The Best Action Photos of the Year: Critique the Community

Submit Your Quirky Photos here: fstoppers.com/...
Submit to the currently Critique the Community at fstoppers.com/...
View Lee's Horrible Car Shoot Here: • Make A Toy Car Look Real
View Lee's Most Popular Car Shoot Here: • How to light paint a c...
Early Vintage Fstoppers Pocket Wizard Photoshoot: • Fstoppers Nikon Pocket...
Check out Blair Buntings photography at www.blairbunti...
Gear and Workflow Recommendations:
Our Favorite Gear -
fstoppers.com/...
Music
Artlist.io - artlist.io/art...
Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicso...
Software
Adobe Creative Cloud - bit.ly/3hjVXdE
Luminar 4 - skylum.evyy.net...
Capture One - captureone.38d4...
Support Fstoppers by shopping at:
B&H - www.bhphotovid...
Amazon - amzn.to/3hkTEXS

[@shootingtheindies675]

I myself I am a Pro Wrestling Photographer. This is probably the most real photo out of this whole critique. He is outside the ring shooting in. The "spit" and sweat is real. This is true action in its own. Good job to whoever it was that took it. We deal with some of the worst lighting possible and make the best of those situations.

[@hersh23]

INDEED! It's driving me crazy hearing the ignorance of Pro Wrestling from these 2 but if they don't watch and only have stereotypes in their head, not much that can change that. The reason the crowd is reacting in that basketball photo at @28:23 is because there is a lot of commotion already going on BEFORE the moment in the picture where the player picks up the chair. The crowd isn't even really reacting to the guy with the chair. They're looking elsewhere. I'm sure if the wrestling shot was taken in continuous mode, the following images DO have that crowd reacting to the kick but they don't capture the impact of the kick to the face because it already happened. And yes, FStoppers, that indeed is a real kick to the face. not everything in wrestling is huge whiffs. Lol

[@Maybachdemon]

the slow zoom at 53:30 had me in stitches lmao

[@bobceffo]

hahahhaha I was commenting the same. someone laughed his ass off in post

[@georgestancl2283]

Guys you need to come up with CTC BTS - many times you are saying LET US KNOW, well make your youtube community know too, if those photographers get back to you! we want to know the stories of those images too! Maybe just reading off an e-mail from that photographer or tell them to send you a short video of them explaining the shot you asked the explanation, idk you are the creators, but i think that this could be a potential amazing idea for great content

[@FStoppers]

George Stancl this is a good idea. I’ll try to put something together like this. -P

[@trypersistence]

Couldn't agree more, George. 🙌🏼

[@antz42]

Most pictures come with detailed descriptions already... Not all but many of the ones picked for the video did. Just make it a compulsory field to fill in for submition

[@jebis03]

The slow zoom on Patrick was solid lol!

[@MrNetVare]

Please change the lighting, the shadow under the nose and the hair on the forehead reminds of one famous Austrian guy...

[@deansnipah2895]

Lmao i cant unsee this now

[@southerncharity7928]

Schwarzenegger?

[@alanmunoz3491]

you ruined this video for me 😂 greetings from an austrian 😅

[@polpperdeplop]

1:02:29 anyone seen the light of the roof going through the ring in the bottom right corner lol..

[@deransadventures]

Also going into his arm and punching bag. Really bad photoshopping. I'm now even more convinced the sweat is fake. He doesn't appear to be sweating in his hair or skin.

[@thatchickthatchecksstuffou6386]

Yep, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[@Premier-Media-Group]

Love watching Patrick teaching Lee about perspective for the first time...on video...

[@Heiko_K]

what actually strikes me about the first image is not that something might be wrong with the angle the blue light is entering the image, but rather that the player himself seems to be much too small in proportion. Comparing him with the size of the basket ball net thing and assuming he is "flying" in the same plane, i.e. towards it, it looks to me as if he was resized

[@alexiscuarezma]

Hi Heiko. Everything in the photo was done in camera. He was jumping in the same plane and was not resized. You can look on my site or scroll on my IG to see other photos taken during that shoot. All best - Alexis

[@Heiko_K]

@@alexiscuarezma He Alexis -- I did .. thank you.

