Selected by Matt Wragg - If you ever find yourself looking at the Canon 50mm lenses and asking why the L series f/1.2 version is so much more expensive than the others, here's your answer. A lens that fast and that sharp means you are able follow your subject quickly enough to shoot wide open like this and get shots with the a sharp subject and this wonderful, unique feel from the incredible depth of field.
i donno about everyone else but i see a creepy face on the bottom left on the trunk.... or just the wild shrooms i just had that's making me go crae crae
I think I understand what you photographers are on about, the way the rider is in great focus yet the trees around feel like they go way back and make it look like a long way back? Either way it's a really cool photo even to those of us that have never used anything more than a smart phone
The Canon L S 50mm(1.2-1.4) Prime is very suitable for MTB photography, I've been using it for a long time because its so versatile in variable lighting conditions especially when you want to use a 1000-1600 shutter).
So I clearly don't have the photographers eye to see what's so incredible about this picture... Anyone mind explaining to me what's so awesome about it?
Depth of field, placement, balance, simplicity. Shot at 1.2 aperature.. (super shallow depth of field, need a very fast lens for the subject to be in focus)
Put the photo in largest resolution, notice there are relatively low levels of light, normally this would mean blurring on an action shot but even the spokes are sharply in focus. then notice the trees in the distance are not in focus but have not blended into one blurry mess and are still trees of the same colour as the sharp ones in the fore. The composition is great, the action rad and the colours of the rider totally pop n sh1t. This is all possible because the lens is able to take in a lot of light very quickly (not a photographer)
maybe its my eyes but i think the image is actually misfocused. seems to me that the trees to the right of the rider are much more in focus than the actual rider. b/c of this - the whole image is sort of thrown off for me.
I agree - when looking at this in 1600 x 1050 you can tell it is clearly mis-focussed. The trees to the front of the rider on either side are pin sharp, and the rider is only just in focus. I like it as an ex photographer as it has "pop" and a 3D quality, but that's more down to the fact that a hugely expensive 50mm f1.2L was used instead of any special skills from the photographer.
Although after all is said and done, despite the missed focus, it's still POD worthy in my eyes
I haven't suggested this is a particularly difficult photo, but I do think it's technically interesting as I'm about 95% sure I couldn't do this with the 50 f/1.4 I have in my bag, and I like the feel of the shot a lot. With such a shallow depth of field getting the subject perfectly in focus is a big ask, but as a photographer I learnt a lot from told me, "sometimes it's enough just to get something in focus."
Ironically the photographers account is "Teaminfocus" haha... I don't think it really matters that the rider is slightly out of focus, the depth of field is so shallow on those 50mm's I'd say getting this shot is an achievement.
Awesome photo Toby, you've earned yourself another follower
Well you don't have to appreciate someones hard work and skills. Toby is a f*cking master behind the cam! So is Flo on the bike and he is anything but out of control... And how is this not awesome looking terrain?
it's extremely flat, there seems to be no features or technical aspect or even lines. its just a dirt slope with a guy going out of his way to try and adapt some steeze to absolutely nothing.
I just don't like people saying stuff like "this photo sucks". Hard work goes into shots like these and people just forget about their tone and manner in the internet. Even if you think the location is boring this pic is far away from sucking but being a technically very well shot picture.
sorry, i appreciate the effort and the quality of the photo but its just boring to me and doesn't represent what riding is about for me personally. Being a photographer is about taking criticism whether its constructive or not.
I am happy to hear everybody's criticism, constructive or not. That doesn't include being bad-mannered though.
Whatever it's all fine. Let's just keep it like this.