First attempt at show jumping

Shot with the 70-200 f/4 IS on a 40D:

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Pretty good, focusing is spot on, not much you can do with the background.

Only thing that I prefer is to see the horse a nanosecond before these shots (on it's way up instead of over) and going down.
Then again those were the most requested shots at the show jumping shows I've shot, I definitely wouldn't fault your shots in the slightest.

Good job for your first time shooting it. I like the first shot the best. I quite like crowds in the background most of the time. Both shots are nice and colourful too, which I love. Like HT, I usually shoot them on the way up, but as long as all four feet are off the ground, I am generally good with it. One of my favourite shots of me jumping one of my horses is actually taken from behind, with my horse landing, two things that I always say are a no no when shooting horses. Some of the less conventional stuff does work sometimes, and I think your shots are good examples.

Thanks for your feedback, guys. I have some where the horse is one the way up: see below.

I submitted a small selection to our local newspaper, and they chose to publish the second of the two posted above (the spread jump).

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