Equine Photography

[Derek Nickell]

Originally Posted by matonanjin

Why such slow shutter speed and stopped down so much, especially the last one? You need a lot faster speed and need to open up. Outdoors you can easily get 1/1000th if you were to open up. I always go for at least that and even 1/1500th when I can. This is going to provide for a lot cleaner shots and will blur the background. The 7D handles noise so well you could easily up the ISO if need be.

On that last one, you could have gone to 1/1250 and 5.6 at the same ISO, assuming my math is correct It would have been a lot crisper and the background would have been out of focus. Compare it to your first one shot at 1/800th and 4.8, which is really crisp and has nice oof background.

I was trying some different techniques. I know I can shutter down to 1250 or so to freeze everything, but was trying something different this time. The last time I shot was on a Nikon D300 and had a set way that I shot them.

Like this:
1/80th @ F8


1/40th @ F16

[Jnader]

no one has been in this forum for awhile... but i just started working on a ranch and im going to be in charge of the pictures for the sale horses.... should i get a canon 50mm 1.4 or Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM thanks!

[bayberry]

Originally Posted by matonanjin

^^^
Pommekitty,
It was 1/250 because I used strobes. That is sync speed. Notice the shadow. I would never shoot that slow with out flash.

Exactly. I shot most of my images from last weeks horse show at 1/200 because I used flash.

[matonanjin]

Originally Posted by Jnader

no one has been in this forum for awhile... but i just started working on a ranch and im going to be in charge of the pictures for the sale horses.... should i get a canon 50mm 1.4 or Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM thanks!

Sorry about the delayed response on this. I thought I was subscribed to this thread but apparently not.

To answer your question: 1) it depends and 2) it depends. Sorry

1st, it depends on what body you are shooting. Both these lenses will have a different effect on whether you are shooting a crop sensor or a full frame. Both will have more telephoto effect on a crop sensor vs. full frame.

2nd, it depends on what your trying to do as far as the sale horses. If you are wanting side body shots for sale catalogs I suppose either would do. If you are wanting pasture type shots your zoom might be better.

And there is actually one more "depends" type answer in that it depends on what you lenses you currently have. To me both of your lens choices are pretty limiting if these are going to be your only choices: a prime and tele zoom. If it were me and I had only one choice I would look at something more like a moderate wide angle to short tele zoom like the 24-105 F/4L. But that is way higher dollars than your choices. You could look at something like the Tamron 28-75 F/2.8 which is close to your budget and more of a "general purpose" type zoom.

These, I realize, aren't very good answers and sorry about the sarcasm. I just can't help myself. But we really need more information. That's probably why no one else has responded.

[matonanjin]

Originally Posted by bayberry

Exactly. I shot most of my images from last weeks horse show at 1/200 because I used flash.

Why 1/200th instead of 1/250th? Are you shooting with a 5D?

[bayberry]

Originally Posted by matonanjin

Why 1/200th instead of 1/250th? Are you shooting with a 5D?

Actually my nikon bodies synch to 1/320. But I use 1/200 for two reasons, the first is when using my ebay triggers they DON'T synch well faster than 1/200. The other reason is I like to gather as much ambient light as possible for a more natural looking image. If there is no reason to go faster to stop action then I don't worry about it. In ~1000 images over the 5 day show not one had motion blur at 1/200.

[matonanjin]

Ah. Didn't realize that you shoot Nikon. What's interesting to me is that when I use Cybersync's with my 5D I have to drop down to about 1/160. (The sync speed on it is 1/200th and that's why I asked if you were using a 5D.) When I use cybersync's with my 1DMkII I can use its fastest sync speed of 1/250th. My shot of the paint horse stopping a page or 2 back was with the 1D at 1/250th. I just report em I don't explain em.

[bayberry]

Originally Posted by matonanjin

Ah. Didn't realize that you shoot Nikon. What's interesting to me is that when I use Cybersync's with my 5D I have to drop down to about 1/160. (The sync speed on it is 1/200th and that's why I asked if you were using a 5D.) When I use cybersync's with my 1DMkII I can use its fastest sync speed of 1/250th. My shot of the paint horse stopping a page or 2 back was with the 1D at 1/250th. I just report em I don't explain em.

And how does 1/160 stop action with flash? I've never tried to shoot that slow, but I suspect it might turn out fine. I'll have to try it at my next show. Frankly I can't wait for the summer OUTDOOR shows so I don't have to flash ugly indoor arenas.

[matonanjin]

I don't use 5D for action. The AF just isn't like a 1D series. But I am sure it would still be ok as far as flash. The flash is still going to be at 1/2000th or so. I gang strobes and then shoot them at 1/2 power for shorter duration and faster recycle. As dark as indoor arenas are where I shoot I think you could even go slower shutter speeds and still not see "ghosting" from motion blur.

Unfortunately, every show I have contracts for this year are indoors Outdoors sure makes it easier!

[rojasphoto]

cool pictures

[batman1056]

Hi I have just bought a canon 550D and I love taking photos of my daughter and her horses - I am very new at this so info on a versatile lens that will help would be fantastic

[Brandon72]

Originally Posted by matonanjin

I don't use 5D for action. The AF just isn't like a 1D series. But I am sure it would still be ok as far as flash.

It's fine either way. Just know your course and prefocus on the jump.

[matonanjin]

I or someone else may not be shooting something you can prefocus on. If I am shooting a running horse at full speed I want an AF I can depend on.