps the entire fire department could be there too, but it only takes a microsecond for a flash to occur under the right circumstances.
If you didn't already know, people are lawsuit happy in this country. And if something were to have happened, you and the paper would clearly be liable for that players' injuries.
I realize it may seem innocent, a little lighter fluid, everything will be okay, nothing is going to happen, all the cliches.
But see, Murphy was really an optimist. He was also a realist. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 12:21 PM on 12.16.06 |
| ->> Amen, Jeff. I'm sorry, but a photo like this is insane. Maybe for a trained daredevil or fire-eater from the circus...but not some high school kid. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:41 PM on 12.16.06 |
->> O.K. Let me respond publicly to the private mail I got.
The 'props' and 'cool' statements were made with pure sarcasm.
I apologise if anyone thought that I was egging Kyle on about setting the kid on fire. Maybe we can get those smiley face icons to put in our posts. I could have used the one with the rolling eyes.
Jeff is correct, I was just looking to say it in a different way. My bad.
Sorry. |
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Mike Carlson, Photographer
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Bayonet Point | FL | USA | Posted: 2:18 PM on 12.16.06 |
->> Eric, not sure if smiley icons would work either...guess a few people, like, say, Jim Mora, are also having trouble justifying/explaining their sarcasm/jokes these days.
Sorry this is OT, but thought I'd try to 'cool' down the rhetoric before it got too hot.
Feel free to 'flame' me here - I always wanted to be a fire-eating daredevil... |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Fashion Heights | OH | USA | Posted: 2:51 PM on 12.16.06 |
->> Kyle- As with everyone else's comments, you should have blackened the background. Michael and I are on the same page with it, but in different capacities.
When I'm thrust in to situations like this where I have to have the subject close to a wall but I want the background to drop off quickly, I'll use two grids. A 5 degree to (our left) aimed on his face and upper chest, then a 10-20 degree to (our right) mounted high aimed down his body and dialed down about 1-2 stops from the main light on his face. Focusing the light on him at those angles will reduce the amount of pollution around the room - darkening it and allowing the fire to stand out more.
Then toss in Michael's suggestion with the 5 or 10 degree grid from behind for a rim light and you'd have a well lit photo... now you just need to talk with the guy to get him to lighten up and add some emotion.
A trick I use is to first find out what the mood of the story is from the writer, then start combing the stat sheets for that player. If it's a lighthearted profile, then I'll find a few big plays/games he had and after shooting for a few minutes with no emotion, I'll start talking about that game. If he quits talking too soon, I'd ask him to describe one of the big plays in slow motion for me.
The bottom line is, keep talking to the subject to help them either relax or elicit the emotion you want. |
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