Dog Agility

[Wazza]

Whilst on a short weekend trip away, met a friend of Kirst, who had her dog in a national agility show competition for dogs.. Unfortunately we missed her event by a couple of minutes, but managed to photograph a few of the other dogs.

Used the Sigma 120-300 for these:


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog01.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog02.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog03.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog04.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog05.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog06.jpg

[weka2000]

#3 is my pick. Nice lens go well with a 5D :rolleyes:

[skade]

Awesome captures there!

[tim]

Great shots - and that lens is amazingly sharp! Do you use a monopod with it all the time?

[Zipline]

Great shots! I especially like number 2 because of the subject. I have 2 boxers of my own and they're the best dogs that you could ever ask for!

[sageone]

fantastic shots...love the shot with the boxer.

[racketman]

nice to see breeds other than Border Collies in action.Active dogs really enjoy this stuff don't they?

[clivingston]

Awesome shots !! Number three is my favorite. That Sigma looks like a really nice lens. How do you like it now that you have been using it for a while ?

[tpetty]

Great action shots. Did you have this on manual or autofocus?

[mrclark321]

Great shots :)

Dan

[sharpfocus]

These are fantastic pictures. Too bad you missed your friends dog. ...Bob

[dazzlebea]

Love the great focus, both by you and the dogs :)

[kr88]

Excellent shots. I love the look on the dogs faces as they go through the course.

[Mills]

Nice ones Bud. Any Black Labradors?

[WepWaWep]

These are all incredible, beautiful work.

[Wazza]

Thanks for all the wonderful comments. What a way to wake up to reading these. :)

The trick to these shots was centre point focus, one shot mode, picked the focus point of a railing/jump etc, and clicked as the dog was in line with it. Never went wrong. It was only when I was on AI Servo mode, it kept missing focus, so I changed it.
Still a great lens.

Tim: Yeah, this time I used the new monopod.

For mills, and also another for the Boxer fans. :)

http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog07.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog08.jpg


http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog09.jpg

[T.D.]

Absolutely awesome!!! Great captures of the action.

[taramcg]

OMG! These are stunning! Three is one of the best photos I have ever seen. WOW!

[dgcorner]

Wazza, you've managed to outdo yourself this time -- those are fantastic pics! Good job!

[iKirst]

Man - I have some shots of the roggies, too - but there is most definately a very clear difference between photos from a 5K lens and a 0.5K lens...
(that's not to mention the very clear difference between Warren's talent with a camera, and mine :lol: )

As usual, Warren, you've hit this one clear out of the park :)

[Michaelmjc]

haha Kirst, you're always putting yourself down. Great shots buddy, they look really good.

[Wazza]

Wazza, you've managed to outdo yourself this time -- those are fantastic pics! Good job!

Heh, thanks. Wasn't quite benchmarking myself though. There's apparently a regular photographer who follows the meets, and charges $6 a shot. I won't be there to make money, but just had 10min of fun. Wouldn't want to be unoriginal and hit on someone elses territory either. :p

Thanks everyone else. :) Glad you all enjoyed.

Thanks Kirst for another fun weekend away. Too bad the weather wasn't worthwhile in waiting for a Mount Maunganui sunrise.

[Wazza]

Hey Mike, we posted the same time :p

Thanks also bud, been a while since I've posted too much apart from weddings and lens test. I have thousands and thousands of photos to share (mostly landscapes). I just haven't looked at them yet. :o

[adam*]

Some great captures there warren, fancy giving me some of your lenses? :p

[Wazza]

Need a Photax 400mm?

http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/400_3.jpg
Hahahahaa

[Mills]

Awesome Mate! Thanks for the Lab shots. The second one is unreal. Like your thought process on the focus issue. That is the way I go when capturing Lily and Ruby. And to Kirst. He was really never THIS GOOD. He's just working harder at it to impress you.:D

[Wazza]

Funny one Mills. The skill hasn't changed, just I've improved 10% by having a better telephoto lens. :)
Thanks again

[Merlin Driver]

Wazza, well done. Where there any Golden Retrievers there by chance?

TIA,

Lynn

[adam*]

Yeah go on then warren, i'll have it :p

[Mills]

Need a Photax 400mm?

http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/400_3.jpg
Hahahahaa

Alter the paint job and it might be a bowling pin.;)

[superdiver]

beautiful shots!

[Wazza]

Wazza, well done. Where there any Golden Retrievers there by chance?

TIA,

Lynn

We did see a golden retriever, but it wasn't running at the time, sorry.

