Over we go - CnC requested

nice capture.

like you said, i doubt there is much you could do to improve it, however neither the horse or rider are smiling for the camera.

Thanks Brisket - heh and whilst I didn't get the smiling at least the rider wasn't making a fully face - and the horse did put his/her ears forward

I think it is a nice capture. I wonder if it wouldn't benefit from a more generous crop at the top (if possible)? I might clone out those lights above the helmet as well.

It's a nice capture an all but IMO the better shot is the one one the split second before the rear legs leave the ground when 99 times out of 100 both heads are up and looking forward. They always look a bit wierd when they are completeley in the air, though more so with more of a side view than your shot here.

Nqjudo - aye I would have liked a little more room. It's one of those tricky things I find because a horse with rider ends up SUPER tall in the frame very easily! Especially when one has to keep the AF point in the right place and keep the ground in the shot (which I like to have most of the time).
I find it typically harder with the male riders, I think mostly because they tend to either be taller; or sit in the saddle differently and rise up more so over women (but then I've not shot enough events to know if that is common or just the tiny number of guys at this place who do that).


Sidknee - agreed and I try to get that shot too of where both legs just left the ground. The only downside is that with this angle its very easy then to have the horses head fill the frame and the riders vanish right behind the neck as they rise up. A slightly more side-on angle helps but then one has to know the direction they are likely to look (which sadly on this jump is more likely going to be looking to the right of the frame; whilst the walkway stretches out on the left - so more time than not they'll want to look away if I try for a more angled shot since I'll always be infront or on the left side of the frame (ergo the riders right side).

Overread wrote in post #17447962
Nqjudo - aye I would have liked a little more room. It's one of those tricky things I find because a horse with rider ends up SUPER tall in the frame very easily! Especially when one has to keep the AF point in the right place and keep the ground in the shot (which I like to have most of the time).

My only thought was to see how it looks with a crop that takes out some of the ground, so maybe just the top orange bar or two are still in the photo, but you've sort of answered that one above. That may just be me thinking that because photos in portrait orientation don't view as well as landscape orientation on a computer screens, since you have to scroll through the picture to see it all.

Here are my observations.

- The rider's head is very close to the top of the frame which is a little uncomfortable and off center thus the picture is lacking a sense of balance.
- The shot could have been taken from a better perspective with fewer distractions in the background. One of the first things I look at before choosing a shot angle is the background setting. I know there's always the desire to get a certain angle but for me setting the subject apart from it's surroundings trumps that. Sometime shooting from a lower or higher angle of view can help minimize distractions. If you don't have that option pick the next best option.
- This last one is nit picking, but with such a shallow depth of field it looks like the focus is on the Horse's eyes leaving the rider and the back end of the horse slightly out of focus. Personally I'd would have like to seen everything in focus.

Patrick - aye you're right computer screens are not the best for portrait aspect (that or at least one has to remember to reduce the size a bit so that it actually fits on a screen without scroling - something I oft forget!).

Drums - some good points. Distraction wise the only real option I have here is to shoot from the balcony; which does reduce distraction but also means I've got a more looking down angle. It removes some of the impressiveness (in my view) that an angle like this one gives.
I'm hoping I might get out into more of the arena and maybe find a jump that is less distracting; but in this spot it will always have the wall at the very least.

Your last point on depth of field is interesting; I'd personally love all the horse in focus - indeed it would make my job a lot easier too. That said with arenas like this that would be far far far too distracting with the backgrounds. It's the kind of thing that I think I'd dabble more in outside where at least distractions in the background might be more natural and pleasing.

Get lower, lay down, the jump will have more impact, and watch your framing

Well captured

Nice shot! Amazing those large animals can jump so high (with a person on their back no less)! Based on your exif and what has already been said here, I don't know that you could have done too much more. I think you did a great job!

Thanks for sharing!

My thanks both!

Bianchi - I'm not sure if getting lower would help. If it were the horse alone then I think it would; but I think getting right down for a shot like this might end up hiding the rider for too much of the jump behind the horse (as it is I tend to either shoot straight or crouch at present).

If I got low down I'd rather have a more side-on angle as at least then the rider can't "hide" behind the horse and it should show off the horses muscles and structure better.

Freestylee - my thanks!

Hi. My tuppence worth - As has been said, a frame a fraction of a second earlier might have been a better one. Try burning in the distracting background at the top of the image. I guess these venues are awkward places, but try to find an uncluttered area if you can. Nice sharp capture, though. Having a white horse helps.