BMX tricks and an extreme shooting tip

I took this during the summer and I'm hoping to shoot a lot more action like this when I'm back in Gizzy in three weeks!

EXTREME SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY TIP

If it's sunny, and they're jumping - use flash!

This photo reminds how with photography you're constantly in a learning curve... for example, it seems obvious when I write it, but when you're shooting a shot like this with people jumping into the air, the sun is going to be above them making big shadows.
ie: Person above your head + sun behind them = big fat shadows and silhouettes...which are totally cool if that's what you want! But, if you really want to see faces and expressions you need to use flash.

The first time I shot this kind of action shot in a competition  environment I really wondered why all the pros were flashing away - that was until I realised how bad my pics were going to be without attaching a strobe flash!
My pics pretty much sucked! But I learnt a great lesson!

Anyway, I hope that tip helps, and if you're ever shooting your friends or kids, and they're getting into some extreme air action make sure you have a flash attached (If you're using a basic digital camera, workout how to force your flash so you can shoot it when you want to.) Remember: Lots of sun +jumps = lots of flash needed!

Sweeeeet shot

x Cat