Pick of the Pix Series, Odd Shotz #1

Specs: 1 silly person, 1/60s, 70.0mm, f/4.6, ISO: 1250

It's Stuart Maden, always full of energy, fun and a little silliness :-)

I've recently been right through all my TKD images categorising some of the better ones by topic to give me something to share with you. During the process I found a few "silly" fun portraits and thought I'd share them with you.

To capture these portrait images you need to be on the lookout constantly, act fast and a bit of silliness helps...



More coming tomorrow...

Pick of the Pix Series, The Future of Taekwon-Do #2

Specs: 1/320s, 85.0mm prime, f/3.2, ISO: 1250

Ryan McNie and Josh Jamieson train at Impact Club in Kingsland. Being of a similar age, size, grade and both been very keen hard-working students leads me to think that we should watch out for these guys in the future.

Here are a few photos I took of them recently demonstrating their craft at the Impact Mt Wellington opening ceremony and at Master van de Mortel's Auckland Seminar earlier this year....



Here is Josh competing at the 2008 Auckland North Regional Tournament...

Pick of the Pix Series, Sloooowww Motion

Specs: 1/15s, 31.0mm, f/18.0, ISO: 1600

Another favourite image, this was taken at the 2007 World Champs Trials in December 2006 in Taupo. I used a very slow shutter speed of 1/15s with both the camera and the trialists moving during the exposure. If the camera had been held still then the background would have been sharp because of the very high f stop of f/18.0 creating a large depth of field (objects close and far away being in focus). With a sharp background, the image wouldn't have had as good a feel. The high f stop was a convenient way to slow the shutter speed down, although a better way would have been to set the camera at a low ISO, eg ISO 100. Another reason the image works well for me is having Brad Wickman's face reasonably sharp, giving the viewer something to focus on. Generally I find that "slow motion" images like this are best when at least one face is sharp.

The following photos were taken at 1/30th of a second (a little faster) but with flash on. Note how the long shutter speed gives lots of movement but the flash firing during the exposure freezes a part of the action.



Flash usually operates at about the equivalent of 1/250th of a second so is an interesting combination to use with a very slow shutter speed. This flash effect only works well in an environment with lots of light (as above). If there is a low light situation (like the test image below) then you miss out on the movement as the flash time effectively determines the exposure. I've learned this by slowing the exposure down to even 1/25th of a second and the flash exposure still gives a relatively sharp image. so, try this with plenty of light if you want the effect.

Specs: 1/25s, 17.0mm, f/6.3, ISO: 800

Pick of the Pix Series, Bex Shows Grit

Specs: 1/15s, 70.0mm, f/4.5, ISO: 400

Rebecca Walthall, aka Bex, at Taupo camp shortly before the 2006 Junior World Champs needs to loose a few kilos to make her preferred division. Coach Dave Ballard gives her a challenge to loose as much weight as she can in an hour. It's hard to watch... she's got extra layers of clothing on and is running to the other side of the hall and back and then doing either 10 punches or 10 kicks and the repeating it endlessly. Coach and others yelling at her, she's determined but in real pain virtually crying her heart out. I feel bad taking pictures, take a few then wander off to leave her alone.


Specs: 1/60s, 70.0mm, f/4.5, ISO: 800

What a big heart she has... she never gave up. After an hour they weighted her and she was still miles away from the target so it was decided to spare her the drama and move her up a division.

And she want on to the finals of the World Champs. Here's Gwyn Brown's commentary....
Bex vs Argentina
This is it, the final. The boys start Bex off with the Haka to get her going. The match starts slow, Bex first points with turning, then Argentina turning, then Bex 3 pointer, then Argentina scores with turning and punch, very even, lots of single techniques, both fighters cautious, Bex sidekick, Argentina falls but gets up quickly, round ends. They are even from what I can see. Round 2, slow start, but the NZ team support is huge, Bex scores with turning, Argentina with side, lots of bouncing, still single technique. I don’t think Bex has done enough to win, but neither has Argentina. Round ends. Judges cards are in, and the winner is…Draw! Both get back into it straight away, lots more bouncing, not much action, both so cautious now, Bex scores with turning, Argentina turning, a few more kicks here and there, no punching flurry’s, bout ends. Score cards are collected, I think Bex was ahead slightly, and the winner is…Draw again! The crowd goes wild, and the flags come out. All judges stand and I can see Mark screaming in Bex’s ear. The Argentinean coach is doing the same. They come out and start, bouncing…bouncing…bouncing…and more of the same for nearly 1 ½ minutes, not a technique thrown, both know one wrong move in sudden death and it’s all over. Bex is warned for turning away, then warned again but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was for, so excited I forgot to write notes! Then Bex scores!! With a side kick, Ref stops the match, the NZ team go wild…but no judge raises their flag…why I don’t know, it was a clean point and in any other match would have counted. Then horror, Bex is forced out of the ring, and incurs her 3rd warning, looses a point and the match is suddenly over. Bex is distraught, the team cheer her, but she is upset, as we all are I guess. But you know, she did win silver, and lost the match on warnings. Awesome Rebecca.

Images of the fight (I think some of these have not been published before):

Pick of the Pix Series, Sparring at an Unusual Angle

Specs: 1/100s, 22.0mm, f/4.5, ISO: 1250, Tweaked in Photoshop

Photographing Taekwon-Do for hours on end can be exciting when you know you've got some great pictures "in the can" but it can get boring too. That's when I sometimes try to get that extra bit creative and occasionally the result is I get something unusual that I really like.

I wouldn't say the image above is a favourite but it is different. We were at a 2007 World Champs build-up camp at Taupo in November 2006 when I asked Jeremy and Shane if I could lie down on the mat and take pictures of them sparring over the top of me. The image is unusual but, because I was in the way, they couldn't really get into it much, hense it lacks agression and speed to be a really great image.

I've had a few other attempts at taking images of sparring at unusual angles, these ones I really like:


Specs: 1/80s, 18.0mm, f/7.1, ISO: 1600

Johs and Candice in sparring training at the same camp. I held the camera as high as possible at arms length above my head and shot downwards. I was much closer to them that the image looks. They're visually pushed away from me because of the extreme wide angle of 18.0mm ("normal" eye like vision on my DSLR is about 35mm, 2 x telephoto is about 85.0mm).


Specs: 1/100s, 17.0mm, f/3.5, ISO: 1600

Here's a recent image of Carl and Jeremy sparring; with me getting in close trying to make the viewer feel like you are in the fight. This time I got very close to getting a good smack in the chops from a flying elbow or the like! Knowing me I'll keep getting closer until that happens.

Rediscovered Image: Upside Down

Specs: 1/4000s, 35.0mm, f/2.8, ISO: 800

Another image of Luke and Mark practicing their pre-arranged sparring in May 2007. Mark is caught at the peak of his flip. I was lucky that the harsh light caught his face. If they were in the shade the photo would have been a write off.

Rediscovered Image: Mark Trotter in Focus

Specs: 1/1000s, 55.0mm, f/2.8, ISO: 800

Another nice shot that I had overlooked. This has captured Mark Trotter in stunning form while practicing their winning pre-arranged sparring routine in May 2007.