Dog Agility Show (Competition)

Back in June I had the chance to try photographing a dog agility training session - I was pleased with the results and encouraged by your comments: https://photography-on-the.net …ight=dog+agilit​y+training

I went to a further two training sessions and on the latter was invited to shoot one of the members dog shows - that was Saturday just gone.

Photography is my hobby (I have a reasonably paying day job) so I suggested I'd shoot on my terms (shoot what and when I like) but I'd share the results on line. I also suggested that I'd forward PP'd electronic files should anyone who wished to make a paypal donation - the sum of which I would later give to a local dog charity. Point of note: there was no officially appointed photographer at the event.

Still, it was a fun event, the dogs were excellently turned out and I have already made a few sales. It was an interesting exercise.

Some of my faves:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96562201​05/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96594518​70/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96594544​54/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96411527​19/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96411569​07/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96411597​17/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96411554​85/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96411539​07/

You did a fine job! There are usually so many other objects in the way of the dog itself and the course. #7 and 8 are fabulous....

Excellent shots. I must find the means to own a 70-200mm f/2.8. The clarity is astounding.

Fantastic work! You got a lot of those shots at the perfect moment. I like number three the most though! Gotta love those floppy ears and big puppy dog grin. Were you hired on to do this?

I would not be able to pick the best one out of these. All are prime captures. Great job.

Thank you all.

@ Flo - yes, there are lots of things that get in the way of the shot (usually brightly coloured as well), but by watching the owners walk the course you get an idea of which direction the dogs will be running and a spot with 2 or maybe 3 angles can be found. I found I kept returning to the same "safe" spots.

The background was not too pleasant either (photographically) and comprised of either car park or buildings. When I shot the training I could get low down angles, but at the show I found myself adjusting my height quite a lot (my legs ached for two days afterwards).

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/96594579​02/

You did an awesome job capturing at the perfect moment!! Well done!!!

Excellent shots

These are great!

thanks for sharing.

must go check out your other pics on flickr too............

Matt M, i'm with you, I want that lens.

It is my experience that it's tough to make much money at dog events (charging more than a few bucks a pic) b/c dog people do 8 or (lots) more shows a year for the competing life of the dog and they already have several good shots of their dogs in the ring. Your pictures are very nice and you are lucky to have an outdoor event where you have plenty of light.

Another great set! Love the action. You almost need photos to see what just took place, because they move so fast!

Nice shots. I shot agility for a number of years and one thing I always found, they never build the course with the photographer in mind. Usually, the equipment that make the best shots (the weave poles, the chute, jumps, etc., are always on the wrong side facing the wrong way with every distracting thing you can think of in the background. Like you said, it helps to watch the walk around and sometimes even walk it as well to get a good idea of the direction and sequence of the run so as to get a good idea of the best places to shoot. One thing I learned from the very beginning, not only for agility, but for herding and obedience as well, you have to learn to be as obtrusive as possible when taking pictures during a run. You don't want to be a distraction of any kind, so you learn not to stare at the dog as they go by your position. Because I usually used the 70-200 2.8L or 100-400L If they came close enough to me that they were to close for me to shoot, I'd drop my camera down and usually look the other way. You would be surprised at what catches the eyes of some dogs when they are running. I've seen them completely leave the ring in the middle of the run. I was especially careful when any of our dogs or any dog that knew me ran to stay out of their site, just in case. While a lot of people are just having fun, there are some that take the sport a lot more serious than their dogs seem to.

One of the puppies we had in one of our litters went to a home that ran agility and she was #2 in the country for a lot of years, earned every agility title there was and was still blowing away Boarder Collies at 10 years of age. She went through the weave polls so fast that the judges never knew if she missed one or not. Several other of our puppies went to homes that also did agility and though they didn't win as many titles as the first one did, they still did a respectable job. Unfortunately they don't do a lot of agility out here in the Northwest and we don't travel around the country to shows any more (too many dogs to haul around when we travel) so I've not shot an agility show in awhile. It was a lot of fun though. Again, good shots.

Mike