How to Capture Steepness?

[jmills115]

With the effort he makes in getting pics of everyone else, I always tell myself I need to catch more pictures of our ski guide/photographer @Jim Kenney and never get enough. Even though I didn’t take it myself, the GoPro screen grab of him dug in on Great Scott snapping pics of Brandt is a favorite of mine

 

[aveski]

Taos, 2019

 

[KingGrump]

Taos, 2019 View attachment 149490

Bottom of Castor?

 

[Tony S]

Bottom of Castor?

I think it's the bottom of Unpiste.

 

[KingGrump]

I think it's the bottom of Unpiste.

Not touching that.

 

[SKI-3PO]

I’m sure he appreciates that

 

[James]

It looks like they’re near the bottom or is that an illusion?

 

[KingGrump]

Who's bottom?

 

[aveski]

Apparently so.

Bottom of Castor?

 

[aveski]

Looking up from the same spot.

 

[Jim Kenney]

Castor from chairlift:

Vince and I found Castor one day in 2012 when we were poking around an intermediate run called Bambi up on the ridge above it. As we diverted left off Bambi we suddenly dropped into Castor woods, holy crap!

 

[dbostedo]

As we diverted left off Bambi we suddenly dropped into Castor woods, holy crap!

If you get in there from Bambi, it's definitely a sudden drop! I've not skied it, but I've looked down it a few times.

 

[Tony S]

Castor from chairlift:

Vince and I found Castor one day in 2012 when we were poking around an intermediate run called Bambi up on the ridge above it. As we diverted left off Bambi we suddenly dropped into Castor woods, holy crap!

If you get in there from Bambi, it's definitely a sudden drop! I've not asked it, but I've looked down it a few times.

Grump always takes us in over a minefield of poorly buried rocks so he can then chastise us for not following directions carefully. You know, like, "I warned you to watch out for those invisible rocks."

Any other entrance is probably well worth exploring.

 

[KingGrump]

Grump always takes us in over a minefield of poorly buried rocks so he can then chastise us for not following directions carefully. You know, like, "I warned you to watch out for those invisible rocks."

Any other entrance is probably well worth exploring.

Luke, use the force. The rocks may be invisible but you should be able to feel their presence beneath the snow.

There is a whole upper section of Castor but only skiable during very good snow year. There is a rock band separating the trees on top from the open part of Castor.

The entrance Jim skied drops you into the skier's right of the open section of Castor. No excitement, no gnar points. Most of the time, we get to Castor through Pollux. Adventure tree skiing at its best.

 

[James]

Grump always takes us in over a minefield of poorly buried rocks so he can then chastise us for not following directions carefully. You know, like, "I warned you to watch out for those invisible rocks."

So @KingGrump and @SBrown are similar in leading styles? Minus the chastising.

 

[mdf]

So @KingGrump and @SBrown are similar in leading styles? Minus the chastising.

Sort of, but Grump waits for the slowpokes.

 

[KingGrump]

She is taller.

 

[LiquidFeet]

@jmills115, I just want to repeat this image of yours because it's such a pleasure to look at, and so perfect for this thread's topic. Wow.

 

[oldschoolskier]

Hiking, cycling, skiing ... How do experienced outdoor photographers capture pitch? Where should I stand with respect to the athlete and the hill? What should I make sure to include in the frame? What should I crop out? How should I leverage portrait vs. landscape orientation?

I am not a photographer, there are few simple rules...

No trees or piles behind heads (unless it's intentional ).

Colour balance (since I'm slightly colour blind I just white balance the camera).

I always try to shoot as slow as possible for action shots (all shots, gives me the best results), just fast enough to get the details I want.

Watch your vertical frame setup, it controls your sense of pitch. This can increase (or decrease) the perceive steepness.

Some of this was advice, some experience shooting well over 20k of pictures at swim meets.

 

[Tony S]

@jmills115, I just want to repeat this image of yours because it's such a pleasure to look at, and so perfect for this thread's topic. Wow.
View attachment 149589

This just makes me want to go back to Snowbird, is all.