Steve Steinmetz / July 5th, 2011 / Photo Journal
PHOTO JOURNAL: Steve Steinmetz #3

PHOTO JOURNAL

I found this rail a year or so ago but nobody has ever skated it. I took Damien Wilson and Joey and Sammy Chase there because they were filming for Ground Control. We were in the area, and I thought they could at least get one clip.

“Stop adjusting your flash, New Spot, you’re distracting me,” Damien said as he set up for his trick on the 15-stair rail. “I’m doing 270 Topsoul. That’s not going to work as a photo anyway, so stop it,” he added as he eyed the approach. I ignored his advice and continued to try and figure what position my flash needed to be in order to illuminate the landing and end of the rail, which was covered by shadows from the large tree nearby. I set up my flash at half power on the fifth stair from the bottom. I decided to use my 50mm prime Nikkor lens. Once I had shot off about five practice shots I felt like my lighting was sufficient and, as had been instructed, stopped playing with my flash.

Damien went to work and within three attempts did a perfect 270 Topsoul, fully committing to the trick and leaning into the stairs as his topside foot locked. I shot this photo at 1/200, the sync speed of my camera, and Damien was spinning fast so there is some blur. I didn’t have time to set up my other flash and Damien was ready to skate, so I improvised and hoped for the best.— Steve Steinmetz

Discussion / PHOTO JOURNAL: Steve Steinmetz #3

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  • javi bk - July 6th, 2011

    No way ?

    Damien wilson can 270 topsoul a rail ?

    NEVER seen him do that before.

  • Dan Bond - July 7th, 2011

    Are we really calling this 270? I mean, you roll forwards, you spin, you grind forwards.

    360 topsoul.

    For the photographer, you can usually push your x-sync to get a little faster than your camera states. Often 1/250 is possible even if it states the maximum is 1/200. You might lose a little flash light on one edge but its hardly ever noticible. I have managed to shoot at like 1/300 and 1/350 like this with varying degrees of success, try it out!

  • New Spot - July 7th, 2011

    Dan your right about both. I probably could have shot at 1/250 or even 1/300 and cropped the black spot I usually get but I was in a time crunch.

    I don’t know about you but when I think of 360 top soul, I think of spinning the hard way. I guess I could have called it in-spin 360 top soul but I’m old school and the spin looks like a 270 back royale just with the back foot turned. Most people don’t approach the trick straight on but yeah I guess I could have said 360 top soul.

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