Barrel Racing

Shot quite a few young ladies on there horses, either I was able to get the horse or the rider in focus. How can I improve and get both in focus. Foucs point,setting???

I did shoot single shot , af single point, TV
I guess I should of used ai servo, but not sure about af

I've found servo mode isn't fast enough usually, or I'm not using it correctly. I've found more luck with predictable path sports like this to select the focus point before they get there, and then simply hold that focus and hit the button at the right time. Even turn off auto-focus if needed.

I would have definitely used AI Servo. With a 70-200/2.8 IS USM I've not found it too slow for soccer, birds in flight, or any other subject. I am also using a 7D, back button focus, and generally at least 3 frames per second.

That said, I think your image looks fine. It appears to be in focus and I like the colors. Not sure you stopped the action though.

Thanks ss and titus, first time I shot raw, and fairly new to LR as well.

Titus when you say stopped the action, by that, do you mean a faster shutter speed

SS enjoyed you rblog
Titus enjoyed your photo gallery.

Bianchi wrote in post #15065656
Thanks ss and titus, first time I shot raw, and fairly new to LR as well.

Titus when you say stopped the action, by that, do you mean a faster shutter speed

SS enjoyed you rblog
Titus enjoyed your photo gallery.

Yes, shutter speed. I can't tell if there is motion blur on the horses hooves or not. And I guess having some of that would be about the same as having wheel blur on a race car.

Not always a bad thing.

umm, got you, will try that next time. Also, I just set it to Tv and shot, not paying attention to apperture. I think if I did, I could of controlled dof to blur the bleachers and have the rider pop more.

I like this monday arm chair quarterbaking, gets you ready for the next time, making mental notes, not to make those mistakes next time.

Bianchi wrote in post #15065968
umm, got you, will try that next time. Also, I just set it to Tv and shot, not paying attention to apperture. I think if I did, I could of controlled dof to blur the bleachers and have the rider pop more.

I like this monday arm chair quarterbaking, gets you ready for the next time, making mental notes, not to make those mistakes next time.

I got to looking at the custom functions on the 7D (I had come from a 20D without them) and set one up as manual mode, daylight WB, desired AF point, AI Servo, high speed drive, my desired f-stop, my desired shutter speed, and auto ISO. It allowed me to go from shade to bright sun on the soccer field without adjusting anything.

It's almost like shooting in P mode -

Hear you Dave, good idea, CI, C2, C3, definately something to consider for various weather conditions, lighting, etc... Never used auto iso , whats your take on it.

Those bath-tub/wheelbarrow races looked pretty wild.
May be a spectator to something simular next weekend here. There having a mud fest in my county, folks from all over the state attend. Want to go to catch the participants dunking each other in the mud, lots of good photo opps. lol

Auto ISO seems to work well when you have changing light and need minimum shutter speed and f-stop. I wouldn't normally use it except in those conditions.

I believe the bathtub races were shot on straight Av because I knew I had plenty of light. I use AI Servo with * focus and just hold the * button down through the sequence and try to keep the AF point on my subject. It seems to work.