sheepherding demonstration

[Boosting1Bar]

One of the doctors I work with has dogs trained to herd sheep at the highest levels. He competes with the dogs nationally and was doing a demonstration at a local springfest and asked if I'd come shoot a bit. Just got my 70-200 yesterday so these are my first shots out of it. Love the lens, can't wait to get out and shoot something a bit more interesting with it. Feel free to offer comments and critiques...and let me say, it's hard to focus on a running, erratically turning dog!!
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep01.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep02.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep03.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep04.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep05.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep06.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep07.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/brandonw/sheep08.jpg

[mjordan]

Yep, it can be real challenging getting both the dog and sheep in focus sometimes. :D I know, I've been shooting herding and agility for almost 9 years. Although you wouldn't think so, you ought to see cattle being herded. That can be a real trip also when you have a cow that doesn't want to go where the dog wants them too or decides he's faster than the dog (and some cows are pretty fast when they want to be).

I don't shoot that many Border Collies though, I shoot mostly the Bouvier des Flandres, which are really cattle herding dogs but also do well on sheep, ducks, kids, each other... and occasionally a cat or two. :D

Nice exposure and color on your shots. Some of them you lost focus a bit and you did lose some detail in the dark faces, but over all pretty good. The trick with sheep herding is the herder has to keep moving. If he or she keeps moving the sheep will follow the human and the dog doesn't have to work as hard... unless they like to scatter the sheep for the fun of it. But they take points away for that. ;)

Nice job. And excellent lens for the job as well.

Mike

[herderdog]

Hi Brandon,

Thanks for posting your pictures. They are pretty interesting to me! :lol:

I also compete with my dogs on the national level--although I don't get the chance as much anymore. I am waiting until I retire to hit the road seriously. My good dog will still be young enough to go I think when the time comes.

Meantime I've taken up shooting pictures. I am just learning--and find the dog trials a bit difficult to shoot--especially with the sheep and dogs.
I have run into the same focus problem--especially at close range. I think sometimes it is just impossible to get them all in focus.

Here is an example of my "out of focus"

Keep shooting and posting!

http://www.pbase.com/herderdog/image/41518811.jpg

[MarkoPolo]

Gotta love those Border Collies!