MX School Pics

Erbeman

I just got a new dirt bike and attended a MX school this last weekend. I went back on Sunday and took pics of the advanced class. It was great to get back out on the track both riding and taking pics.

Enjoy

IdahoMotomom

Nice, sharp shots! Would you mind sharing your secrets (settings), I don't know how to cull that information. I really like your work!

My husband and daughter took a class from Ben Evans and his trainer last year. I wish I would've taken it, I was taking care of the 3 year old tho. DH and daughter still talk "brag" about it! Ben is such a giving young kind. Really hope he gets a ride this year.

Thanks for sharing your photos. Love them!

Erbeman

IdahoMotomom wrote:

Nice, sharp shots! Would you mind sharing your secrets (settings), I don't know how to cull that information. I really like your work!

My husband and daughter took a class from Ben Evans and his trainer last year. I wish I would've taken it, I was taking care of the 3 year old tho. DH and daughter still talk "brag" about it! Ben is such a giving young kind. Really hope he gets a ride this year.

Thanks for sharing your photos. Love them!

Thanks. I don't mind sharing info at all. Unfortunately, there are no secret settings. My settings change all the time. Honestly, I think 50% of it is having good equipment. These were shot with a D700 and 70-200. Both pieces are very high quality and give me alot of options. The other 50% is a culmination of alot of little things that add up, like knowing where to position yourself on the track to get the right light and right action all at the same time. This changes throughout the day. When I'm at a track for a full day of shooting, the sun dictates where I can go and when I can go there, knowing MX helps alot. Also, knowing your camera very well and taking charge of it is big in my book. I only shoot in Manual mode. You've got to totally understand your camera and what makes a picture good to do this. So, if you force yourself to start shooting in Manual mode, you will force yourself to learn and become better. Also, post processing plays a big part. I did some sort of crop on atleast 80% of these pics. Knowing how to crop and image really can make or break the pic. Then there are the other things, like playing with saturation, sharpening, highlights and shadows, the burn and dodge tools. When I really got into photography I start really focusing on learning how to post process with Photoshop. You would be amazed at how well you can turn a so-so shot into a great shot simply by knowing how to post process. So, get a picture that isn't so great, and just start playing with it in PS and learn what makes a pic look better in your eyes. Like all good photogs will tell you, there are no special settings that will make you a better photographer, only time behind the lens and trying different things will make you better. Everyone has different equipment, so what works for me may not work for you.

ian408

I'm jealous. Though with the rain, dirt bike season is finally here.

Not a bad one in the bunch and if you play your cards right, maybe a little barter for some track time?

Erbeman

ian408 wrote:

I'm jealous. Though with the rain, dirt bike season is finally here.

Not a bad one in the bunch and if you play your cards right, maybe a little barter for some track time?

Ha, thanks brother. I'm already in with track owners here. We have two local tracks and I sponsor both of them as well as being the track photog for both. This particular track is out in the country and I have the code to get into the gate anytime I want and the other track is on the owners propety where lives and all I've got todo is call and ask to come ride. So, I'm really lucky when it comes to track time. I'm actually already doing my first race this Sunday at the track in these photos. The track owner said he would take pics of me with my camera. I'm looking forward to seeing those.

ian408

Erbeman wrote:

Ha, thanks brother. I'm already in with track owners here. We have two local tracks and I sponsor both of them as well as being the track photog for both. This particular track is out in the country and I have the code to get into the gate anytime I want and the other track is on the owners propety where lives and all I've got todo is call and ask to come ride. So, I'm really lucky when it comes to track time. I'm actually already doing my first race this Sunday at the track in these photos. The track owner said he would take pics of me with my camera. I'm looking forward to seeing those.

Sweet! That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Be sure to share the shots

Crossbarphoto

Erbeman wrote:

I just got a new dirt bike and attended a MX school this last weekend. I went back on Sunday and took pics of the advanced class. It was great to get back out on the track both riding and taking pics.

Enjoy

Great job managing your backgrounds. I shoot a handful of MX events every year and understand how difficult it can be.

These two pictures were my favorites!

Erbeman

Crossbarphoto wrote:

Great job managing your backgrounds. I shoot a handful of MX events every year and understand how difficult it can be.

These two pictures were my favorites!

Thanks brother.

EZPZ

Bike shots

Erbeman wrote:

Thanks brother.

I started by trying to keep track of the photo numbers so I could claim my favorite shots but there are so many really great ones I gave up.

I'll just take number 8 and wish I could shoot 1 shot out of 1000 like it.

Thanks for sharing them.

EZ

amadeus

boy I'll bet they like having you in the class..

did you buy an 09 Kawasaki 450 which I think you mentioned a while back?

seeing more and more kawasaki's and the reviews seem to back that up. the new yamaha 450 should make things interesting.

of course the dealers still have 07's and 08's. tough business to be in.

love the shots, the ones with the dust are killer. we had an open practice today and yesterday and one more next weekend and than the party is over. living in texas has its benefits..

great shots.

Erbeman

Yes, I did get an 09 KX450F. I'll try and clean it up good this week and get a few pics of it. I've already modded it up pretty well.