[@creatorsjourney6286]

Lol at Patrick’s face zooming in when Lee is going on and on about the Ballerina! 😂 what are you talking about???

[@tb2m]

Have you guys ever watched professional wrestling? Is this a completely new concept to you? The matches are predetermined. The wrestlers do get hurt. Man. I can't believe you don't know this.

[@Beezzzzy_]

I would love to invite you guys to see my wrestling photography. This wasn’t planned by the photographer, we capture moments as they happen. This is just a good photographer capturing a good moment. We shoot from under the bottom rope and zoom in. We give the illusion we’re in the ring. Wrestling photography is about capturing the perfect timing. And the spit isn’t fake or added in photoshop.

[@tombeckman]

Gotta say literally the two worst extreme sports photos made it into the video. And they each gave them 3 stars. I'm just blown away. The tuck was arguably a 1 star easily a 2 star. The kickflip was at most a 2 star. There were seriously some great shots in there that were over looked for those. Extreme sports photography is not portraiture. Look at a few portfolios from the industry leader and you'll see what is actually relevant.

[@gilbertvaladez2646]

First image definitely Alex Cuarezma. Very nice image!

[@alexiscuarezma]

Thanks so much Gilbert, cheers!

[@WarrenGregCarroll]

Haha no Patrick...I agree with Lee about the 1st image in the basketball court. The windows look the same all the way round 😂

[@ryelo916]

The first image, if you look at the background you can see another hoop with the window above it to show that the light angle could be correct. Sorry Lee. Great content guys! Keep it up!

[@FStoppers]

Seeky yeah I don’t know what he was suggesting. -P

[@BillRoberts5]

@@FStoppers I think he assumed the light was coming from that back wall passed the hoop. As apposed to behind the hoop, camera right.

[@RyanLImagery]

My 2 cents on the wrestling photo. I watched wrestling all through my younger life, and somewhat watch it now with my daughter, and moves like this kick are quite frequent, and are easily foreshadowed in their choreography of matches. Many times you will see a wrestler stumble around while the other sets up for something like this, and you can tell when it's coming. For a photographer that shoots this on a weekly basis, I bet they too are very adept at guessing what is coming next from the body language of the wrestlers. With all of that said, I think it's a great photo, and I would love the opportunity to photograph some wrestling matches.

[@ErikHershey]

Did he just say "the basketball goal"? Haha

[@rbholt2]

Did no one else notice that the basketball player in the first picture looks tiny or is that just me?

[@alexiscuarezma]

It's all done in camera. you can see the rest of the take here along with another photo of him just looking at the rim for reference in size: alexiscuarezma.com/basketball-jordan-brand

[@Legionere]

lol I don't think he needs your tutorial.

[@Sm3llyB3lly1]

As a surf photographer, love the bodysurfer shot! Ive spent years shooting waves, from in the water and out, and honestly this is a solid photo! I usually agree with lots of what FStoppers has to say, but not on this one. They really DONT know what they are talking about here, maybe their next challenge should be against me and we can see who gets the best in water wave shot! I'm saying in one session, they would not get a single photo thats half as good as the one they show here.

[@platinumc3ll]

He gave it a 4.

[@Sm3llyB3lly1]

@@platinumc3ll Patrick gave it a 2 and asked if they were looking at the same photo... Clearly missed the point but all good

[@platinumc3ll]

@@Sm3llyB3lly1 you said they, so I assumed you meant both of them for the photo.

[@icesurfr]

They never get surf pictures. As a surfer/waterman and photographer, It drives me nuts when they get a surf shot!

[@nutdanaipongnikorn8519]

Alex Cuarezma is tha bomb for making portraits of athletes!!

