lonely rider, high iso

[Rense]

Hello,
I had to take the following picture http://home.wxs.nl/~rapnor/rider/lonely_rider.jpg
under difficult circumstances (no flash allowed in order not to scare the horse, no tripod or other stablizing mechanism).

How can i do better the next time under the same circumstances?

[pcasciola]

1/8th second is nearly impossible to do hand held. I'd get a faster lens, which means a prime, something like a 50mm f/1.4 (considering your example was shot at 28mm) or 85 f/1.8 would be good and both are around the same price as the Tamron 28-75mm Xr Di. Also, don't be afraid to enable ISO 3200 in that situation. On a 20D ISO 3200 is actually usable without too much noise. f/1.4 and ISO 3200 would get you closer to 1/60th exposure which will reduce a lot of that blur you have there, which is caused by camera shake due to the 1/8th exposure.

[PhotosGuy]

No flash, no tripod (would only help a little), no light, & a bad angle = listen to Philip & pray a lot to the god of luck! Might not hurt to rub the belly of a Hoti, too. ;-)
Let us see your next effort.

[Rense]

Philip,
Many thanks for your reaction. With all my money spend on my newest gear, i have to save for new glasses...

[Rense]

FrankC,

Also thanks for your reply. What do you mean by bad angle?
Kind regards Rense

[gramps]

I have to agree...............prime glass and 3200 ISO seem to be the only things you can do. BUT given your results on the pic you have you did pretty well. One other thought, can you rest the camera against a railing or some other stationary object?

[PhotosGuy]

A better angle (if you could get it) would be had if you were down on their level. Not much interest for me in looking at the tops of their heads.
I doubt that "rest the camera against a railing" will help a lot with a moving subject is why I said, "no tripod (would only help a little)".
FYI, you're pic/link is gone!

[gramps]

A better angle (if you could get it) would be had if you were down on their level. Not much interest for me in looking at the tops of their heads.
I doubt that "rest the camera against a railing" will help a lot with a moving subject is why I said, "no tripod (would only help a little)".
FYI, you're pic/link is gone!
I agree about the angle but the reason I suggested bracing the camera is to stop the blur of the ground, which isn't moving.

[Rense]

Frank and Gramps,

Thanks for the replies. I choose the angle on purpose to stress the "lonelyness".
In this case there was nothing to gain a bit more stability so I think to go with prime lenses will be the option.

Rense

[Hellashot]

Just an ordinary image to me, nothing special.

[Markus]

A monopod is easy to carry and helps to stabilize ( I don't know at 1/8th though, maybe..); one can't help the moving of the subject though at 1/8th. Dial up the ISO, like said here above.
I do like the composition, an interesting angle
Carry on
Markus

[PhotosGuy]

I choose the angle on purpose to stress the "lonelyness". Yeah, I thought about that after. Another Simpson "D'oh!" moment.
;-)

[cesstrelle]

I can see your point of view in making this photo more of a 'feeling' than a traditional horse photo. What everyone else is talking about, meaning to get down on their level is the 'traditional' way of horse photography...

such as this one I shot of my friend who is a trainer showing her client's horse...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v428/cesstrelle/michelezdressage4800p.jpg
This was taken with my canon elanII film camera...I'm still figuring out the digital rebel I just got, lol :o

[Ikinaa]

One thing I've read somewhere and also tried and which works a bit is take several pictures in Uzi-Mode, you simply follow the subject through the viewfinder and hold the release. The first and second will probably be blurred, but the next have a good chance to not be blurred except of course for the movement of the subject.
So in fact you shoot about half a dozen pictures for getting one good.

[Rense]

Cestrelle,

Thanks for showing an example. I was not allowed to come that near to the horses.
The 'feeling' photo was very important to take, because the girl on the photo wants some solitude.

[Rense]

Ikinaa,

Next time I'll try your technique.

[Rense]

FrankC
I don't know what a Simpson "D'oh!" moment is, but I value your suggestions.

[kawter2]

one thought is you could shoot raw and manually under expose a little more.. It could probably buy you 1-1.5 stops...

[roanjohn]

I would underexpose by -1..........ISO 1600.........with my 50 f1.4 at 1.6 or 1.8.

I actually like the composition a lot. Though I would crop a bit from the top to give it a more panoramic feel.

Ro1

[Rense]

Kawter2,
Thanks for suggesting this possibility, unfortunaly i don't have a raw version, otherwise I would immediately try it.

[Rense]

Roanjohn,

Thanks for the compliment.
I've followed your suggestion (the picture is adapted) and indeed a gives a more panoramic feel.