Cutting - first time

[tracknut]

I had an invite from Playm to shoot a cutting event, which was new to me and certainly appreciated! Here are a few shots. C&C is welcome.

Dave

http://www.pixf.com/horses/080824%20CCC%20Cutting/slides/DMG_9093.JPG

http://www.pixf.com/horses/080824%20CCC%20Cutting/slides/DMG_8971.JPG

http://www.pixf.com/horses/080824%20CCC%20Cutting/slides/DMG_8958.JPG

[Playm]

OH NO! All I see are the infamous Red Xs!

(btw, I almost have that AI Servo test loaded)

[Mikelangelo]

Not bad. The first is the best. I'd say they're a little over exposed (white highlights) where a polarizing filter would fix that in a jiffy, I think, without slowing the shudder speed down too much.

I don't like the decapitated guy in the BG of the second one and the cropped calf in the third...

be aware... I'm nitpicking here. I think they're pretty good overall. Harsh light like this is difficult. Nicely done!

I was just thinking, you've captured them as they are trying to stop/cut quickly, so the positions the horse/riders are in are not very dynamic. If you can get more of a "run" or a slightly different angle, it might help...

[Zivnuska]

Keep shooting and show us more.

I'd love to see some tight, straight on shots of the faces of the horse and the rider in portrait orientation.

[tracknut]

Thanks much for the critique, it's appreciated. I found I have the same issue when I start shooting new dog events - I need to learn what the important instant in time is, for that sport, rather than just shooting away. In this case, Playm helped to point some things out, but I really would need to do this a bit more to figure it out for myself. All that to say, there isn't much of a "run" that the horse is taking, where the rider is in a more dynamic position. They tend to be "along for the ride" more than in a race (visually, I mean - obviously they're quite involved).

Playm.... sorry about that! I just think it must be something on your side - folks are on my site all the time! You've seen the pics anyway :)

Dave

[Playm]

Dave.. yeah.. I think you're right. I've got my computer guy coming out next tuesday.
ok - just went to look at your album again (to determine what you posted).. that middle shot shows the horse great (the black).. and the last shot is almost that 'nose to nose' perfect side shot I was telling you about. .. the horse mirroring the cow. .. those are pretty tough to get.

Mich... I know that each sport looks for different things (ie: I'd be a fish out of water shooting dressage) .. so I'll contribute a few notes on cutting, ok? .. "running" is not really an attribute in cutting. (though being able to control & hold a runner is an attribute) Ideally, the riders like to see the dynamic athletics of the stops and turns... the horse a mirror of the cow .. and keep in mind, it's not the riders making the horses doing this. .. These are horses who know what their job is.. so it's 98% animal to animal. Yet, as with any athlete, some are more ambitious than others. ..

It was good to meet you,Tracknut (Dave). I hope you had fun. Thank you for being nice enough to take up a shooting post with the sideview (which can yield some great shots as you see).. but it is a more difficult shooting position. It's kind of cool seeing my front shots and your side shots of the same riders. LOL.. kind of like being in two places at the same time.

[manutd101]

Nice shots, but all I noticed on the first one was the way the rider was positioned, the sign in the background reads "cutting horse @ss" :lol:

[Playm]

LMBO.. you're Right! .. too funny.

[CanadianKitKat]

I think you did a very good job for your first time shooting cutting! Yah, the head on shots would have been nice, but such is life. I love the sharpness and the exposure on #2 personally. I think it would have been perfect if the cow, or a portion thereof was in it. But over all I think they're quite good. :-)

[displaced texan]

#2 is my fav. You can really see the muscles of the horse and the intensity of the rider. The back judge looks like he likes the ride too.

I love to watch cutting horses work...

[Dale Miller]

I think you did a great job for your first time. For those of you who have never seen cutting, When its good and you have the chance to get great shots it happens really fast. So its tough to get great shots if your not able to read the livestock and anticipate whats going to happen before it happens. Good Job!

[tracknut]

Thanks very much, folks, I really appreciate the comments! I'll definitely try to do this again, if the opportunity arises.

Dave

[Playm]

Just a note for folks not to be hard on Dave for not shooting in the front position. I was shooting from the front.. and Dave was taking up the 'second shooter' position. Though my position yielded the *standard* (or "typical") shots that people are use to seeing, there's a lot to be said about also getting good side shots. .. not just a break from the routine imagery, but there's a lot of visual information regarding the work, as well. At any rate, I'm most appreciative that Dave was willing to take up this difficult spot on his first time out... especially considering he only had a really quick crash course of the sport .. and it was his first time shooting horses. :D .. Excellent work, Dave!

[Mikelangelo]

tracknut and playm... good points regarding how cutting works. I'm I'm used to Dressage/Eventing... so I haven't a clue how to photograph Cutting like this... Looking forward to seeing more!!