How to take great photos of your bike?

[N8]

Ok, since the 29ers are all welcoming of everyone (except Dave Turner apparently :p) let's talk bike photo techniques in here.

Ok, I was goofing around last night and snapped a few amatureish photos and I'd like to know what I can do it right...

Here are the photos:

I shot these photos with my macro on, flash on and the ISO at 400... I wish I could blur out the background but couldn't figure out how to my my Nickon Coolpix camera do that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Bike%20Stuff/DSCN0805.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Bike%20Stuff/DSCN0804.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Bike%20Stuff/DSCN0806.jpg

[binary visions]

You can't effectively blur the background much with a little digicam like that. It's just the nature of the small cameras - they have a huge depth of field.

The best you can do is what I did in this shot:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/binaryvisions/sovereign/DSC00074.jpg

Depth of field is determined by three things: distance to the subject (closer = smaller depth of field), aperture size (bigger = smaller depth of field), and focal length (longer = smaller depth of field). Since you can't get particularly close to the bike, I set the camera for aperture priority and used the largest aperture (smallest number), zoomed in all the way and made sure the closest thing behind the bike was far away.

[binary visions]

The other thing to keep in mind taking pictures of your bike is in bright sunlight like that, the background and the sky are far, far brighter than your bike is. So, the camera is going to try and make everything well-exposed, thus underexposing your bike a little.

If you bump up the exposure compensation by a little, your bike will be brighter and better exposed.

[MMcG]

Is that a carbon stem? First time I've seen a carbon stem on a mountain bike.

[laura]

you have such a nice, green yard and all your grass matches.. I am jealous.

[moff_quigley]

N8...with the money you've spent on bikeys lately I'm surprised your photo kit doesn't consist of a 5D, 2.8F/L zoom lenses, and a few 1.4 primes.

[narlus]

The other thing to keep in mind taking pictures of your bike is in bright sunlight like that, the background and the sky are far, far brighter than your bike is. So, the camera is going to try and make everything well-exposed, thus underexposing your bike a little.

If you bump up the exposure compensation by a little, your bike will be brighter and better exposed.

shoot raw, do layers.

also, choose a much less busy background.

[N8]

N8...with the money you've spent on bikeys lately I'm surprised your photo kit doesn't consist of a 5D, 2.8F/L zoom lenses, and a few 1.4 primes.


Back in the early 80's I bought a Nikon F3 and several lenses but didn't really use them because I wasn't interested it as much as I thought. I wound up using a Nikon FG for all my photos of Adak, Ak, Guam, Puerto Rico and Sicily/Italy.

I'm afraid if I bought a D70 that I'd not want to lug it around like I so with my little Nikon...

[N8]

shoot raw, do layers.

also, choose a much less busy background.


What is 'raw'..??

[narlus]

N8...with the money you've spent on bikeys lately I'm surprised your photo kit doesn't consist of a 5D, 2.8F/L zoom lenses, and a few 1.4 primes.

:drool:

the sigma 30 f/1.4 lens i got is great.

but can't be used on a FF body. :(

then again, a 5D ain't in the budget anytime soon; i think the 24-70L will happen 1st.

[narlus]

What is 'raw'..??

unprocessed file, basically a digital negative. you have full control over white balance, exposure, contrast, sharpening, color cast, etc.

more links than you could possibly want:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80337
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34606


who do you think we'll see a picture them actually riding their new bikes first, N8 or BV? :rolleyes: :)

[N8]

Is that a carbon stem? First time I've seen a carbon stem on a mountain bike.


It is... it's a Bontranger and I and going to flip it over I think...

[binary visions]

shoot raw, do layers.
:nuts:

Somehow I don't think N8 wants to spend an hour in Photoshop brushing exposure layers into his bike pictures ;)

also, choose a much less busy background.
Yeah, background choice becomes even more important when you don't have control over the depth of field.

[narlus]

I'm afraid if I bought a D70 that I'd not want to lug it around like I so with my little Nikon...

it's all about what you want from yr photos...for riding, a DSLR is not trivial load. but for picture taking, it's not a big deal at all. i brought my gear (body + 4 lenses) everywhere w/ me when i was in Rome.

