martial arts Precision & control

Wanted to highlight the lethal accuracy & high level of control of

this female martial artist by capturing her performing a high kick

to the jaw at full speed.

 

Used harsh, directional lighting to make it more dramatic.

 

Comments, suggestions welcome.

The lighting is extraordinary and the action, captured at the right moment combines to make this an above average image...way above average.

 

My Granddaughter, age 10, is a Black Belt in Karate and would love this shot.

I was thinking about creating more tension in the kick and tried this. Hope you don't mind.

Hi Howard, thanks for the very swift critique!

 

I've looked at the attachment and unless I am mistaken, they are identical. What should I be focusing on?

 

And tips are always welcome! I am always curious as to how others "interpret" the briefs I assign myself...

Not identical. Look closer. I cropped the right side reducing the negative space just a bit. I think this creates more tension between her back and the edge of the frame forcing more power into the kick. I could be wrong as it is my thinking about your very fine photograph.

Never one to be picky, but I thought the background is a bit distracting (not your fault.) This is where a little creativity with Photoshop would be helpful IMO. Great shot none the less.

Hello Howard, sorry I missed that! Had tunnel vision (lets just say it was a long day!).

I see what you've done and the effect on delivering tension. Although, I'd be tempted to crop the left hand side as well. Trimming the right hand side only rests with difficulty in my eye.

 

Hi Elton, thanks for comment. The background is not distracting. Its a bl**dy eyesore. Not much could have been done (had pleaded with fitness studio owners to remove it but no go) and getting a background to cover that length was not going to be viable for a one off in that location. I'll be shooting some more in the future and hopefully I would have found a better setting. PS would propably do the trick but my skills on it are limited to the odd clone here and there. Will have to experiment...

I understand why the background distracts, but like that I consider it to be a nice-interesting photo, and this is due to background and wide-format. The same photo on a black background I would never look at it. Even if it would be "technically better" the originality would go to zero....

Excellent timing! I love the capture, and you expertly keep the subject from being upstaged by the fun background images on the wall, too! Great job!!

James, I did a quick (5-minute-ish) rework in Photoshop...