Basic Dressage

SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
edited August 6, 2011 in Sports
Spent the week-end at another dressage show.

This shot was taken out in the warm-up ring - sadly, near noon - just a spontaneous shot. The client likes it and wants a large print. Now I have to figure out how to edit it to minimize the background distractions.
i-FsHJC2V-L.jpg

This one was taken inside the arena with the dreadful halogen lights competing with daylight coming in on 3 sides and reflections from the bleachers behind the horse/rider. There were red tape markers affixed to the railing at intervals that made it virtually impossible to take a shot without getting one included. That said, it will be removed from the final image - but what a PITA when editing several photos.
i-f2PPBVn-L.jpg
Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada

Comments

  • Sexy6ChickSexy6Chick Registered Users Posts: 948 Major grins
    edited July 30, 2011
    Ugh..I hate distracting backgrounds. I had the same thing when I took pictures at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at the beginning of this year..and it's in ALL my reining pictures. Just trailer after trailer which doesn't make for a nice background.

    #1 is a really nice shot though, I can see why she likes it!
    ~*Natalie*~

    A lover of all things photography.

    Olympus E-500

    My Smugmug Gallery
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited July 30, 2011
    Exactly. And, because you want the horse & rider in focus, you can't go TOO wide with your Aperture or the DOF is too shallow. Sigh. Makes for lengthy editing.ne_nau.gif
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • GlortGlort Registered Users Posts: 1,015 Major grins
    edited August 1, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    Exactly. And, because you want the horse & rider in focus, you can't go TOO wide with your Aperture or the DOF is too shallow. Sigh. Makes for lengthy editing.ne_nau.gif

    Had this problem a few months ago.
    Had a prime lens wide open and got the hairs on the horses nose tack sharp but the rear end was out of focus. Spose i could close down a bit more but it gets fiddly.

    I'm often despairing about all the rubbish you get in the background with these events but I'm still thankful i don't have to deal with shooting at an indoor arena.

    These events are certainly not put together with grat pictures in mind!
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited August 1, 2011
    Glort wrote: »
    Had this problem a few months ago.
    Had a prime lens wide open and got the hairs on the horses nose tack sharp but the rear end was out of focus. Spose i could close down a bit more but it gets fiddly.

    I'm often despairing about all the rubbish you get in the background with these events but I'm still thankful i don't have to deal with shooting at an indoor arena.

    These events are certainly not put together with grat pictures in mind!

    That's for sure. When people design and build these arenas (and this one was created specifically for equine events), they never think about the lighting other than what will be bright enough for the judges and cheap enough to install. Sigh.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • TaivefotoTaivefoto Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited August 3, 2011
    Hello Snowgirl!
    It is nice shoot (without of backround)! I do not know what photo programm you use, but have you thinking about to change this backround? Ask from your client, is her agree with extra money to get picture much better with new backround? Some nice green forest or field or blue sky? I know, it takes a lot of time if to do if correctly, but you get more pleased client. And be sure, she will recomend do you to others also :). I know what i am talking about ;).
    Of cause it depends how big she wants it. If only a postcard size, then it is not worth all this manipulation. Then might to help only blurring of backround.
    Just my thoughts.
    www.taivefoto.com
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited August 3, 2011
    Taivefoto wrote: »
    Hello Snowgirl!
    It is nice shoot (without of backround)! I do not know what photo programm you use, but have you thinking about to change this backround? Ask from your client, is her agree with extra money to get picture much better with new backround? Some nice green forest or field or blue sky? I know, it takes a lot of time if to do if correctly, but you get more pleased client. And be sure, she will recomend do you to others also :). I know what i am talking about ;).
    Of cause it depends how big she wants it. If only a postcard size, then it is not worth all this manipulation. Then might to help only blurring of backround.
    Just my thoughts.

    Hi. I know what you mean. She wanted an 8x10 so I ended up blurring the background for her - for a fee mwink.gif
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • TaivefotoTaivefoto Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited August 5, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    Hi. I know what you mean. She wanted an 8x10 so I ended up blurring the background for her - for a fee mwink.gif

    thumb.gif
    www.taivefoto.com
  • GlortGlort Registered Users Posts: 1,015 Major grins
    edited August 6, 2011
    Every time I do any equine event i'm always thinking how " wrong" i'm taking the pic with all the crap in the background.
    We strive to be good shooters and the rules tell us to avoid this at all cost but reality, commercial and practical, says you just have to grin and bear it.

    In my experience, very few times have i had much problem with people not liking backgrounds. I did the state dressage champs here in January and only had one mother want a bright red sign removed which I was a bit annoyed at my son for not covering up somehow anyway. Normally we don't retouch like that but for some things, it's just wrong not to!

    If there was enough $$ in this Snow and it wasn't the pedantic horse crowd, maybe you could rig strobes in the roof of the arena like the Shooters do that cover indoor Basketball etc. I can hear the whinges now though about the horse being put off etc.
    Experience also tells me that the people whingeing would be the one's that DIDN'T get a placing in the comp. I have never had any of the winners complain about a thing I have done but some of the complaints the non place getters have gone on with have been laughable in the extreme.

    That aside, Stobing an arena would add a lot of time and expense to the setup and I doubt if you would probably even see much increase in sales to go near justifying it,
Sign In or Register to comment.