C & C Please - Horses Driving Competition

This is my first post since joining POTN. I recently upgraded to a Canon EOS 450D with the intent of capturing my life in horses and Golden Retrievers. Attached are 2 photos I took last weekend at the Kentucky Horse Park during a driving competition. I used a Sigma 70-300mm lens on my Canon EOS 450D. Thanks in advance for your comments and recommendations.

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On both exposures look good. And both look sharp. Lastly, both use good DOF in getting background blurred to isolate your subject.

On the first one, however, you have the focus point on the horse's shoulder and the driver is OOF. If that was your intent, great. I think this composition would have been better if you had zoomed out to get the entire horse in the frame or zoomed in to make something the focus point of the image. I also think it might have been better if you had been a little to the side to capture from an angle rather than straight on. JMHO.

The second one, frankly, doesn't do much for me.

^ Agree with the points made above, perhaps you could have gone slighty to the right or left and then been able to catch the faces of the driver? As I would have thought they would be of interest as well as the horses face.

Matt

Sorry nicely exposed shots and a good first effort. Didn't want to sound too negative.

Matt

Thank you for your comments. I'll be back at the horse park tomorrow weather permitting for another try, incorporating your recommendations.

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