Hayden Smith, Skateboard Rider

Hayden Smith practices skateboard tricks at Eric Scott McKinley Skate Park in Corvallis - November 14, 2015

Hayden Smith crouches in preparation to jump onto a rail with his skateboard on Saturday at the skate park in Corvallis - November 14, 2015

Taking a break from skateboarding tricks at the skate park, Hayden Smith checks his smartphone - November 14, 2015

Hayden skillfully rides his skateboard at the edge of the bowl in the skate park on Saturday - November 14, 2015

Hayden Smith hops off his skateboard to clear the rail before landing on the deck on the other side - November 14, 2015

"The Rider Code" posted at the entrance to Eric Scott McKinley Skate Park in Corvallis - November 14, 2015

Hayden Smith executes a flatground ollie on his skateboard at Eric Scott McKinley Skate Park in Corvallis - November 14, 2015

Week 7 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

Action/Sports Photos

1. It would be cool if I could take pictures of some BMX riders doing extreme tricks on the dirt track in South Corvallis, but I have never actually seen people there. I go back with my camera and hope to get lucky. If I'm unsuccessful in taking a picture of a BMX extreme dude, I'll head over to the skate park across the river. There are always skateboard riders there. The skate park would give me an opportunity to try out different techniques for shooting action: blurred background with the subject in focus, blurred action with a clear background, and stopped motion.
2. Tomorrow I will make the trip to Southtown and hope for some BMX riders, and if they're not there, I'll take my camera to the skate park. Tomorrow: November 14, 2015
3. OVERALL—MEDIUM—CLOSEUP/DETAIL

• For my OVERALL shot I can position myself on the hill so that the entire dirt track is visible in the frame—containing people, of course. If there are no people at the BMX track, I can take a picture containing all the people at the skate park in one shot. Maybe if the light is low, I could take a long-shutter shot with all the little people figures blurred showing their actions.
• For a good MEDIUM shot I could find a spot in the middle of the action, but without ever getting in anyone's way. My camera has a powerful optical zoom, so I could use that to get close to the action without interfering.
• A nice CLOSEUP/DETAIL shot could be a macro of a wheel on a skateboard with the skate park blurred in the background. Another shot could be of some artistic graffiti on the park features.

Topic 2:

Twitter Shoutout (shouting into the void)

My favorite photo of the moment, that I've taken this term, is this one taken on the LBCC Albany campus:

A car drives past a crosswalk on a bright and chilly autumn day at Linn-Benton Community College - November 9, 2015