Chatsoworth Horse Trials - C&C Welcome

[wilkinsontr]

Hi, I am new to posting on the forums, but I have been around the forums a while picking up tips and learning a lot, so it is about time I shared a couple of pictures with and ask for you comments to help me improve further.

The past weekend I spent at Chatsworth Horse Trials held in Derbyshire, UK. The weather was absolutely glorious and I got what consider to be a couple of good shots. Hopefully you will agree?

1. Oliver Townend entering one of the water obstacles on course (1/400 @f5.6)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06545.jpg

2. Jonathan Hagan tackling one of the water obstacles (1/500 @ f5.6)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06705.jpg

3. Zara Philips galloping a cross country. (1/500 @f4)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06501.jpg

Any C&C Welcome

[saggy9999]

why such a slow shutter speed ??
look a little blown to me
but excellent action especially No 3 but it seems the most overexposed

[wilkinsontr]

Thanks for your comments Saggy9999

I was speaking with a couple of the Pro Photographers at other horse trial events and they recommended shooting at around 1/500, I am still drawn on whether I should be using a quicker shutter to help emphasis speed or not.

With regard to exposure I tweeked this slightly as the original looked underexposed to me.

[Playm]

I hesitate to offer CC other than I know shooting horses in bright sunlight can be a conundrum at times. (I recently started shooting cutting horse events) At any rate, I've been shooting (the typical sports way) with the aperature wide open and shutter speeds between 1000 - 1600. .. however - I believe that in the future, I'll be increasing my debth of field to try and get both the rider and the horse's head tack sharp. There can be 4' to 6' between the rider and the horse's head.. my goal is to have both sharp.

I see motion blur in your first shot. .. and #2 & #3 the riders are in focus, but the horses' heads are not. (which is a problem I see with mine too often... hence why I'm going to increase my dof at the next cutting) ... but even so, you're capturing the *moment* .. and the rest is just a bit of a learning curve. I'd say that you're off to a jolly good start!

[gsgary]

I don't know why they told you that probably so you would not get better shots than them, i was shooting at F4.5 iso 200 and my shutter speed was at 1/2000 it was that bright
http://gsgary.smugmug.com/photos/293455451_cryqp-M.jpg

[Shadiow]

These are fun pictures. You should really try although, to get the picture at the top of the jump where the horse's fronts are just eclipsing the bars.

[CanadianKitKat]

Good captures. I'd open up your aperture and crank the shutter speed way up - but that's just me. Looks like you had some very harsh sun to work with however! I like the pictures. The riders in the second two look like they need a really dark pair of sunglasses with that sun.

[saggy9999]

hope you dont mind but you had your image editing turned on
so I had a look at this one
the histogram shows it to be badly clipped on the highlights
I had a quick go at it here
I reckon the pro's were at it as well
cant see any reason to shoot at 1/500th in bright sun on an action sport
not taking away from what you have captured here
just trying to help out from what I have learned along the way

271922

[wilkinsontr]

A couple of additional pictures from the Chatsworth weekend. I hope like them, any more C&C welcome.

4. Caroline Powell taking on a Bush Fence (1/500 @ f4.0)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06771.jpg

5. Oliver Townend just clearing the fence (1/250 @ f2.8)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06593.jpg

6. Joe Meyer a bit of differnet angle as he travels round the Bower (1/500 @ f7.1)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm291/wilkinsontr/IMG_06455.jpg

[Ben Daniels]

I agree with the other posters, is to get as higher shutter speed as possible. 500th is too slow especially if the action is "head on" to you.
But to add that I think #6 is a great shot, fantastic different angle :-)

[Lightchaser]

Absolutely LOVE #6. Were you in a tree? LOL

[Raikyn]

Love 6 and good timing on 4.

I'm not sure that 1/500 is too slow considering the focal lengths used, most seem to be between 120-150mm.
You could try using a higher iso though, go to iso 400 and either go for a slightly quicker shutter speed or go for a smaller aperature and get more DOF

[wilkinsontr]

Absolutely LOVE #6. Were you in a tree? LOL

Thanks Lightchaser, not exactly I was actually stood on top of the Bower in the Chatsworth Grounds, hanging over the wall.

[gsgary]

Thanks Lightchaser, not exactly I was actually stood on top of the Bower in the Chatsworth Grounds, hanging over the wall.


You must have been on the bower same time as me
http://gsgary.smugmug.com/photos/293380283_m6Gv7-M.jpg

[manutd101]

Watch your focus, especially on number 1, which is badly OOF. Number 6 is really great, way to find a new angle!