Arena lighting issue - horse shows

Snowgirl

Hi. As I mentioned in the Showjumper thread, I shoot at an indoor arena that, on nice days, is open on all four sides (large, rolling garage doors). This creates a back-light situation (see sample below) and some nasty white balance issues. The show ring itself is lit with halogen bulbs high in the ceiling. There are fluorescent lights over the spectator seating area.

Using spot metering on the competitors helps - but not a lot - and it depends on how fast the action is. Reining or jumping, for example, present challenges.

On some dark, windy and rainy days, only some of the doors are open - creating even greater light balancing challenges.

And, on truly nasty days, all the doors are closed creating a grey, dark environment lit only by the halogens. Oh, and did I mention that flashes are discouraged?

Any suggestions anyone?:dunno

torags

1.8 - 2.0, vivid...

Scott293

I shot this in a arena with the exact lighting as you you are dealing with. I shot these with three strobes from the side. I placed one at each end and one in the center. I put them on stands as high as I could get. I was able to shoot at 200 ISO. If you try and shoot w/flash on camera they will freak but with strobes they don't even notice. Ask some people that you shoot and if they have a problem while they are practicing if you try them out and I promise they won't even notice when they are riding as long as you have them on the sides.

HoofClix

That's the shot for reining, isn't it!? The method is great, but strictly forbidden at pretty much all venues I deal with. At the dressage I do, they'd have a cow if I did it, and they do notice strobes, but.. might be OK for some of the show jumping. Going to check it out.. It's pretty much discipline by discipline..

Scott293

HoofClix wrote: »

That's the shot for reining, isn't it!? The method is great, but strictly forbidden at pretty much all venues I deal with. At the dressage I do, they'd have a cow if I did it, and they do notice strobes, but.. might be OK for some of the show jumping. Going to check it out.. It's pretty much discipline by discipline..

Yes ,this is reining and your right for dressage they would have a fit, but for reining it's all about the stop and with strobes you can freeze the dirt and it really enhances the shot. If you shoot reining you should check if your aloud because they will sell!!

Snowgirl

Scott293 wrote: »

Yes ,this is reining and your right for dressage they would have a fit, but for reining it's all about the stop and with strobes you can freeze the dirt and it really enhances the shot. If you shoot reining you should check if your aloud because they will sell!!

You're right. For reining around here you can use strobes. But not for dressage (and I'm doing 4 dressage shows this season in this location - 1st one in 3 weeks). I watched another photog. do a reining show in the same location (actually I worked for him that week-end) armed with 4 strobes and PWs and the results were fantastic. Just wished I could have that set up (and use it) for dressage - but no. If you sneeze at a dressage show it could be fatal.

Snowgirl

There's a training clinic in the facility this week-end. I'll see what happens if I put a strobe or two around the sides, high, and what results I get. Also, Hoofclix suggestion of setting white balance off breeches is a great idea!

JSPhotography

Sorry Snowgirl, I don't have any earth shattering advice for you. The indoor arena I shoot has great lighting compared to most and I struggle a bit. Sounds like you pretty much have to play it day by day depending on the weather. Maybe you can sweet talk your facilities guy to having certain doors open or closed to help you out a little. I think my arena is going to let me use strobes next year for jumpers.

Snowgirl

JSPhotography wrote: »

Sorry Snowgirl, I don't have any earth shattering advice for you. The indoor arena I shoot has great lighting compared to most and I struggle a bit. Sounds like you pretty much have to play it day by day depending on the weather. Maybe you can sweet talk your facilities guy to having certain doors open or closed to help you out a little. I think my arena is going to let me use strobes next year for jumpers.

Yeah - I can get doors opened or closed (depending on the weather). Sometimes judges at dressage shows will specify which doors may or may not be opened, but that's not generally a problem.

I played today and when I get the photos downloaded, I'll post for opinions.

Thanks.