Andre Magarao
November 2024 - Flying Kiteboarder
About the Image(s)
Title: Flying Kiteboarder
This was shot in Ceara, Brazil. The athlete is Maxime Chabloz, a professional kiteboarder from Switzerland. Kiteboarding is a wind sport that works pretty much just like wakeboarding, but instead of being pulled by a boat, you are pulled by a kite.
I have 2 flashes to light up the rider while I highly under expose the sky. It's a bit rare to get any clouds in these super windy places, but we got lucky that day.
This was shot on a Canon 1dx and a 16-35 f4 lens at 16mm.
ISO 800. 1/4000. f4.
11 comments posted
Andre, great image with unusual illumination which enhances the image without question. By using a very wide angle setting you have included the kiteboarder and its kite, which normally is not possible when using a long lens. The sunset is added interest. Posted: 11/06/2024 22:33:54
Thank you very much, Isaac. I rarely get to hear inputs from other photographer so it's awesome to be a part of this group and read all these comments. This place in particular has a pretty ugly natural light in my opinion I don't quite understand why. Maybe it's because the wind is on shore so it's super humid and the humidity creates a hazy light. I always bring my flashes there because I feel it can really make the action pop and create this sharp full of contrast light. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:44:01
Andre, Welcome to Group 59 and what an awesome image to start out with for your first image. There are many things that make this a great image, the low perspective, the beautiful light, the clouds, the sunset, and most of all the peak action. A first class image. Looking forward to more of your images. Bruce Posted: 11/07/2024 06:06:50
Thank you so much, Bruce. I'm really happy to be a part of this group and hear all your comments on my work. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:44:44
Hi Andrea. A spectacular photo showing many different elements in the one photo. It's a seascape and a cloud photo as well with a kiteboarder thrown in for added interest. This style of photo has many possibilities and could be entered in a variety of competitions its not just sports. What you have done as others have said is low perspective, very difficult to obtain with a photo like this as I am sure he was travelling at a fair speed, you probably spent a lot of time on the ground or beach front.
It would be interssting to see how the photo comes up with some processing to make the kiteboarder stand out more. I gave it a try by cropping to some extent and applying the adjustment brush to the kiteboarder, basically made him lighter against the background. If you had the RAW version well worth while doing. Posted: 11/13/2024 05:45:48
It would be interssting to see how the photo comes up with some processing to make the kiteboarder stand out more. I gave it a try by cropping to some extent and applying the adjustment brush to the kiteboarder, basically made him lighter against the background. If you had the RAW version well worth while doing. Posted: 11/13/2024 05:45:48
Hey Ronald. Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I do spend a lot of time floating on the water to get these low angles.
I love to hear different style perspectives. I usually edit these type of shots in a way to leave the contrast in because I would like people to understand there is a flash there. It's quite restrictive to use flash when the wind is blowing 30 miles a hour. it's not like I can put a soft box there. The flash would just fly away. So I feel like I should use the contrasty aesthetics of the flash. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:49:24
I love to hear different style perspectives. I usually edit these type of shots in a way to leave the contrast in because I would like people to understand there is a flash there. It's quite restrictive to use flash when the wind is blowing 30 miles a hour. it's not like I can put a soft box there. The flash would just fly away. So I feel like I should use the contrasty aesthetics of the flash. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:49:24
Andre, you mean that you have the flash on or off camera while floating on the water. How about water damage of the equipment ?? Posted: 11/16/2024 18:00:16
Hey Isaac, the flashes are off camera. I have a waterhousing for the camera. But yeah, it's not the most friendly environment for camera gear. I've never had many issues though. It's just time consuming making sure I clean everything at the end of the day. Posted: 11/19/2024 17:56:09
Hey Isaac, the flashes are off camera. I have a waterhousing for the camera. But yeah, it's not the most friendly environment for camera gear. I've never had many issues though. It's just time consuming making sure I clean everything at the end of the day. Posted: 11/21/2024 01:22:53
Andre - welcome to group 59. Love the photo as it really captures the imagination and would have loved to have been there when you were capturing the image. Given the wide angle lens, it makes it look like the athlete is 50 feet up in the air. I'd love to see how you had the lighting set up. It seems like the vibrance of the photo has been turned up a bit (but I suspect it's true color) and it also seems a bit grainy when you click on the photo. Not sure if that is because you reduced the size of the photo? As Bruce shared, looking forward to seeing more of your images. Posted: 11/14/2024 01:11:37
thank you, Don. The rider is just 6 or 8 feet in the air but yeah I do use wide lenses to make it look like they are higher.
I edit these shots very little. Since I'm already bringing flashes I'm able to underexpose the sky and just light up the subject with the flashes.
I do think it lost a lot of sharpness when I resized to send it over. I will try to resize a different way next time. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:52:13
I edit these shots very little. Since I'm already bringing flashes I'm able to underexpose the sky and just light up the subject with the flashes.
I do think it lost a lot of sharpness when I resized to send it over. I will try to resize a different way next time. Posted: 11/16/2024 00:52:13