Let us please save this thread for XSive riders who are submitting, or would like to submit photos for the 2008 XS / XJ calendar. If you want to post a photo of your bike not for publication, please go to HobbyMans “Bike Photos” thread. For continuing ideas for the calendar, please go to my thread “want your bike photo on a calendar?”
I have created a special email account just for sending photos and information for publication. That address is: XS11photos@sbcglobal.net
Please send files of at least 1200 to 1500 KB. These will be full sized shots for a 4 to 5 MB digital camera. Each candidate should send at least one shot that is intended for the big photo at the top of the month, as well as 2 to 3 smaller shots of interesting or unique details that you would like featured. Two examples that come to mind: DragXS11’s LED brake light that spells out “XS11,” and Maximan’s extra gas tank. These can have you, the rider, in the shot if you like. Please include commentary on the modifications and brief history of your bike, and its name if you have given it one.
Here are some tips on photography.
Try to avoid “back lighting.” Use “fill in flash” whenever possible so that the details of your bike can be seen clearly if it is backlighted. (The picture I posted is a good example of a photo that needed fill in flash. It could have been corrected with “burning” in PhotoShop, but my antiquated computer was being ornery, and I wanted to get it posted!)
It is some times helpful to use a large sheet of white poster board or other reflective surface to reflect light back onto your bike to fill in those dark shadowy areas.
Avoid a cluttered setting. Be especially conscious of the background. There is nothing as distracting as having a tree growing out of your bikes headlight or gas tank! Also, the angle is a consideration. A straight on side shot can be good in that it shows all of the details very well, but a ¾ frontal, especially if shot from a low or high vantage point can add an interesting perspective.
I can “dodge and burn,” crop, and do a certain amount of color and contrast adjustment in PhotoShop, but the better the original photo the better.
If you are not into digital, or have a really killer film or slide shot of your bike that you would like to submit, let me know: we will work something out.
If you have a “rat bike’ or a bike like mine that gets ridden more than it gets polished, don’t hesitate to enter photos: I want at least one or two. And I hope I’m not putting people of by making it sound like I expect professional photographs. HobbyMan’s thread has many excellent shots that would do nicely.
Those riders who would like your birthdays noted can send pictures that include your own bods posed with your bikes.
Please label your photos as calendar, detail, or birthday, just to make sure there is no confusion.
If you have questions or think I’ve missed something, let me know here. I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope this turns out to be fun for everyone.
E.Liberty
I have created a special email account just for sending photos and information for publication. That address is: XS11photos@sbcglobal.net
Please send files of at least 1200 to 1500 KB. These will be full sized shots for a 4 to 5 MB digital camera. Each candidate should send at least one shot that is intended for the big photo at the top of the month, as well as 2 to 3 smaller shots of interesting or unique details that you would like featured. Two examples that come to mind: DragXS11’s LED brake light that spells out “XS11,” and Maximan’s extra gas tank. These can have you, the rider, in the shot if you like. Please include commentary on the modifications and brief history of your bike, and its name if you have given it one.
Here are some tips on photography.
Try to avoid “back lighting.” Use “fill in flash” whenever possible so that the details of your bike can be seen clearly if it is backlighted. (The picture I posted is a good example of a photo that needed fill in flash. It could have been corrected with “burning” in PhotoShop, but my antiquated computer was being ornery, and I wanted to get it posted!)
It is some times helpful to use a large sheet of white poster board or other reflective surface to reflect light back onto your bike to fill in those dark shadowy areas.
Avoid a cluttered setting. Be especially conscious of the background. There is nothing as distracting as having a tree growing out of your bikes headlight or gas tank! Also, the angle is a consideration. A straight on side shot can be good in that it shows all of the details very well, but a ¾ frontal, especially if shot from a low or high vantage point can add an interesting perspective.
I can “dodge and burn,” crop, and do a certain amount of color and contrast adjustment in PhotoShop, but the better the original photo the better.
If you are not into digital, or have a really killer film or slide shot of your bike that you would like to submit, let me know: we will work something out.
If you have a “rat bike’ or a bike like mine that gets ridden more than it gets polished, don’t hesitate to enter photos: I want at least one or two. And I hope I’m not putting people of by making it sound like I expect professional photographs. HobbyMan’s thread has many excellent shots that would do nicely.
Those riders who would like your birthdays noted can send pictures that include your own bods posed with your bikes.
Please label your photos as calendar, detail, or birthday, just to make sure there is no confusion.
If you have questions or think I’ve missed something, let me know here. I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope this turns out to be fun for everyone.
E.Liberty
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