Barrel Racing

[eddarr]

These have been run through Neat Image rather heavily. I had to break every high ISO rule just to get the pictures. I had to chose between underexposed and blurry. I chose underexposed. Most shot at 1/250, f/1.8 and ISO1600 except the panning shot was at 1/10 handheld. Over 850 runs per day for this event. They started at 8:00 a.m and ran until almost midnight.

http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310386020_g2CFe-L.jpg

This is one of my favorites. I just wish the tail wasn't clipped off.
http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310386185_UeZxe-L.jpg

http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310387305_nLa8f-L.jpg

http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310387421_eFwxS-L.jpg

http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310388023_2FTdr-L.jpg

http://EricDarr.smugmug.com/photos/310388722_Vuy4b-L.jpg

These were all taken at an indoor arena. There are several outdoor venues I am going to hit in the next few weeks for smaller events.

[Caspita]

The panning shot is by far the best picture. Seems like you missed the focus on most of the pictures where the barrels are present. Instead of focusing on the barrel, you can try putting the focus on AI Servo, makes it a whole lot easier to follow fast pace moving objects.

[RonnieA]

Man, tough conditions in which to shoot.

I agree with Caspita - the panning shot is the best of the bunch. As far as the others, the most compelling angle is #4 because you can see both the rider's and horse's face - the side views don't do anything for me.

Was it possible to shoot from ground level through the notches in the wall? If so, that's where I would have been most of the time.

Pre-focusing on the barrel is actually a good move for shots like #4. The key is timing.

[HammerCope]

You need much more flash and to be down on the ground level.

[Playm]

The last event I shot was in a covered arena. .. but the sides were open, not enclosed like what you're shooting. .. even so, I learned what an unpleasant challange they're known to be. I have also learned that there are a lot of event photographers who just won't shoot those indoor events. At any rate, I prefer to shoot at no less than 1/1000.. but it seems like I'd get motion blurr on the horses on anything shot less than 1/1000 (even 1/800 seems to show softness when it's combined with iso 1600 in low light). .. but the latter 1/800 @ iso 1600 is what I ended up shooting in that covered arena. (again.. I think I had a little more light than you did). I still wasn't happy with them.. so I culled the majority of images.

Depending on the event, it seems that more times than not, using a flash isn't an option because of the distance. (but I stood in the arena at the start/stop point). It probably would have worked from your location on the side rail .. at high speed sync. (I still have a lot to learn about high speed sync.. so no help here.. sorry).

I think I've just about determined that there are enough jobs in the outdoor arenas that I won't accept the indoor jobs any more. There's only one or two outfits I know around here who specialize in the indoor jobs. .. I happily concede those jobs to them.

There's another thing to consider: These compeditors show in so many different arenas each season, that odds are, they've been photographed every few weeks. A large part of the sales rests on your shots being better. (with the exception of those who buy the "This is me at the finals in Vegas" shots). I always try to give the compeditors something a little different - *if I see the shot*. (the sales show that they like this concept)

I have a friend who shoots some barrel racing events. ... some of her more popular shots (sales) (in addition to the standard 'going around the barrel' shots) are the tight shots of the intense look on both horse & rider when they are racing back to the gate.

That was a Looonngggg day! .. and I do NOT envy your having to shoot in those conditions. (most of my shows are 8am - 5pm +/- .. around 90 to 120 riders @ cuttings)

[Zivnuska]

Tough, tough lighting. A SS of 1/250 is way too slow and a lot of your blur is motion blur. I agree that 1/1000 would be ideal but even 1/640 would be a huge help. Strobes will be required in a venue like this if you can't shoot ISO 3200/6400.

[penodr]

The panning shot is by far the best picture. Seems like you missed the focus on most of the pictures where the barrels are present. Instead of focusing on the barrel, you can try putting the focus on AI Servo, makes it a whole lot easier to follow fast pace moving objects.

I agree, love the panning shot. Nice job.

Dave

[HammerCope]

Wow I wish I could shot nothing but outside daylight runs. Around here it's all night or indoors shots. I might get 3 outdoor day light perfs every year if I'm lucky.

[CanadianKitKat]

I agree on the panning shot, it is my favourite too. Tough shooting in indoor horse arenas. The lighting is always notoriously bad, combine that with ugly sand and dirty walls usually and they don't exactly make a recipe for beauty! I think you did a good job inspite of the conditions however. Congrats.

When you get to one of the outdoor events, try to get on the ground level and catch them rounding the third barrel just as they start kicking for the home stretch :D I guarantee they'll love it. Plus, motion coming straight at you, you don't get nearly as much motion blur as you do from the side under the same lighting conditions.

[eddarr]

It was easy to get into the first row of seat as there were not that many spectators. Luckily this was also only for fun so I only stayed for about 3 hours.

The stadium pro was there with his strobes and bored out of his mind. He was eating Outback Steakhouse and triggering his shots with a remote. He had a booth set up with proofs and there was a lot of foot traffic but I don't know if he sold much.

The pro was there from the NBHA magazine with his D3 and flash. He was flashing horses in warm up pen. I talked to him and he said most of the horses are very used to the flash and he hasn't had any problems. However there were three ladies directly across from me at the 1st barrel who kept flashing the horses with their P&S's. One horse did pull up as it was going into the turn and the rider ended up just taking the horse back in. There was no way it going around that barrel.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to start hitting the outdoor stuff. I really had fun and it will be better not fighting the lighting so much.

[Zivnuska]

I shot some barrel events this weekend (ambient). Most of these kids were 13-16. The lighting here was far better than what you had to put up with, but even then it was a challenge to get a fast SS.

BTW, I love your panning shot.

Look at all the lights plus open doors. Still these shots are at ISO 3200. The light plus high ISO allowed me to zoom with the 70-200 f/2.8. Your venue would probably require ISO 6400 or supplemental lighting.

1/1000, 2.8, 3200 Heading toward an opening the size of a garage door.
1. http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/4D3E9166.jpg

Softer at 1/500, 2.8, 3200
2. http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/4D3E9170.jpg

1/640, 2.8, 3200 The winner.
3. http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/4D3E9176.jpg



Here I used the 85mm at f/1.8 and ISO 1600. Still only 1/500 even with all those fluorescents.
4. http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/4D3E9236.jpg

Question for the pros: If I strobe, should I be concerned about the dust getting into my Alien Bees? If I shoot indirect flash, does that ever bother the competitors?

[HammerCope]

From what I was told by AB Just blow them out evry so often.You should be ok.MOst of my flash is direct and Iv'e have almost no complants. Most say they never see it and if they do their not watching what they need to be.

[Dale Miller]

I'm very suprised that the lighting at the SouthPoint is not coming through better. This place should be as good as it gets. I have never shot there but have been to some big team ropings there, and it was allways being shot with 8 to 10 strobes mounted high on the top row of seats.

[eddarr]

I am disappointed in the lighting there also. It's nice to have an indoor arena now that its 110F outside. It's just a little to dark. If I had one more stop in my camera and they bumped the lights up one stop everything would be good.

The house pro usually only uses 3 strobes at the two events I have attended. But that may change depending on the type of event.