[N8]

who do you think we'll see a picture them actually riding their new bikes first, N8 or BV? :rolleyes: :)


Well, I had to shuttle my daughter around last night and by the time I got home it was late.

I usually do HappyHour on Fri so it will be Sat before I get it on the trail.

[Mackie]

you have such a nice, green yard and all your grass matches.. I am jealous.

Laura is stunned - no cars on block on it either :devil:

[moff_quigley]

:drool:

the sigma 30 f/1.4 lens i got is great.

but can't be used on a FF body. :(

then again, a 5D ain't in the budget anytime soon; i think the 24-70L will happen 1st.

My wife is the photog of the family. I need to get her a 50m f/1.8 (or the 1.4) prime lens some time. We got her the older 28-70 f/2.8L last year. She's taken some nice shots with it, but she doesn't really care for the heft of the lens.

A 5D would be sweet, but it's way out of our budget too. But if she does get a new body sometime, that will probably be it.

[N8]

Here's a nice shot of one of my fav trails...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/MTB%20Stuff/Picture062.jpg

[narlus]

nice, that's a great picture!

[MMcG]

I concur - nice shot N8!

[N8]

Ok, not a bike related shot, but I have been trying to lean this camera...

Check out this...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Happy%20Hour/DSCN0638-1.jpg

[narlus]

which direction do you want it to lean? :D

i'd suggest using macro mode for a shot like that; you'll need close-focusing ability, and the martini (assuming it's yr target subject) is out of focus. for point-n-shoot lenses, it's very difficult to get a shallow depth of field (ie, background all blurred out (called 'bokeh'), subject in sharp focus). using an SLR, it's far easier and is a function of focal length and aperature.

[James]

It is... it's a Bontranger and I and going to flip it over I think...
Yeah, I've got that stem on my SS too. The degree rise was too high to make it work well on my geared bikes, so it goes on the SS. Nice, light, stiff, expensive. I like it.

JJames

[mert]

you obviously aren't shooting close enough to the fence! :)





[QUOTE=N8]Ok, since the 29ers are all welcoming of everyone (except Dave Turner apparently :p) let's talk bike photo techniques in here.

Ok, I was goofing around last night and snapped a few amatureish photos and I'd like to know what I can do it right...

Here are the photos:

I shot these photos with my macro on, flash on and the ISO at 400... I wish I could blur out the background but couldn't figure out how to my my Nickon Coolpix camera do that.

[N8]

Here's a shot where I was attempting to capture motion ect of a friend on a SS as he came up a steep hill...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/MTB%20Stuff/Picture050.jpg

[narlus]

N8, yr shutter speed is too slow to freeze the action on that...step back a bit and pan the camera w/ the rider if you want a similar effect, or shoot in shutter priority and bump the speed to ~1/125 or higher.

edit - pretty good though, all told.

[tozovr]

I've shot semi-pro for a few years and had many shots published in National and international magazines, spent more hours than many in the darkroom and can honestly say, even your far-above average shooter will be fine with a quality point and shoot. I do have a few SLR's and a DSLR, but for most folks a Point and SHoot is more than enough. I've had plenty of shots published taken with a Sony CD400...would I prefer it to be my DSLR? Maybe, I'd have more options, but sometimes that's one option too many. With all the bells and whistles folks forget how to get dirty, how to work for an angle and how to make the best use of the available light. Getting a nice Canon Powershot will make you work less when you don't want to think (snapshots) and work harder when you want that certain effect or emotion....it will make you learn the basics of setup. Then later on you can take that work ethic and apply it to your SLR skillset. The result is a very well rounded photog.

Basically don't be afraid to get dirty. Oh and a nice flash diffuser is your friend.

