Dressage

Here are a couple from today's event.

Booboo the Wonder Horse and Jessica.

The whites are blown out, any tips on how to avoid that?

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Not sure about your blown whites, I'm sure someone sensible will be along in a moment.

Apart from that, your crop could be tighter on the first one, and your horizons levelled.

Your focus is a little way off on the second, but only a little (enough to notice though, sorry).

Considering your lighting conditions, you did good. Overhead, mid-day, bright contrasty light is the most undesirable lighting for shooting horses. .. but at shows, you've got to use what you've got. It's always hard to shoot extreme lights/darks especially in hard light. Sometimes you have to decide what you're willing to lose in order to get what you need.

Here's one I shot in similar conditions: dark horse/rider w/white/mid-day: http://shootmypix.com/​p490061641/?photo=9039​41658 ... Whenever you can, try to get the horse in full sun. .. though, I know it's not always possible.

Dressage is pretty tame and predictible.. so maybe next time, try using a flash fill. See how that works for you. (Booboo the Wonder Horse will show more this summer?)

First shot is good. The blown whites don't really affect the overall image in this case. The horse is well exposed and have a good position. The crop is a tad to centered, either go for a tighter crop or leave some more space in front of the horse. Just level the horizon thats all.

Second one is unfortunately slightly OOF. Could benefit from some extra sharpening. The horse position is not as good in this shoot. You want them to be stretched out (in walk and trot) with the forearm closest to you in full stretch. Again the exposure of the horse is good so don't bother about the blown whites. Not much else you can do under a midday sun.

Nice backgrounds in both of them.

The comment from "Playm" about fill flash should of course be IGNORED. In general flash is a big no on horse shows and is usually only permitted during prize ceremonies.

I enjoy the effect of a circular polarizer when shooting in situations like that, it will help with the highlights, exposure is really the key there though. But it will also really make the colors pop, especially the blue sky.

If it tends to just be the sky, you might look into some ND filters as well.

Agreed on the second one being slightly OOF. The whites really dont look too bad, and I actually like the crop on the first one. Being a rider, I would be happy with these two. And the flash is a DEFINITE no. My horse has freaked out before because of it, and riders will be very angry if you use it.

Nice shots, you got the trot right where you want it. I wouldn't worry too much about the whites. You want the horse exposed properly - no rider is going to care too much if their saddle pad is a little blown out - at least it looks clean I'd straighten up the horizon and crop a little tighter, just leave a bit of room in the front of the horse so it has room to "move".

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I am out the door to shot the second day of "tests" soon!

Late finding this thread.

I'm not so much bothered by the whites. I like the timing of #1 but the horse is a little tight in the neck and opening his mouth a little (neither can be helped by the photographer!). #2 is captured at the wrong moment, a little too late in the stride and is slightly out of focus. Still, nice pictures! The rider should be happy!

Edited to add: watch your horizon to make sure you don't tilt the horse downhill.

Sometimes you can't help blowing out the white. Here's a tweak using Nik Vivesa.


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