[@alexiscuarezma]

thank you so much, appreciate it

[@erikpedersen8715]

Being a car photographer myself, The shot of the green Mercedes AMG GTR is a great shot and the owner of the car would be very happy with that shot. Getting a rolling shot of a car is not as easy as you would think.

[@FStoppers]

Erik Pedersen you think it’s real? That motion blur looked fake to me but maybe it’s real🤷🏻‍♂️ -P

[@tommino8970]

@@FStoppers Zoomed/cropped view at 20:33 looks better to me because there is no too much distraction from (extremely) blurry road in the front of the car and the car itself is in the middle of attention. Then also lens flare left corresponds more with sun on the right..... only my 2 ct comment ....

[@MultiJPHS]

I was there as an assistant. It's real and the owner of the car is Mercedes AMG. I also saw the picture used by AMG in a printed magazine. Steffen Jahn is a really good photographer.

[@kkfox7822]

Nah. It looks cheap. And the car is so far away - how is this image of any value to the owner/car maker?

[@mrcapello]

@@kkfox7822 room to place text for print ads

[@kristofferskarsgard8024]

To me it looks like the AMG image was taken during the commercial shoot for this car. I also believe that I read that everything about this image is real so I think it's sad that you guys degrade it just because you have a suspicion that something might be fake when it does not look like it is fake to people that shoot cars. However, you guys are very open about the fact that you don't know much about car photography so one can hardly blame you for that. I also want to say that I do think that the critique videos are really good and always useful and entertaining, but I hope that when you do make a car photography critique please invite Steffen Jahn (the photographer of this shot) or some other car photographer that is also at the 4-5 level to increase the value for the car photographer portion of your community. Keep up the good work 😉

[@Randolph_]

You can say that again. I feel these guys, and the majority of the community aren't into cars that much. Maybe thay know cars but they don't appreciate cars all that completely

[@MultiJPHS]

I was the assistant at the photoshoot. So I know, that the picture isn't fake. We were sitting on the back of a pickup, driving in front of the Mercedes GTR. Steffen Jahn is a really good german photographer hired by brands like Mercedes AMG.

[@RunRideDivecom]

Is it the best Action Photo or the best Advertising photo? I've never been allowed to use a strobe etc at a live sporting event

[@FStoppers]

RunRideDive very few of these are taken with strobe at an event. Most of the event stuff is natural light. That being said, I know many boxing arenas and the NBA have strobes in the ceiling but you have to have a specific radio signal to gain access to them. -P

[@spikemarble3785]

Second photo is a body surfer. No board. I agree with the '2' rating. As someone who worked in the surf industry for 15 years, it's a super average photo. If it was a bigger wave, a more known body surfer... then maybe the score goes up. IMO

[@GuilDormeus]

ya'll dropping gems all 2020 got dam

[@JPWaldron5]

Hire a professional Sports/Action Editor, you might learn something Lee

[@Jarrodpimental]

Have you done one of these where you critique the biggest KZbin photographers work?

[@snak4716]

Lee, that car night shot of yours really isn't that bad, i actually think the lighting makes sense

[@albertosandoval9777]

I always like your Critique videos. There is a chance to have a special about Concert Photography? This speciality is so under rated and left out of 99% of contests out there, even when is so demanding and exciting to see. Thanks in advance.

[@FStoppers]

We've done music ones a few times now. Check our Critique playlist. -P

[@settronloth1359]

"Two pretentious guys judge work that's usually better than theirs"

[@qnonbs]

Don't like the content... just move on. It does not take a neurosurgeon to figure out how to skip a YT video. Pretty moronic comment coming from someone with your extensive body of underwhelming and below average work... if you can even call it that.

[@SpaklesDr]

If you are ok with the critique in the video surely you are ok with the critique OF the video? IRONIC.

[@MartinV.]

great video!

