Strictly for the Birds

[rick barclay]

It's no contest. This race is strictly for the avians, who were such heavy
favorites, they weren't even listed on the tote board. Show betting only here,
folks.

http://flashdaddee.com/birdrace.jpg

[Leighow]

RICK

The shot is fine -- a sort of ducumentary. Were you at Monmoth ?

Anyway ... because you did not describe what you loved about this image, I have to be a bit tougher that you might like:

1: The foreground is a bit too much dirt
2: I'd prefer to forget the birds and get close-up to the riders. Evem one rider perhapsand see some facial tension that says jockey, etc -- plus it will pull in more color from the jackets, etc... and maybe dust kick-up from the hooves.
3: Like all urban tracks the "utilities" in the image detract ... I'd look for a cleaner shooting angle

Good stuff.. are you "in the black" ?

[rick barclay]

Hi, Leighow.
Yes, I'm spending a lot of time at Monmouth lately. In fact, I'll be there
all day tomorrow for the running of the $1 million Haskell, which has a
6:30 post itme. Monmouth has graciously allowed and encouraged me to
take all the pictures I want and post them on my galleries. It's a great
opportunity to learn sports photography and hopefully will lead to greater
things.

Anyway, you can never be too tough with your comments. The worst comments are none at all. About the picture:

1. Can't help the dirt. The birds are the focal point of this image, not the horses.
2. I've got dozens of pictures like you describe, so many , in fact, that they've become pretty much a cliche in my mind. I'm in the process of upping my first in a series of shoots I've done at Monmouth, and there are plenty of the type of image you describe. What I'm aiming for when I
post these pics here is to provide a different view of thoroughbred racing--
something off-kilter to get you away from those mundane stretch-run, dirt-kicking photos which are really the easiest to take anytime, anywhere.
They're so easy to do, they get boring after a while. I'm not kidding. The
action shot is the cliche of sports photography. I'm really looking for
something different, even though I'm shooting mostly action.
3. I like the distractions in the background. You see them in many sports shots, especially at race tracks. But I agree that I do need to find new perspectives from which to shoot. I'm always looking for that, but right now I'm so new to this that I'm more or less going with the flow of things.
The junior photographer, Ryan, at Monmouth has been very helpful in
showing me what's allowed and what isn't, and tomorrow I'll get my first crack at shooting from the infield. Should be fun. The place is going to be mobbed. I'm thinking of bringing my RV and laptop to this affair, as I'm
sure a 1 gig CF card ain't nearly enough for what I have to do tomorrow.

And as for being in the black--is that sposed to be some kind of joke? :)
I'm laughing.

[Leighow]

I hear yah! Sounds like a good idea ... how about the winners circle. Friends and I once sponsored a race -- not knowing that we were supposed to but the winner a silver cup! Embarassing!

Hope your horse wins!

[rick barclay]

>Hope your horse wins!<

Me, too! I'm betting on 1D Mark II in the rick_barclay Stakes.