Aldo at the Mountain Bike World Cup -Update 28/6/11, 56K- upgrade to Broadband...

[Aldo]

Hello viewers,
I am just back from Fort William where I saw lots of people on very expensive bikes coming down a bloody scary hill very, very fast.
I haven't had a chance to look at all 2000+ photos yet but after a brief flick through, a couple stood out.

I was aiming for a gritty pic of her face/helmet... I got a gritty pic.
Look at that snarl!
#1

"Go on Peaty!" I shouted as he soared like an eagle above my head over a maaahooosive jump. What a legend!
#2

One more:
#3

Last one before bed:
#4

I like this one as I was using a fairly slow shutter speed which made most of it apart from most of the rider the rider out of focus. Easier to see in the big pic zoomed in though:
#5

Danny Hart keeping it absolutely pinned through the berm:
#6

Admittedly #6 looks a lot better when it is zoomed in a bit.

Of course, more to follow as I go through.
The first ones I fire up will all be straight off the camera with no editing. I can fiddle with them later.
Also, keep any criticism to yourself... Just kidding, I need all the help I can get guys. Give me tips, lots of them.

Was a brilliant weekend! The atmosphere was electric and I ate soooo many rolls with meat in them.


Allyn. 👍

 

[Speedster502]

Hey Aldo, nice to see you in this section. Quite liking the second shot, but what camera did you use?

 

[Aldo]

Thanks.
Ahh forgot that bit.
Was using my dad's old 20D. 👍

 

[MatskiMonk]

Pretty good.. I'm guessing it wasn't done in sports mode... so good work on the steady shots.

 

[boiltheocean]

I ate soooo many rolls with meat in them.

 

[Ibonibo]

second one is really nice.

What gender is on the first pic?

 

[Aldo]

Pretty good.. I'm guessing it wasn't done in sports mode... so good work on the steady shots.

Nah was using TV mode mate. Thanks.
Although for every decent one that is in focus there are about 10 crap ones! Though apparently that's the norm!

I'm guessing it is some form of random innuendo?

second one is really nice.

What gender is on the first pic?

Cheers, 1st is a female. 👍

 

[boiltheocean]

I'm guessing it is some form of random innuendo?

It was Tobey Maguires buttsex face, stupid image link.

Quite liking the third, is that Josh Byrceland?

 

[MatskiMonk]

Nah was using TV mode mate. Thanks.
Although for every decent one that is in focus there are about 10 crap ones! Though apparently that's the norm!

1/10 is not bad.. last session I did I got about 30 from 680.



Good exposure time for the motion effect, but maybe knock down the ISO, since it seems a little over exposed.. ?

..just my two cents.. I really struggled with exposure compensation going crazy on my old 20D sometimes at races, just the right blur, but the colours would be over exposed and washed out.

(sometimes it made for some interesting photos of things other than cars... )

 

[Neal]

Looking good mate, I'll add more myself when I've got more time tomorrow.

p.s. Don't forget to number the photos for easy referencing 👍

 

[Aldo]

It was Tobey Maguires buttsex face, stupid image link.

Quite liking the third, is that Josh Byrceland?

Haha I knew it was going to be something like that!
It is indeed Mr Bryceland. Cheers. 👍

1/10 is not bad.. last session I did I got about 30 from 680.



Good exposure time for the motion effect, but maybe knock down the ISO, since it seems a little over exposed.. ?

..just my two cents.. I really struggled with exposure compensation going crazy on my old 20D sometimes at races, just the right blur, but the colours would be over exposed and washed out.

(sometimes it made for some interesting photos of things other than cars... )

Haha! I have only looked at a handful of pictures so that figure will surely adjust itself.

As for exposure, I don't think it helped that the sky was pretty much that colour.
Bloody clouds with sun poking through. Makes some of the air shots look fairly pap.

Oh and, very nice picture old chap.

Looking good mate, I'll add more myself when I've got more time tomorrow.

p.s. Don't forget to number the photos for easy referencing 👍

Cheers. And done now!

 

[Neal]

Better late than never with some comments

You've done a great job of capturing the expression in the first one although it looks a bit over exposed as the blacks are a bit washed out so maybe adjusting that and upping the contrast a bit will give it a bit more punch, if this is BS please someone correct me as I'm far from a darkroom master! I love the angle you've taken #2 although as it's Peaty you may have been up a step ladder Great panning in both #2 and #3 and I'd say #3 is may favourite of the first few, good composition. Great timing with #4, definitely captured the action. Also if you're using LR try using the recovery slider to bring back a bit of detail in the skies and stop them being completely white.

 

[Aldo]

Better late than never with some comments

You've done a great job of capturing the expression in the first one although it looks a bit over exposed as the blacks are a bit washed out so maybe adjusting that and upping the contrast a bit will give it a bit more punch, if this is BS please someone correct me as I'm far from a darkroom master! I love the angle you've taken #2 although as it's Peaty you may have been up a step ladder Great panning in both #2 and #3 and I'd say #3 is may favourite of the first few, good composition. Great timing with #4, definitely captured the action. Also if you're using LR try using the recovery slider to bring back a bit of detail in the skies and stop them being completely white.

I'll give the editing a bash in a couple of days but I do see what you mean about the black on the bars and her gloves a wee bit.

As for Peaty, check out this vid:
At 5:05 or just after, there as a massive jump. I was barely standing (bloody steep) on the left a about a meter after the take off and just below it.
I think I got a good photo of someone ragging the nuts off his bike round the berm as well.
I'll have that in mind when I do the editing.
Cheers Neal.

