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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-24-2017, 06:26 AM
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Proof is in the pudding. You are literally the only one here to accuse me of being a Canikon troll. Everyone else understood the context. You did too.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-23-2017, 10:08 AM
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Yes, Watson has plenty of shots where there are *no* vanquished opponents, simply because a lot of races finish with a solo victory. But when there are more than one cyclists sprinting for the line (as in the photo you posted), the best shots contain both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
(Cycling fans: Here's Watson's portfolio. It's basically the history of bicycle racing over the last 40+ years. :: GrahamWatson.com :: Graham Watson Cycling Photography ::)
Everyone should note the years these photos were taken and the state of AF technology at the time. Today's Pentax AF is certainly better than the AF that Watson used to capture some of these iconic shots. I'd imagine that Watson prefocused on the finish in some of these shots and gave himself enough DOF to work with. So it is possible to get these shots without having the best AF in the business. You just have to know what you are doing.
That's a nice shot. I wish you luck pursuing that angle. But this is about AF and that fellow doesn't seem to be moving all that much.
So you know that I'm not a Pentax-hater by my history here yet you alone still tried to call me out as one? Seems likes you are the only one that needed the qualifiers LOL.
---------- Post added 03-23-17 at 12:42 PM ----------
They've got spikes on their tires for traction. You can kind of see them here:
#25 by John Flores, on Flickr
There are no jumps or banking, so it's not quite like motocross on ice. It's more closely related to flat track racing:
Jay Maloney leads Brad Baker into Turn 1 by John Flores, on Flickr
There is a version is Australia and Europe called Speedway. Fun stuff to watch.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-21-2017, 05:20 PM
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Pentax AF is good. And for most use cases (and most of my use cases) it is fine. There are many fine photos in this forum and thread that prove that point. It's only at the sharpest end of the spear that it is lacking, in particular when compared to Canikon.
I won't hazard a guess whether it is the bodies or lenses that are the limiting agent. It just seems that Pentax has not pursued the working pro sports photog for one reason or another. And that's fine. Pro sports level AF performance is not a requirement or the only path to market success. Just ask Leica. And Fuji.
You're the guy that started this all LOL! If you had titled this thread "Pentax AF is Plenty Darn Usable" this thread would have been filled with nice action shots taken with Pentax cameras. But nooooo, you had to strike the match and light up the straw man! :p
Yes, Pentax AF is Plenty Darn Usable (TM)
2014 Tour of Somerville by John Flores, on Flickr
_JMF9187.jpg by John Flores, on Flickr
_JMF1624.jpg by John Flores, on Flickr
#1 Jake Mataya leads the pack into Turn 1 by John Flores, on Flickr
#56A has the bike crossed up as he exits the turn by John Flores, on Flickr
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-21-2017, 05:33 AM
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What's funny is that the Graham Watson photo that you shared exhibits two of the characteristics that I mentioned, McEwan in celebration with the second place rider in defeat. That is the classic finish line photo when there are two or more racers competing. Maybe the finish banner is not there, but very often there are cues to indicate that it is at the finish. Together, the figures tell a story. [these photos are not mine]
To be honest, your photo posted earlier is nice (and I would be happy if I myself had taken it) but is missing the "agony of defeat" of the second place rider to really make the shot special. And let me be clear here - that may not be your fault because sometimes the second place guy does not give you what you want. As Graham Watson has said, he was not a fan of Greg Lemond when he started wearing Oakley sunglasses because the glasses hide the eyes and the emotion that is often there. Other motorsports photographers have said the same thing about drivers and riders with helmets with tinted or mirror visors. Some of the best recent motorcycle racing photography occurs during wet races simply because the riders are wearing clear visors.
So with facial expressions hidden by sunglasses, the photographer has to try to convey defeat of the second place rider somehow, either via slumped shoulders or a grimace of effort, or something. Those expressions often come and go very quickly, thus the need for solid C.AF paired with high FPS. The hope is that one of those 20 shots taken over 2 seconds will contain all the elements of a great shot. And even then you can't always get the shot simply because the winners and losers are not posing for your convenience. The photos I posted above have those elements. The last one in particular is iconic - Lemond winning the World Championships in 1989 (two years after he was shot by his brother-in-law in a hunting accident and the same year he won the Tour de France by 8 seconds) over Ireland's Sean Kelly (arguably that country's best one-day cyclist ever but never a World Champion) and the Soviet Union's Dmitry Konishev. I do not remember the Dutch rider on the far left.
Regarding tennis, the classic shot is the trophy being raised. I never said anything about that sport here so to presume my preference is for the ball landing within the lines is ludicrous and a silly straw man.
And regarding editors specifying equipment? I never said anything about that either, so please do not infer that I were I an editor that I would require photogs to shoot Canikon. Remember, I've been shooting Pentax for magazines for nearly 10 years. I have met dozens upon dozens of fellow editors and photographers, all of them shooting Canikon. I have been the only Pentax shooter. My primary publisher does not care what I shoot with but values my results highly. I've had hundreds of photos taken with Pentax cameras published in books, magazines, and calendars. I've even landed covers with the humble Q.
Looks who's on the January cover of BMW Owner News?! by John Flores, on Flickr
So to suggest that I am some sort of Pentax-hating, Canikon fanboy is simply unfair.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2017, 04:49 AM
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On the contrary. I think Tromboads has done a great job. I love his photos of Philip Island. It such an iconic setting (on my bucket list) and the photos are great.
My point is that there is a difference between a good shot for personal use and a great shot that I or an editor would want to put on the cover of a magazine. Your photo is very nice (I'm a cycling fan and have long admired Graham Watson's photography) but it also illustrates my point - where is the sharp photo of Caleb Ewan at the decisive moment, 20m or 30m prior to this photo when he was crossing the finish line, the Finish banner over his head, the other sprinter either throwing his bike towards the line in a final bid for victory or his head hung low and shoulders slumped in defeat?
That's the decisive moment that I would want to capture and be expected to capture if I was being paid for the gig and personally I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't.
I have managed some nice action shots with Pentax DSLRs myself.
Sandy aboard his trusty Yamaha FJR in VT by John Flores, on Flickr
Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, UT by John Flores, on Flickr
Pentax used for RoadRUNNER story. by
John Flores, on Flickr
Pentax K-5 shoots the cover of RoadRUNNER Magazine, Feb 2013 issue. by John Flores, on Flickr
But I'd be lying to myself and to everyone else here if I didn't note that each of those shots took several passes to nail the focus, and for each of them there was some anxiousness about getting the shot that I had in my mind. Some of that, of course, is the nature of the task at hand, but I have shot with other, non-Pentax cameras where I was more confident that the gear was up to my needs.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-19-2017, 08:27 PM
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Pentax AF is fine for personal projects and stuff but if I'm being paid to capture the last corner pass or the winning score or the knockout punch I'm going with Nikon or Canon.
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