This is from the Cyclocross Nats in RI last December ;)
http://velospace.org/files/bbb.jpg
RJ

[ncj01]

well, I could put on a clinic, but here's some quickie observations, based mostly on your specific question Nate, and on the photo's you posted at the top of this thread:

1) back off, you're too close to the bike, being too close throws the bike out of porportion...zoom in if you have to, but as a rule, don't get closer than 15 feet or so
2) don't use a flash
3) don't photo it in bright direct sunlight
4) overcast, but still daylight is the best light i've found
5) stay away from mixed shadows
6) full shade is OK sometimes
7) have a simple background...in front of streets, flower gardens, etc is no good...makes it cluttered and distracting

Here's a series that make the example of #7 (most important):

Early shot, I'm way too close the bike looks out of porportion:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/81257339-backrightprofilenice.jpg

A year or so later, I'm getting better at it (same camera), note the angle looks better, and the background is less distracting, but not perfect:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/83897002-IMG_1810.jpg

And more recently, bike in the porportion I want, background isn't distracting:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/15428736-DSC_0010.JPG

You can also use this technique (back off and zoom in) for in-your-face close ups....this is one of my all time favorites, note it's in excellent porporition...if you took this shot standing next to the bike, it would look crappy:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/35864991-DSC_0006.JPG

Here's an example of a shot that some might think looks good, but I was waaay to close to the bike, so the porportion is crappy, not good like the pic just above:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/IMG_0950.JPG

The further you back off the better sometimes...just make sure your image quality is enough to where when you crop it back, that you still have a good image. Here's a waaaaay backed off pic...
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/21280348-DSC_0001.JPG

Also expirament with purposely having stuff be distracting or in the way. Sometimes that can be cool too, like a stealth thing. Take this for instance:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/DSC_00241.JPG

Anyway, that's all I have today...you can use these techniques to make a fairly simple bike seem a lot hotter than it is...not that any of the present company has a non-hot bike, i'm just sayin'...

[N8]

Cool... but you have a Nikon 70 dammit... and I have a Nikon CoolPix S6...


But I will shot some in front of my garage door which is green and maybe on my back patio against a brick wall..

And I'll try to shoot further back too, but I was worried I'd loose the details but I can set my cam at 6 megapixels and fire away!

[narlus]

be sure to take a picture of yr bike in front of a garage door...JustSomeGuy can't get enough of those. :rofl:

[N8]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture113.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture124.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture125.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture129.jpg

[Mackie]

1) Nice bike
2) Where's the wok?
3) -100 points (JSG stand in moment. I actually miss Pete).

[N8]

3) -100 points (JSG stand in moment. I actually miss Pete).


I just had to do it after narlus mentioned it!!! :rofl:

However, the green door nicely contrasts the red details of the bike and that's important.


:)

[ncj01]

These two are looking pretty good...I can tell your image re-sizer is making the image a bit grainy. the trick on mine, is to save the image before you resize it...that's how it works on my computer with MS Paint anyway...if I'm throwin' down the law though, I'll use Google's Free Picaso...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture113.jpg

[N8]

Noted.

Thanks, now mail me your D70 to use for a while... :p

[narlus]

hey N8:

$500 rebel xt, body only (http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=306293)

i took the piss out of JSG once (who was notorious for shooting photos of his bike and parts macro style) and posted a pic of my new bike from about 1000 feet away. ;)

if you aren't gonna use photoshop, i 2nd the recommendation of Picasa as quick, easy and good to use. if you want something more featureful re: graphics editing but still freeware, i know BV likes irfanview a lot but i've never used it.

[binary visions]

IrfanView actually doesn't have a whole lot of graphics editing functions. Basic stuff like contrast, brightness, etc.

My favorite thing about it is that it has keyboard keys mapped to a huge amount of functions. Hit the delete key while viewing a photo, and your photo will be on its way to the recycle bin (after confirmation, of course). Hit the right arrow, and you'll view the next photo in the directory. Left takes you back one. Resize, crop, rotate, everything is just a keyboard tap away. Nice image resizing algorithms too.

Plus, it's super low profile and fast - no waiting for program loading or photo viewing.