Also, one more photo added to first post. Although it might be 2 as I'm going hunting for that berm picture and if it's good I'll get it up.

 

[Aldo]

Edit of #1

Edit of #2

Edit of #3

Edit of #4

Need to do a bit better on the sky with this one, that can be a job for tomorrow.


Edit of #5

 

[Neal]

I like the edits Allyn, #4 really stands out now...good work 👍

 

[Aldo]

Cheers sir.

#7

#8

I like that one, but I need to lighten up her face a bit (no she's not grumpy).


#9

#10

Will edit these later. There are a few better ones that I'm in the middle of messing around with. Will post them tomorrow.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Woah.... those bikes are worth at least 4 grand each...... I want...now.

 

[Neal]

The new shots you've posted are all damn good, #8 certainly gets my vote. Keep 'em coming 👍

 

[Aldo]

Woah.... those bikes are worth at least 4 grand each...... I want...now.

And yet we were allowed to get as close to them as we wanted, even touch them.

The new shots you've posted are all damn good, #8 certainly gets my vote. Keep 'em coming 👍

Thanks. I really like #8 too!
Of course more will come. In fact, here's some now.

#10

#11

Thanks Greg you :censored legend!

#12

#13

Wish I had focussed a bit more towards the front of the bike. Lesson learned for next time though.

#14

Mmmm shiny fings.

#15

I thought this was the same photo as Mosely(photo #8) so I started fiddling with it. Turns out it wasn't. Turned out alright though, if a tad soft.

#16

I just like this one. Fairly similar to #1.

#17

Soon after the "Huck it to Flat" sign was covered in signatures. Good effort from those boys!

Still not looked at all the photos, and there are still some from the 4X. Jaaaysus.

 

[Moglet]

I really like all of these, the sense of action in the movement shots is excellent and the close ups are well composed and technically well taken too. I really need to work on my panning!

 

[Aldo]

I really like all of these, the sense of action in the movement shots is excellent and the close ups are well composed and technically well taken too. I really need to work on my panning!

Thanks very much!

--------------------------------------
After a very long wait and much laziness, here's a few more photos.

#18

#19

#20

#21

I will claim, to my deathbed, that that was deliberate...

#22

Maaaaaasssssive whip!

#23

#24

Maybe my favourite of the lot.

#25

Thanks for looking, again criticisms welcome, but keep them to yourself.
Baaaiiii!

 

[boiltheocean]

I like #18 and #24, nicely framed. It's a shame in #18 she(?) decided to pump it though and not boost over, that would of made for an epic shot.

 

[Neal]

Fantastic set Allyn, worth the wait! I agree with Tom that #18 and #24 stand out. Is #21 a crop. you did well getting that angle however you did it. Also the expressions on the marshals in #22 really add to the already impressive whip. Good work mate 👍

 

[Aldo]

I like #18 and #24, nicely framed. It's a shame in #18 she(?) decided to pump it though and not boost over, that would of made for an epic shot.

Yeah that was a bit disappointing. And yes it was a she.
The only other shot of that double was of Gee Atherton which was out of focus.
Cheers!

Fantastic set Allyn, worth the wait! I agree with Tom that #18 and #24 stand out. Is #21 a crop. you did well getting that angle however you did it. Also the expressions on the marshals in #22 really add to the already impressive whip. Good work mate 👍

#21 is only cropped the smallest amount for it to become 7x5. I'll post the original when I get home fo
r proof lol.
Yeah I love their expressions! Everyone at that jump was like that after the whip!
The best photo of that whip was ruined by the two kids that jumped in front of me as I was panning through.
Cheers!

 

[Aldo]

And just because my phone decided to double post for me...:

Original of #21

See, not a lot of crop

And:

Thanks kids...

 

[Neal]

Yeah, that would have been awesome

 

[HagbardCeline23]

Wow! Didn't expect to see this kind of thing on gtp! I really like some of your pics dude, that set starting no10 could well be placed in one of the mags! I take it from this you're a rider? Been into bikes since mbuk was mostly B&W and a good read lol Looking forward to seeing more of your pics, keep em coming............

 

[Neal]

Wow! Didn't expect to see this kind of thing on gtp! I really like some of your pics dude, that set starting no10 could well be placed in one of the mags! I take it from this you're a rider? Been into bikes since mbuk was mostly B&W and a good read lol Looking forward to seeing more of your pics, keep em coming............

That is old skool, I'm guessing Mint Sauce isn't in MBUK anymore so this is what you may have missed Aldo...

It's been a veeeeery long time since I bought MBUK but they still deserve credit for providing me with the truly awesome Mint Sauce stickers that I stuck all over my Alpinestars Al-Mega DX Hopefully it's found a loving home and hasn't met a sticky end at the bottom of a rubbish dump.

 

[HagbardCeline23]

Haha, I remember those stickers! And I used to love those Alpinestars with the elevated chainstays, ahh happy days

 

[Aldo]

Wow! Didn't expect to see this kind of thing on gtp! I really like some of your pics dude, that set starting no10 could well be placed in one of the mags! I take it from this you're a rider? Been into bikes since mbuk was mostly B&W and a good read lol Looking forward to seeing more of your pics, keep em coming............

Thanks man! I'll need to have a look to find any other good ones lol. I've still not had a look at every single photo...
Yeah I just ride trails and stuff but I do like getting a wee bit of air!

That is old skool, I'm guessing Mint Sauce isn't in MBUK anymore so this is what you may have missed Aldo...

Quite the contrary my old fellow...

In last months mag. ^

Poster on me wall. ^