Hi Hugo, prior to your pointing out my omission of the waterline from this photo, I hadn't really thought about it.
I'll upload the uncropped original image for this shot. I chopped from the top down for this pano upload... the original had more sail showing. When I framed the photo up, I placed the crew on the bottom left third, slicing the image with the line of the sails vertically, and the bow of the boat and the seaspray horizontally. Leaving the waterline out was unimportant to me, as the seaspray makes you understand they are moving through choppy water, and places the focus on the crew and their implied forward motion by the seaspray.
Also, I agree this one screams for advertising use, and I'm currently shopping this photo, along w/ several others from the regatta to the crews, sponsors, sailmakers and others in the industry.
Down wind, I think this is one of the most spectacular angles I can think of; the speed, accelleration and action on deck as well as the photogenic and elegant lines of the hull can be spectacular, especially in combination with the spray off the bow.
And that also rather surprises me about this shot; the crop above the waterline is rather unusual for a stand alone photo.
In conjunction with sponsor logos, or as a banner, I'd say its much more effective, if you see what I mean.
Either way, I think you once again nailed this one, technically. And looking at this in another context than as stand alone on a photocritique site, I also believe it's a very spectacular image.
Just curious why you excluded the waterline from the composition... I'm sure there's a very plausible reason I've overlooked...:)
Another wonderful sports shot of yours Chris.... The cropping is very dramatic, I like how the splashing water and the pose of the guys puts us in the mood of doing a tough job. Thanx for sharing my friend, regards, Khaled.
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{K:209486} 4/23/2006
