Surfing Waves

So I've been trying some photog recently, still working out all the stupid forgetful stuff.

But here are a couple random ones, tell me what ya'll think. I know there are some very talented photographers around here, so tell me what I'm doing wrong.

All pictures taken on 35mm ISO 400 film, on a Canon AE-1 manual focus. (so go a little easy on my lack of focus )










Thanks for looking!

hmmm, I think my program might have an auto-softener, so if any of you all think they need to be softened to eliminate the grain, I agree.

Now, I don't know why there was such a grain to them, they are film, and then they were put on CD at the developing place (kinda cheap) and they were on rather cheap film, but is there anything I was doing wrong?

I've also got a problem picture that's got tons of potential if anyone wants a project to seperate them from work.

The grain is probably down to the film speed (ISO), for most of the shots you probably would have been ok with 200 (or 100 for the 2nd black and white one, seems like it was quite a bright day so you dont need such a fast film). When I use film I generally dont go any higher than 200 for anything and I try to stick to 100 for the sharpness (thats the good thing about digital, if it doesnt work out the first time you can change until it suits the look youre going for).

Go ahead and post your other photo, probably a few of us here who could/would have a go at it

Excellent photos dude, although I suspect the brown dog will take it as a challenge...

Yeah, digital is looking really sweet right now. I was standing behind some dude a concert who would snap one, go change the iso/aperture/shutter speed, etc and came out with some really sweet pictures.

The second b&w was actually a kinda heavy overcast day. That might have been one of the ones that I increased the contrast and brightness.

Stone Fox wrote:Excellent photos dude, although I suspect the brown dog will take it as a challenge...

Oh my god, no way in hell I could ever compete with his awesomeness.


I'm trying to get that picture up....

I'm breathless with anticipation!

I don't know what you're holding you breath for, it's gonna be pretty dissappointing....



I was asked by the school news paper if I had any shots they'd use them, and I think this is pretty much what I want. Two people, up in the air, fighting for the frisbee. Also, these are our two captains. That's kinda a plus. I think I had it focused pretty well, and I think I had all my setitings somewhat right, I don't know what went wrong. I was using a zoom lens....I dunno. Do ya'll?

i don't really know but, it looks like you have the ISO up too high, got too grainy. I think it might have smoothed out using slower film.

i think the grain is nice.

the overpass is my favorite.

the skateboard ones are distracting, i dont like chopped apart bodies. i get that these are not portraits, but still.

I like the third one down - the whole skateboarder - & I agree with HawaiiSES - the skateboarders would look better with full bodies (but then I'm no photographer or artist so what would I know!)

I too like the third one...not too sure what the guy in the leather jacket is up to in the background though?!

sal wrote:I too like the third one...not too sure what the guy in the leather jacket is up to in the background though?!

i know - how dodgy!

It's actually some little kids mom who was standing in the half pipe wacthing her kids which were just sliding down the ramps....

I skated across the park with a bunch of speed, and you can go in that little opening and kick turn the pipe and come back out, and one of her kids decided they wanted to throw their board at me (wtf?)

I dove off my board, going like 20 mph, in order to avoid the board, and then picked up my board angrily, looked at the parents, and gave them a little "wtf?" look, and they didn't particuarly seem to care. That really pissed me off.

Back to the pictures

I'm hearing lower ISO here, which means that the film burns faster, right? That way I can use a higher shutter speed at the same aperture and lighting conditions? One thing though, my camera only goes to 1/1000th as the fastest.

I see what ya'll mean about the people, I'll post some full body pictures up later.

well, from my understanding, the higher the ISO setting (i.e. 800, 1600 compared to 100, 200) the "faster" the film, or more sensitive to light, which means you can take pictures in lower light conditions and still use a fast shutter speed. And take clearer pictures of fast moving objects. But the downside is that the pictures get that "grainy" look more with the higher ISO's.

Um, Maybe you should actually hear from someone like Brown Dog who actually knows what they are talking about

tomcat360 wrote:Back to the pictures.

Sorry for hijacking your thread TomCat!

Hmmm, maybe I should try some 200 or something. The only problem are the skaters are moving very fast, and the frisbee players are pretty quick as well, so I would have to use a slower shutter speed

Does it have anything to do with the quality of the film? The black and white was taken on the stuff that is for color processing(quite old as well). My bro has some home rolled stuff that is apparently much better (ISO 400) for black and white, and the color I was using was cheap stuff bought from a convenience/drug store type thing.

I've got some Kodak 400 loaded right now, maybe that will turn out better. I shot a couple frisbee shots, that for some reason I don't think will look too good. I might get some longboarding shots when the roads dry up

I think you are a considerably better photographer than I, sir.

Good luck to you.

tomcat360 wrote:My bro has some home rolled stuff that is apparently much better

Right on Man!

I like the 3rd one. (when I first saw it; it looked like the trench coat person was taking a piss in the corner)
The 4th one is cool. If you're trying for a close up of the board; you can't have the whole person in the shot.
I also like the overpass and the rock shot too.

Haha, as soon as I typed that I knew someone was gonna say that

And stone fox, you changed your name, it's so confusing!

What did you mean about the board close up? Did you mean that I need to zoom more on the board?

Thanks again for all of the comments everyone. A photog teacher at my school said he'd look at the negative of the problem shot to see what was going on.

Maybe one day when I get down to the beach I'll try out some surf photo.