Girl and the horse. PP questions.

Here are couple shots from my daughter's riding lesson.
It was already dark and the lights at the arena are pretty poor so I had to use ISO 1600 and I was actually impressed how I was able to deal with the noise (thanks to my new friend LR3). That is of course my opinion but I would like to know yours. Anything I should have done differently/better?

Another and probably my main question is regarding the shadows on their faces. I didnt want to use fill flash so not to scare the horses (not sure how they would react) and using any reflector was out of the question either. So are these shadows acceptable? I tried to lighten them a bit with Fill in PP but didnt want to push it.

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/6333​052319/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/6333​804122/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mszuminski/6332​983305/

F/2 is just too shallow for these types of shots. I normally use at least f/4 when shooting portraits to keep at least both faces in focus. F/4 is also about the minimum I'll use for shooting mounted riders in events unless the rider and horse are facing to the side (this puts them on the same plane) and then I have shot at f/2 on occasion.

Since you were shooting indoors and already had the ISO cranked up, that may not have been an option. I always hated shooting in indoor arenas since I never saw one with decent lights for photography. As for the helmet shadows, there is no way to get rid of the shadows when the rider is mounted, but I normally try to take non-mounted portraits without them.

Your best best is to take portraits out doors when possible. You might try a flash when shooting indoors, but be sure you try it first when your daughter is not in harm's way in case the horse spooks. Some horses don't seem to mind them and I know a lot of people use them at Western events, but some English horses have a little too much thoroughbred in them and don't like a flash.

Hope this helps.

You have blown highlights in the first one which you would have seen in LR
Did you take any prep shots to chimp the histogram or just start firing away?

Thanks Bob.
I wish I could use f4 but I was already at 1/25 to 1/60 SS anyway. I cant believe these came out half decent hand held.
It would be tough with flash as there are multiple lessons going on at the same time so anywhere between 3 to 5 horses in the ring. it would be too much of a risk to start with "lightning" in there.

@chauncey
where are the blown highlights? on the wall behind them? I pulled them back with recovery slider so I know there were none on my daughter.
I did not prep for this at all. she had a 45 minute lesson and I decided to take some pics in the last 10 minutes or so. none of these were really posed. she dismounted and was walking the horse out of the arena and I got her attention and snapped.

smyke wrote in post #13387027
Thanks Bob.
I wish I could use f4 but I was already at 1/25 to 1/60 SS anyway. I cant believe these came out half decent hand held.
It would be tough with flash as there are multiple lessons going on at the same time so anywhere between 3 to 5 horses in the ring. it would be too much of a risk to start with "lightning" in there.

I wouldn't try a flash under those conditions either. You did get good shots of your daughter even though the horse is out of focus. If you have to shoot at f/2, try to get the horse and rider on the same plane.

I knew the horse was, but at f2 and being that close with 85mm prime there was no way to get them both in focus so I picked her. LOL

They all look over exposed to me. You could fix the shadow on her face with a mask in PS. Not many other options if you can't use flash.