[@tamasbarta4265]

Love the casual hole in Patrick's polo shirt:) This was fun guys! (Or should I refer to you as content creators to stay pc?🤔)

[@FStoppers]

Tamás Barta damnit! That shirt is almost brand new! -P

[@tamasbarta4265]

Fstoppers You could make this become a trend like ripped jeans:)

[@pin65371]

That splash shot could actually do pretty well on something like Instagram. It would definitely get someone to stop scrolling

[@dlee13]

You guys will probably get another email critique for not remembering exactly what the email said lol

[@rebeccam1495]

Entertaining as always

[@Ash-ci5eh]

In the snowboard sand picture, you guys missed that the shadows on the guy were being cast down and to the right, but the rocks in the background had their shadows going to the left.

[@discopotato675]

Lee failed geometry in high school.... Call Mike Kelly for some architecture tips... Lol

[@gwenaellebussy8469]

At 51:35 the photo is not a composite, you can look at the behind the scene here : instagram.com/team_taches/ Great Critique thanks!

[@paulprice]

The window location argument made me laugh for some reason.

[@alanwhite4809]

Hey Patrick. It’s an *action* shot of a helicopter landing. That’s pretty much it bud.

[@sh8736]

I do a lot of dance photography and agree the ballet pose is not how a dancer would stand if they had their weight on the point. The knee is also not turned out very well, but it could be a shot where captured before the dancer has got into their final position, or a model whose just put on a pair of point shoes, and a dogs been photoshopped on afterwards

[@andrewisaksson579]

This video will be good I can feel it

[@aral2dmax]

I like to see you guys trying to figure out how some pictures were taken, funny thing is why dont you just ask the photographer how and if flashes were used .😅😅😅

[@bcleste]

You could run another fake light through the frame.

[@darbiansphotography4177]

Bottom right on the mountain bike. That’s highlights to 100. When it’s gone it’s gone. Don’t try n save it.

[@Savage1776_]

Lee is crazy

[@MultiJPHS]

The pictur of the Mercedes AMG GTR isn't fake. I was there. I think Steffen Jahn did a really good job! 4* minimum 👍

[@FStoppers]

Well now don't we feel dumb...I still would like the tighter crop with maybe the top leaves removed. -P

[@MultiJPHS]

Yea, maby a little bit on the left and the bottom. But I wouldn't critique that. If you do something like this for a company like Mercedes you should give them some space for different layout possibilitys.

[@getdavo1]

The basketball goal?

[@zhonjohansen3953]

I think you missed the story in the ski shot! The young skier completely missed her line, she was in the rough snow. It is possible she collided with the photographer. Her face is telling us she is in trouble, the rough snow is telling us this also. So clearly, something else was needed to convey the story.

[@GetDownTheGym]

Wrestling one was good, shot outside of the ring. few boxing ones I voted for of them getting smashed in the face shame they didn't make the video. The boxing bag with lights was photoshopped.

[@Smoojer0Charles]

The first shot. Why is he so small haha. They made him really small to make the court look grand

[@thomastarner8683]

Alexis starts talking bout this shot at around 1 minute, 12 second mark in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHeuoqyin86ZqpI. Alexis is a damn good photographer, you guys should hook up with him to shoot some lighting tutorials.

[@alexiscuarezma]

Thanks so much for the kind words. Appreciate it

[@mikemiville3009]

Always good critiques. What is the humming sound in the background though?

[@ChristopherGoetting]

31:00 get a shot like this with the rider doing a backflip looking into the camera. I think that would be pretty surreal.

[@rerolley]

The birds appear to be American Goldfinches that are molting into their breeding plumage.

[@rogdanago5894]

can we get a revisit on the food critiques

[@valmarifoto]

Bike photo was probably taken with Gopro and grey leaves is outcome of highlight recovery

[@nickolasthurston449]

Please do a Bird/ Wildlife critique that'd be awesome especially with a pro !

[@ShashankD137]

Tour next category should be cats. Cats are popular on the net.. so... more views ??

[@rrennnerr]

WOW!!! A 2 or a 3 for the rolling shot of the AMG GTR?

