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Imminent Plunge
Published: 2010-05-28 02:30:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 22037; Favourites: 2250; Downloads: 398
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La Ronde, Montreal...Related content
Comments: 391
Can I ask what camera you used and what software you used to tweak the image? I hope that's ok to ask, I have no idea how you get such sharp results. Any tips also welcome, thanks.
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No problem. I'll get back to you with the answers to your questions ASAP...
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Hi,.. any information on the equipment you used please? Camera? Lens? Software? I just wish I knew how to get things as sharp and as smooth and perfectly contrasted as you did, all my results are crap, this being a prime example: [link] It's blotchy, it's soft, it's flat, (no contrast), and it just looks crap.
Ok, so I know my camera is very cheap, (small cheap inferior sensor is the worst problem - accompanied by a rubbish lens on my bridge camera, (Fujifilm Finepix S9600: [link] ), with poor noise control, and I REALLY want a Nikon D700 or D3s but can't afford one. 
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Sorry for the late reply, but I've been quite busy for some time now (it's been close to a year since I've taken my cameras out)...
The picture was taken with a Canon 20D SLR (or maybe it was my 30D, I don't remember exactly) and Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM. The lens is still excellent, but the cameras are quite old by today's standards. The thing to understand though, is that cameras aren't really that important (yours isn't all that bad actually). Lenses and post-processing are on the other hand. For the latter, I use Photoshop (CS3 at the time, now CS5) for general tweaking: levels, contrast, color saturation, sharpness, etc. For b&w conversion, I use Silver Efex Pro (still the best imo). As for denoising, I use either Neat Image or Noise Ninja.
That said, learning how to use these programs properly, especially Photoshop, has taken me years, and I still have a lot of things to learn... All I can say is: try to read as much as possible on the subject. There's plenty of documentation and tutorials on the Web. However, here's a few tips that I consider important:
- Buy yourself a used SLR (Canon or Nikon, it doesn't really matter) and learn it well.
- Invest in high quality lenses. Again, you can save quite a few dollars if you take a look at the used market.
- Set all the parameters of your camera to neutral. Don't let the camera do the processing for you. Do it yourself!...
- Shoot RAW for maximum post-processing flexibility.
- For maximum sharpness right out of the box, use a sturdy tripod as much as possible.
- Even if today's cameras are getting better and better at metering, pay special attention to your exposures, especially in high contrast situations.
- Invest in high quality filters (Singh-Ray or Lee if you can afford them, otherwise go for Cokin, but I don't recommend them). These are important when the scenes you're trying to shoot exceed the dynamic range of the camera. Learn how to use them well. Again, there's plenty of literature on the Web.
- Cameras are also getting better and better at dealing with noise, especially at high ISO, but if your pictures are still too noisy, be careful with Neat Image or Noise Ninja. They're excellent software, but if you don't use them properly they'll wash out all the details in your photos. The trick is to find a good balance between noise reduction and detail retention.
That's it for now, but I'll get back to you as soon as possible with more tips and some Websites that offer good advice.
Take care!
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That is amazingly helpful information!! 
Thanks again, I'll copy n save your response so I always have it to hand to later look up the programs you mentioned, I hope you don't mind.
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Very cool kind of relaxing/mesmerizing as well.
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Quite atmospheric! I like the black and white, and especially the light on one side and the dark on the other, since it intensifies the danger and thrill you make people sense within this picture.
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Thanks for the comment, much appreciated...
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You're very welcome! I'm glad I could be of service
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Thanks for the visit, much appreciated...
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this reminds me of dreams about roller coasters I had. Its in a misty nowhere with no ground to fall to and a dramatic fall
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Thanks for the visit...
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Wow! Amazing! Very well deserved DD!
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Thanks for the feature, much appreciated...
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Fantastic shot. Congratulations on the DD.
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Thank you...
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how do people find pleasure in such life-threatening situations lol thats scary! climbing over a wall is already much of a challenge now this...
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Thanks for the visit...
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you're welcome sir
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Is this the GOLIATH roller coaster?
Serait-ce la Montagne Russe du nom de GOLIATH ?
Lien en Français ici / French link : [link]
Photo sympa, Γ§a montre le frisson qu'on peut avoir en haut de la courbe
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Je pense que oui, mais je n'en suis pas certain. Je ne suis pas vraiment un fan de montagnes russes... Cette photo a Γ©tΓ© prise sur le traversier MontrΓ©al / Longueuil. Merci pour le com...
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J'ai fait une erreur sur la ville qui hΓ©berge EUROPA PARK : il s'agit de RUST en RhΓ©nanie
Pour ceux qui aiment les attractions Γ sensations fortes, je conseille ce parc ; c'est Γ 35min en voiture de Strasbourg en direction de Bale (pas de pΓ©age, peu de circulation).
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Just looking at this gives me that stomach-dropping feeling that I get at the top of a roller coaster. Well done. Chilling.
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Breathtaking shot! Such atmosphere! 
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Thanks, glad you enjoyed it...
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Love roller coasters but this looks scary!! haha good job
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Thank you...
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Thanks, much appreciated...
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