Oh, and N8, your image is being compressed too much - that's why you get the little artifacts. I don't know what you're saving it with, but unless it's Microsoft Paint, there should be an option somewhere for how much you want to compress it. I never go below 80% (it may not be on a % scale, but whatever scale it's on, 80% of it is a good metric) for anything I want to look even remotely good.

[N8]

You guys mean Google's Picasa..???

I think the artifacts are happening when I load the photos to photobucket.com

[narlus]

yep, that's the Picasa.

sounds like photobucket compresses them automatically? what's the size (in KB) of the file you are trying to upload? the one i looked at in yr post was around ~180 KB, which i think is small for a full sized 1024x768 jpg.

photobucket may be resizing/compressing them?

[bjanga]

see if it happens on imageshack

N8, zero points for a slack chain and wet tires :p

[narlus]

the other thing to do is to check yr camera settings and verify that you don't have the compression cranked up.

[N8]

the other thing to do is to check yr camera settings and verify that you don't have the compression cranked up.


Should I shoot with 6 megapixels..???

[binary visions]

Photobucket automatically resizes and compresses large images. You should do that on your end - just get an image editor (www.irfanview.com or Picasa, whatever) and resize them to 1024x768 or 800x600 @ 85-90% compression. They'll look a lot better.

And yeah, you should always be shooting at the highest resolution your camera will handle. No point in throwing out data.

[bjanga]

No point in throwing out data.
Save your files at 100% quality if size is not an issue

[binary visions]

Save your files at 100% quality if size is not an issue
If you're putting them on a website, though, the 10% compression will do a lot for the size and not a lot to degrade the image quality.

Otherwise, you're right... On your own computer, you should always save at 100%.

[N8]

These 2 were taken at 6MPxl

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/Picture111.jpg

*out of focus pic deleted

[binary visions]

Doesn't help :)... and the second one is out of focus anyway ;)

You should be taking pictures with your camera at full resolution. But in order to put them on the web, you should resize them and save them yourself.

Download a program and resize them down to 1024x768 or 800x600, and compress them to about 85 or 90%.

The issue is that Photobucket is ruining your pictures by using a lousy resizing method and then compressing the heck out of them.

[tozovr]

well, I could put on a clinic, but here's some quickie observations, based mostly on your specific question Nate, and on the photo's you posted at the top of this thread:

1) back off, you're too close to the bike, being too close throws the bike out of porportion...zoom in if you have to, but as a rule, don't get closer than 15 feet or so
2) don't use a flash
3) don't photo it in bright direct sunlight
4) overcast, but still daylight is the best light i've found
5) stay away from mixed shadows
6) full shade is OK sometimes
7) have a simple background...in front of streets, flower gardens, etc is no good...makes it cluttered and distracting


#2 is OK if you're rocking a point and shoot, but if you have an SLR with a Speedlight type flash, just use a diffuser...it can really help in many situations and lend a cool feel as well.

#3 Again, generally you're right, but get creative...
http://velospace.org/files/wwwww.jpg


Nice shots!
RJ

[ito]

blah blah blah
^ smart stuff here


And to add to it:
N8, purchase ACDSee Pro. For the beginning photographer with no budget or time for Photoshop it is a very powerful tool. It isn't as refined as Photoshop and doesn't allow you to do all that fancy stuff, but for basic editing, cropping, leveling, imaged correcting it is 90% as effective as PS CS2 and less than half the cost.

I believe there is a free version online, but you have enough money to pay for the full version. I'm pretty positive that any partially computer savvy person can learn it in 30 minutes.

The Ito

[N8]

I snapped this pic following 17 miles of single speed riding on Sat morning...

I am going to mess with the colors and contrasts in Picasa later.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1470/bist2kl2.jpg

[MTB_Rob_NC]

It is really all about making your bike feel sexy

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/ClubMudTrips/Mammoth-Aug2005/DSCN0701.jpg

[N8]

It is really all about making your bike feel sexy

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/ClubMudTrips/Mammoth-Aug2005/DSCN0701.jpg


:Austin Powers:
Ohhhh.. Yeah BayBeeeeeee.... YEEEAAAH!!!