[@FStoppers]

Yeah it feels like it could be a bit tighter. -P

[@kristofferskarsgard8024]

I could not believe they rated it that low either 😅

[@MultiJPHS]

It's not fake. I was there...

[@felix2938]

44:51 „could be commercial in Europe“ As an european I must admit that this is absolutely true 😂 See Salomon Insta: instagram.com/p/B6vPxsOBMpU/?igshid=1a15phq51uh1z

[@dcallan812]

At least he kept his helmet on.

[@andrewamaniWD]

First image debate about the light. The sun cannot shine through a building perpendicularly the way the light is coming in on this shot. The blue light has to be a strobe on a high roller or high stand.

[@andyjmusic4831]

The moon one has some "funny business". There is no streak on the lit part but a streak on the dark part. The full moon is still there so we shouldn't see the streak going in front of the dark part

[@MrWazyShots]

last picture with the boxer, is the lighting faked? because it looks like it goes through/accross the boxing ring uninterrupted

[@MrWazyShots]

it also goes through the punching bag on the right and the beam on the left a little. Nice image and concept tho

[@FStoppers]

Yeah I noticed that after the critique was filmed. I couldn't figure that out either. -P

[@markpryborowski5246]

It could be a hire peek with multiple windows may not be the same as other wall

[@IruTheday]

Not specific to you 'guys' but I do find there is a bias when it comes to what women are referred to. Less often than men the name of their occupation like photographer for example and more often their gender, and between girl and women when it's obvious they are not a girl, being called a girl. It is a bit less legitimatimizing to not call them by their profession or make them younger. I think it's mostly a subconscious thing except for jackasses. Sometimes I notice it sometimes I don't. I don't think the person is sexist if they do do it a little, but it does come from a deeply entrenched social bias that women are not as legitimate as men. It's obvious after a while if the person is consistently doing it and is sexist, so if you are worried about women thinking you are sexist because of accidentally doing it once in a while, don't be. Reasonable women won't take too much stalk in it but not everyone is reasonable lol.

[@FStoppers]

I honestly have a hard time understanding all this. I would think "women" would be more demeaning because it contains "men" in the world. Maybe girl is compared to boy and boy had a demeaning nature compared to men but I don't think girl is used the same way boy is used. I understand that girl and boy have an age connotation but if you are under the age of 25 and the person using the word is 20-30 years their senior, they both seem acceptable to me. That being said, I always try to be respectful but much of this legit doesn't make sense to me at times. -P

[@alexiscuarezma]

@@FStoppers some people get offended so much it's nearly impossible to say anything without being offensive

[@IruTheday]

@@FStoppers I get what you are saying and I agree. I don't really offended by girl vs woman or lady thing, but I still think there is a slight bias. The bigger one is the model vs girl if it is obviously done to demean or constantly done. Men are definitely more likely to be called by their profession's name than women from what I've noticed. I don't think woman is insulting cuz it contains man. At that point you are getting angry at the English language to me lol. Boy does have a worse connotation than girl. And yes there are people who get butt-hurt at everything, but you just have to do your best, if presented with the opportunity grow as a person grow and move on. If their unnecessary getting upset just brush it off, but look and see if it is legitimate before you do.

[@phynx2006]

Do you think the plane went behind the moon??

[@samuelhodges9252]

28:30 Bubbles from trailer park boys is on the left

[@danicoversongs]

the butt photo has the guys talking /.....lols good video

[@Andyah]

30min in. the bicycle are a cut in or really bad edit..u can see the bw halo around the biker. and there is parts there u can see the trees right trouh the biker almost in the head/face.

[@trypersistence]

😂😂😂😂 Patrick: "Are you out of your mind?" That's me anytime I watch one of these critiques. Lee always thinks great photographs have something technically wrong with them. He either thinks he's the world's best or something else. Lee, my man... sometimes things just are...

[@Savage1776_]

I know I see so many beautiful images that just phenomenal work went into. Then Lee always finds some weird discrepancy. Patrick is pretty down to earth..

