First time shooting equestrian.

[penodr]

I went to an equestrian club competition today and was able to get the following photo. It was a bit cold but the sun was out and I was looking for an excuse to take some pictures. This was my first time shooting equestrian but just had to post the picture I took of this beautiful white horse, anyway I did some minor editing and cropped the photo, any C+C would be welcome.

[luvin]

Love the horse.
Just that something about it... makes me keep staring at the horse like there's something missing.

How about trying to crop the front legs abit lower below the first joint and the body at half point just after the saddle.. abit more towards a portrait look.

Sorry just my 2 cents.

Cheers

[Darsk47]

I know what you mean. I agree the horse needs to be more complete, and maybe some fill flash next time to lighten the shadows left on her face from her helmet-hat brim.

[rsmedley]

I know what you mean. I agree the horse needs to be more complete, and maybe some fill flash next time to lighten the shadows left on her face from her helmet-hat brim.

I shoot horses quite a lot. Be careful with using any flash around them and make sure you ask the rider if it's okay. Some horses spook pretty easily with flash.

[penodr]

I shoot horses quite a lot. Be careful with using any flash around them and make sure you ask the rider if it's okay. Some horses spook pretty easily with flash.

Thanks for the comments, I did not use the flash for that reason. As for the crop. I basically cropped out the left and right sides of the photo to remove unwanted background and a very large pole that was in the way. Next time I will have to work on getting more of the entire horse as it would look better. I should have my 70-200mm f4 L by then so hopefully they will be sharper. This was shot with my old 75-300 f5.6 II not III, so the lens needs an upgrade.

Dave

[rsmedley]

Thanks for the comments, I did not use the flash for that reason. As for the crop. I basically cropped out the left and right sides of the photo to remove unwanted background and a very large pole that was in the way. Next time I will have to work on getting more of the entire horse as it would look better. I should have my 70-200mm f4 L by then so hopefully they will be sharper. This was shot with my old 75-300 f5.6 II not III, so the lens needs an upgrade.

Dave

If you can swing the 70-200mm f/2.8 you might consider it if you plan to do any indoor arena work. You'll need it to avoid using flash.

Btw did you get to do any jump shots?

[penodr]

No I was unable to get any indoor jump shots as the light was bad and my f/5.6 was unable to get any good shots. I would love the 70-200mm f/2.8 but that is just a bit too much for me right now and I really just plan on doing outdoor daytime soccer for my daughter. The equestrian meet was just a one off type of thing, the horse was just too good to pass up.

Dave

[Bollan]

Nice looking horse but the crop isn't to my liking to be honest.

Regarding the flash use on horses at a show whilst competing it's an absolute NO-NO. Prize cermonies are usually ok though.

[WillMass]

I shoot horses quite a lot. Be careful with using any flash around them and make sure you ask the rider if it's okay. Some horses spook pretty easily with flash.
With all due respect, I must disagree with this comment. I shot a show this weekend of nearly 300 exhibitors, and have 2 more shows over the next 2 weeks. Of those riders, this weekend, maybe 10 requested no flash, and that was because they were unsure whether the horse would react or not, (better safe than sorry).

That said, you should always ask.

And have a good liability policy! :eek:

[Bollan]

With all due respect, I must disagree with this comment. I shot a show this weekend of nearly 300 exhibitors, and have 2 more shows over the next 2 weeks. Of those riders, this weekend, maybe 10 requested no flash, and that was because they were unsure whether the horse would react or not, (better safe than sorry).

That said, you should always ask.

And have a good liability policy! :eek:

I was surprised to hear that. Here in Europe it's extremely rare that flash is allowed apart from the prize cermony.

[rsmedley]

With all due respect, I must disagree with this comment. I shot a show this weekend of nearly 300 exhibitors, and have 2 more shows over the next 2 weeks. Of those riders, this weekend, maybe 10 requested no flash, and that was because they were unsure whether the horse would react or not, (better safe than sorry).

That said, you should always ask.

And have a good liability policy! :eek:

I'm not sure why you're disagreeing when you're recommending a good liability policy :rolleyes: The first show I attended a child was hurt due to the photographer's flash being used. I never use it around horses. Buy yourself some low-light lenses and you don't need the worry nor the liability insurance.

[WillMass]

Again with due respect: Since 2002 I've shot tens of thousands of frames, at horse shows, indoors, using flash, WITHOUT incident.

Frankly, the liability policy is a precaution, and is there even for outdoor shows.....this IS what I do for a living, BTW.

This weekend, one trainer had a concern about how a Blanket App might react to flash photography. We did a couple "test shots" prior to the beginning of the class, under the watchful eye of the trainer. The horse didn't even blink!

Yes, I do use fast glass, this weekend was shot using a 24-70/2.8 at the minimum, and twin 550's. The venue was a cave (the photos are on my site).

I understand your concerns about not wanting to get anyone hurt, and I will ALWAYS err on the side of safety. Trust me, it's in nobody's interest to put a kid on the floor, but you do yourself no good to perpetuate a myth.

ETA: I know of a number of equestrian photographers in the Mid Atlantic region who also use flash indoors. Some even strobe the ring! But, AFAIK, I'm the only one who'll fix the red eye. LOL

[rsmedley]

Again with due respect: Since 2002 I've shot tens of thousands of frames, at horse shows, indoors, using flash, WITHOUT incident.

Frankly, the liability policy is a precaution, and is there even for outdoor shows.....this IS what I do for a living, BTW.

This weekend, one trainer had a concern about how a Blanket App might react to flash photography. We did a couple "test shots" prior to the beginning of the class, under the watchful eye of the trainer. The horse didn't even blink!

Yes, I do use fast glass, this weekend was shot using a 24-70/2.8 at the minimum, and twin 550's. The venue was a cave (the photos are on my site).

I understand your concerns about not wanting to get anyone hurt, and I will ALWAYS err on the side of safety. Trust me, it's in nobody's interest to put a kid on the floor, but you do yourself no good to perpetuate a myth.

ETA: I know of a number of equestrian photographers in the Mid Atlantic region who also use flash indoors. Some even strobe the ring! But, AFAIK, I'm the only one who'll fix the red eye. LOL

To each his own. No flash for me though. It's simply not necessary. And, not to be argumentative but it's not a myth when it actually happens, and it did happen at the first event I shot at. I spent a couple hours a few weeks later helping"desensitizing' that horse to another photographer's careless camera. In fairness, it may not have actually been the flash but the photographer's presence in the ring. But to be on the safe side I'll use no flash. If you're happy that flash doesn't cause a problem, then I'd say go for it. For me it's a "no flash" philosophy with big animals.

[steve75]

I'm with rsmedley and bollan here...... Not worth the risk!

Horses are funny things, they can spook at the most stupid things and flashing light in their face seems like an unnesessary risk to take! I never use a flash during in a competition....... Horse of the year show, Olympia?? you don't see anyone shooting with flash at these big world class events apart from during the prize giving.......

And regardless of if you are shooting with or without flash, if you do this as a job even just part time, i'd recommend having some public liabilty insurance.

[sydneyruby]

I grew up riding and know first hand that even the kindest mannered horse who you "know" doesn't spook, can at the stupidest thing (from a human's perspective). Horse's eyes see mostly in BW and shadows. This is why anything reflective can scare them. A piece of tin-foil or a candy wrapper on the ground can do it, so a flash can potentially scare them to pieces!