[binary visions]

If you ever want a more powerful tool than Picasa, I would highly recommend Photoshop Elements. It's Photoshop for us folks who don't make our living with photography and can't afford the real deal. Last I knew it was about $90 and provides a huge chunk of Photoshop's functionality at a fraction of the price.

[N8]

Fixed up....

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7120/ssamp1of4.jpg


I took this one too...

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9792/locomtb21156011642mx1.jpg

[tozovr]

If you ever want a more powerful tool than Picasa, I would highly recommend Photoshop Elements. It's Photoshop for us folks who don't make our living with photography and can't afford the real deal. Last I knew it was about $90 and provides a huge chunk of Photoshop's functionality at a fraction of the price.


Find someone who's recently purchased a Canon Digital Rebel...it comes with PE...great program...also check out Pixmantec's Raw Shooter essentials...free and a super program for RAW images.


RJ

[narlus]

adobe bought pixmantec...rawshoot premium is $99.

http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter.asp

looks like essentials is still free until adobe unveils lightroom.

[bjanga]

Anyone use Gimp?

If you ever want a more powerful tool than Picasa, I would highly recommend Photoshop Elements.
or you could PM me ;^)

[N8]

Anyone use Gimp?


or you could PM me ;^)

I tried it... but it was waaaaaay too much for my needs...

[ncj01]

I took this one....

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9792/locomtb21156011642mx1.jpg

Ahhh....the grasshopper has become the master....

Nice work...very nice...

[1000-Oaks]

hey N8:

$500 rebel xt, body only (http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=306293)



I wouldn't buy a damn thing from that online store; if the price is too good to be true it isn't true:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1805.html


I have had very good luck with www.buydig.com however, and have bought nearly all of my lenses from them. (no affiliation)

[narlus]

ouch, that reseller rating is horrendous. i've not purchased anything from them, so i didn't mean to infer that i endorsed the vendor.

for camera stuff i use B&H mainly (have used adorama once), and for electronics it's either been newegg or buy.com.

still, i've heard rumors that a new rebel xt is out soon, so prices on existing stock of rebel xts will drop accordingly.

[N8]

My pro photo bud say for me to sack-up and buy a Nikon D200...

[narlus]

well you went high-end as a singlespeed n00b, might as well stay the course and go top-of-the-line for yr 1st DSLR...

as a canon homer i'm obliged to add a 'noink sucks' bit

[N8]

well you went high-end as a singlespeed n00b, might as well stay the course and go top-of-the-line for yr 1st DSLR...

as a canon homer i'm obliged to add a 'noink sucks' bit


is that so wrong..???




:hot:

[narlus]

it's your money. get a hasselblad/leaf combo.

[narlus]

and if you get caught up in a spending spree and happen to order a duplicate by mistake, make sure it's one of these (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022112canonef85f12l.asp), and pass it on to me. much obliged. :)

[tozovr]

it's your money. get a hasselblad/leaf combo.


hahahahahahahah

[narlus]

My pro photo bud say for me to sack-up and buy a Nikon D200...

but it was waaaaaay too much for my needs...

:D

btw, the new canon body (rebel XTi) looks to be pretty damn solid and at a very competitive price. the only thing it lacks from the 30D (of which the nikon D200 is the competitor) is:

3 fps vs 5
spot metering
'control dial' on camera back
extra LCD for viewing camera settings (they are available on the main LCD)
magnesium body construction

and for ~400 dollars less you also get 2 extra MP and an automated sensor cleaning feature.

not sure what nikon features the D200 has over the 30D, but i do know that the canon sensor trounces nikon and others when it comes to low-light shooting.

[sneakysnake]

Ok, I have an easy question. If I decide to step up and get a digital SLR body, could I still use my 35mm lens's?

[narlus]

it really depends on the camera body and lens mount...current canon bodies can take EF and EF-S mounts, but not the older FD mounts. some other 3rd party lenses may not be able to use autofocus. it really is a case-by-case basis.

[sneakysnake]

cool, thankyou