[@3dprinterdoma]

hi. can you connect Russian subtitles?

[@peterbartlett6674]

Bird feeder shot is a snapshot - goldfinch are extremely common, especially at feeders. Nothing special about the image.

[@adamtowles5909]

I have thoroughly enjoyed every other video you guys have made - but this one felt a little rough. Like they both needed a nap

[@cueball93]

You really think that was an eclipse?! That's just the moon phase.

[@FStoppers]

I believe we said "it wasn't an eclipse" -P

[@buddyjesus3123]

Is nobody noticing this ?? The player in the first picture is TINY ! WTF is up with that ? If the hoop is 10 feet up than this dude is like 2 1/2 feet tall and holding a tennis ball xDD

[@alexiscuarezma]

It's 100% done in camera. you can see the rest of the take here along with another photo of him just looking at the rim for reference in size: alexiscuarezma.com/basketball-jordan-brand

[@iamZenza]

I’m a simple man, I see holes lol

[@pps22001]

I am sorry. This Critique was too long. It could have ended at 1:08:25.

[@derrickbias5794]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is why you take any critique with a grain of salt. Some of these guys takes on these were horrible.

[@RD-dd6ff]

LOL, who picked these images? Oh yeah, Lee.

[@00DjChris00]

of Course the night one is not bad , he said he wont comment cause the only reason he thinks is bad because the community said it is bad :-)

[@TimonBrew]

Am I seeing faces in the Mercedes logo ? 18:00

[@MultiJPHS]

No, you didn't. I saw this picture in highres.

[@nagarjunakolli]

you gotta see wwe if you wanna see people kicking in the face.

[@kanishkaguhabiswas7873]

Why don't you guys come up with a mobile app. ??? I think you will have a higher engagement.

[@kkfox7822]

Ugh. The liquid & glasses shot is awful. It looks like a badly executed photoshop exercise from 2002. And yellow liquid?! Really? It doesn't make you think of urine...?

[@adityayadav-jm3ds]

28:00 its from WWE

[@FStoppers]

aditya yadav do they actually kick each other in the face with boots? -P

[@ocskaym]

@@FStoppers This is not WWE, but indeed professional wrestling (and doesn't look like a planned shoot at all). Aleister Black does a similar move, it's called Black Mass, check it out!

[@adityayadav-jm3ds]

@@ocskaym the setup and ring and the refree looked like it, thanks for correcting.

[@danielgamache3149]

The very first picture looks way out of focus.

[@Ruilo]

57:17 oh boy... hahaha do a bird photography critic and you will rate this one as a 1

[@retrospective77]

Jesus Christ, this is the worst 'critique' I've seen. Nothing constructive or insightful about their opinions, and the chap on the left seems like he literally knows nothing about what makes a photograph great.

[@oliversteiner6389]

I don't think I wanna know what the naked exhibitionist guy is doing with his right hand.. Not my kind of humor, anyways

[@thatchickthatchecksstuffou6386]

Please continue to say guys, girls, he and she. I'll be offended if you don't.

[@SpaklesDr]

Just a nobody here...but STOP the critique the community...just make videos about cameras and teach people how to take photos. Authority in photography is just too subjective.

[@poolboyinla]

You don't have to watch these.

[@averagesongcontestan]

But why male models???

[@eliottmontero]

wtf are you guys talking about???

[@ivansmiljkovic88]

15:58 ...UNsubscribed, UNfollow on Instagram, UNlike on Facebook....Critique is not right, its dissrespectful !! Before you try to criticue someones work, try to understand the concept of photography and story telling, before you guys say something in public. Please, do favour to youselfs. Goodbye.

[@FStoppers]

Everyone in our critiques submit and ask us to do this. Maybe we will unsubscribe to you! -P

[@ivansmiljkovic88]

@@FStoppers how when I already unsubscribed? I love portrait tips from you guys, but lately...You've changed a lot. Feeling sorry about that.

[@Snakebite420]

I'm pretty sure that's a dude.