Adam, you may have to exhange a few dollars also, as the homemade hood, is now painted black as well. I was also considering adding a red stripe, which would triple its value. :lol:

[Wazza]

beautiful shots!

Thanks so much, and glad you like them also :o

[forsaken]

super shots Wazza.
the dogs are almost screaming "let me land" you have really captured the event

[Wazza]

Thanks Simon... There's a more local event coming up on 8th or 9th April at Ardmore. I will most likely be down South in Ohakea/Palmerston North, so unable to visit. These dogs just have so much fun, and have a great relationship with their owners. I just love to see pets treated so well.

[05Xrunner]

Whilst on a short weekend trip away, met a friend of Kirst, who had her dog in a national agility show competition for dogs.. Unfortunately we missed her event by a couple of minutes, but managed to photograph a few of the other dogs.

Used the Sigma 120-300 for these:



http://wazza.nfscity.com/20d/dog03.jpg


Looks like Supermans dog :)

[forsaken]

I don't know what it is but those side on shots of the jumping dogs just seem, how can I put this?, odd. The front on shots are great but there is just something . . .

[weka2000]

I don't know what it is but those side on shots of the jumping dogs just seem, how can I put this?, odd. The front on shots are great but there is just something . . .

They are frozen in time, the dog is streached out which you dont really ever get to see.

[Wazza]

I agree on Superman's dog. :)

Simon: The boxer pic you mean?
Maybe I could try the human form in running or jumping, but please keep the clothes on. :lol:

[buffalopc7]

I hafta ask, what settings did you use. These are crystal sharp, incredible!

[Wazza]

Thanks very much.

I beleive most were ISO 400, slightly back lit from the right side of the images, but had to stand in this position to cover the whole field, and also capture the final jump through ring shot.

AV mode also, and an aperture of between F2.8 and F5.6, which made shutter speeds of around 1/1250-1/2500. Easily enough to snap them pin point sharp, and due to almost being wide open, the background bokeh looked alright too.

[Siriusmagic]

Wazza,
GREAT SHOTS! I'm new around here, just getting into DSLR this coming week. But I shot dog agility for about 6 years professionally for publications, and you are spot on!! I just ran across this thread and had to comment. It's exciting photography cause you KNOW when you've got a great shot. I'd shoot 500-600 shots per day at a trial, average about 200 dogs. I gotta tell you those dogs owners would snap up those images in a heartbeat. If you shoot another show, get yourself a catalog and you'd pick up some extra cash by selling to the owners!

Karen

[Mikelangelo]

Really great. Marvelously sharp. #3 is the best!! Clear shot of the eys. Great work!

[Photodawg1]

Wow. Love them all, especially #3. I really want to shoot some dog agility, Had my Blue Heeler in agility class last summer, but it was indoors and the camera and she don't share the same universe..

[Wazza]

Wazza,
GREAT SHOTS! I'm new around here, just getting into DSLR this coming week. But I shot dog agility for about 6 years professionally for publications, and you are spot on!! I just ran across this thread and had to comment. It's exciting photography cause you KNOW when you've got a great shot. I'd shoot 500-600 shots per day at a trial, average about 200 dogs. I gotta tell you those dogs owners would snap up those images in a heartbeat. If you shoot another show, get yourself a catalog and you'd pick up some extra cash by selling to the owners!

Karen

Thanks for that comment. Really means a lot to me, coming from someone truly experienced. I'd be a little more comfortable in selling some pics if there wasn't already a lady there selling shots for $5 each. Don't quite wish to dwell over their territory. :)
I'll certainly keep my eye out anyway for future events, and it's handy knowing someone in one of the teams.

Thanks again

[Wazza]

Wow. Love them all, especially #3. I really want to shoot some dog agility, Had my Blue Heeler in agility class last summer, but it was indoors and the camera and she don't share the same universe..
Another fan of #3.. Also my favourite. Would be difficult for indoor shots, and Blue Heelers are gorgeous. :)


Really great. Marvelously sharp. #3 is the best!! Clear shot of the eys. Great work!Thanks, I think I can thank the lens for being sharp.
:cool:

[marie]

:cool:
terrific shots Wazza

:cool:

[Elisabeth-Ann]

#1 is my favourite, #3 looks like he is coming straight out of the screen at you - terrific shot! They are all great, but those two really catch my attention.

[Wazza]

I'm sure I replied to this before. But thanks anyway Marie and Elisabeth-Ann

That's the best 3D image I can manage, as I have no idea how others can see those 3D ones. :rolleyes: