This was my first time to shoot Barrel Racing. I was told to not use a flash because it my spook the horses. All of the these photos were shot using a 7D and 70-200mm 2.8 II at 800 iso without a flash.
This is really tough shooting conditions. I think you need much faster shutter speeds. Even though the images will contain a lot more noise try ISO 1600 or even 3200.
Good work for your first try. Yes, you could push that ISO higher and get your shutter speed up. Keep it above 1/500. Also you didn't use all your zoom. These could be tighter. If you need to shoot a little loose crop them down in PP. That speed shot coming back out of the barrels is really cool with a slow shutter and some panning practice. Was this your event? If so, use a piece of tape or something to mark the top of the barrel above the logo and tell the handlers to point that mark at you every time they fix a barrel. The event people will love you for making sure it is in each shot. It's also cool for the rider if it is the event logo. Good luck, keep shooting.
What's going on in image #2? It looks like the rider has a well defined white border around her. I really like #4 but I think you could crop out some of the dirt at the bottom of the frame without losing anything from the image.
What's going on in image #2? It looks like the rider has a well defined white border around her. I really like #4 but I think you could crop out some of the dirt at the bottom of the frame without losing anything from the image.
Image #2 the sun was starting to cast light from the Northwest end of the arena, which was behind the subject. I really liked how it illuminated the horse's tail. On image #4 I agree, should have cropped out more of the dirt.
i agree. bump up and crop tighter. covered arenas are the worst for shooting. you did a great job. as a former barrel racer BK(before kids), i always loved the 3/4 and almost straight on shots running home even though they didn't have a barrel in them. much like the last one. i love traditional racing shots(TB and harness) as well.
just some thoughts if you want to improve your shots with things that are completely out of your control...
rider and horse position at the barrel- try to find out who the top barrel racers are and get shots of them. they are normally right where they need to be at the barrel and their horses KNOW thier jobs. this is VERY hard at smaller more local events. #s 1 and 4 right hand is way too high and too long of rein. lower hand/shorter rein gets a better turn. #3 hand too low/long rein and she dropped her horse's shoulder into the barrel hitting it. i'd bet #2 is the pro(or her horse is) in the bunch even though she is wide in the pocket.
attire- if you can find a race that requires a dress code..your subjects won't look so messy. Most rodeos have dress codes. all bets are off for warm-up runs. your lucky some folks wear a shirt. you get what u get there. same with smaller more local events. tank tops and tees might be all you can find.
BR lesson 102: see how both sides or her rein are tight? she's pulling on both sides of the bit but turning to her right. # 2 pic is a little loopy on both sides. this just depends on how your horse runs too. i'd like to see her rein shorter on her right side(which will loosen on the left side) and her hand more toward her belt buckle instead of out which will bend her horse's nose a bit more to the inside and only work the inside of the bit(turning direction). her body position is good. sittin up and not leaning forward or back. leg at the cinch. look at the other pictures, except #2 whose leg is perfect, big spaces which means leg movement, which means less efficient run. leaning forward or back on horse front/rear end isn't good. central is more efficient, easier for horse to carry. she's looking for her next barrel. #s 2 and 3 below are looking at the ground.
top your pic off with a western shirt and hat and it is perfect! i am big on dress codes. if i am paying someone for shots, i am going to do my best to improve the pic. that's just me, i also hate my daughter's soccer shorts rolled at the waist. if they were supposed to be worn that way, they would come that way!
add-on: backgorund is awesome. it's really hard some times because of stands and spnosorship banners. backgorunds can be pretty cluttered.
and these things can be really hard to do while going full speed(30-35 mph) around 3 barrels on a 1,000 pound animal that can have a mind of its own.
MRJ, guessing your rider is a trainer? saw your NBHA pics snd i think she was on at least 4 different horses? she's been doing it awhile. good to see so many young riders with helmets. guessing it is a state law? very few wear helmets here.
To me they look a little dark and the f-stop was too small.
Next time shoot at f2.8 for isolation and more light, bring the exposure up when you shoot and iso 800 should work.
Nice shots otherwise. Looks like a fun subject to shoot.
Kblinkz,
I think you did well, especially for a first try. It is very difficult to photograph this kind of fast action in the shade. However, you can use Photoshop correct much of the muddiness resulting from the poor light. As a first step, when you are in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), use the "fill light" correction, which will selectively lighten the darkened areas. Then work your exposure histogram in ACR to maximize the range of exposure without under exposing the dark parts of the image or blowing out the bright parts. Also, when you are in ACR use the noise reduction feature to reduce noise produced by the high ISO. Your photos will look much better at this point. Then open in image in Photoshop to finish the exposure settings, starting with the Levels adjustment. (If you have the expertise, Curves may work better.)
I disagree with the comment that you should have boosted your ISO to get a faster shutter speed. Blurred hooves show motion, and the rest of the horses/riders in your images are sharp. In the last photo you did very well in the straight-away, panning with the running horse and motion-blurring (streaking) the background. I agree with the comments for tighter crops and use of f /2.8 to limit the depth of field--that is, to make the background out of focus. (Use the aperture priority setting.) Expanding on what Rags and others suggested, to better achieve this, try to get a line of sight with the background as uncluttered and as far a way as possible from the horse/rider. Also, try to find a position that gives you the best light. My apologies if you are already doing these things.
Rodeo photography is very difficult. Keep on practicing and improving. You're off to a good start.
Comments
Sam
Image #2 the sun was starting to cast light from the Northwest end of the arena, which was behind the subject. I really liked how it illuminated the horse's tail. On image #4 I agree, should have cropped out more of the dirt.
Thank you for the comments.
just some thoughts if you want to improve your shots with things that are completely out of your control...
rider and horse position at the barrel- try to find out who the top barrel racers are and get shots of them. they are normally right where they need to be at the barrel and their horses KNOW thier jobs. this is VERY hard at smaller more local events. #s 1 and 4 right hand is way too high and too long of rein. lower hand/shorter rein gets a better turn. #3 hand too low/long rein and she dropped her horse's shoulder into the barrel hitting it. i'd bet #2 is the pro(or her horse is) in the bunch even though she is wide in the pocket.
attire- if you can find a race that requires a dress code..your subjects won't look so messy. Most rodeos have dress codes. all bets are off for warm-up runs. your lucky some folks wear a shirt.
Compare background of #1 & #2
Even if you use a 2.8; at that distance you're still going to get clutter
Good shooting
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BR lesson 102: see how both sides or her rein are tight? she's pulling on both sides of the bit but turning to her right. # 2 pic is a little loopy on both sides. this just depends on how your horse runs too. i'd like to see her rein shorter on her right side(which will loosen on the left side) and her hand more toward her belt buckle instead of out which will bend her horse's nose a bit more to the inside and only work the inside of the bit(turning direction). her body position is good. sittin up and not leaning forward or back. leg at the cinch. look at the other pictures, except #2 whose leg is perfect, big spaces which means leg movement, which means less efficient run. leaning forward or back on horse front/rear end isn't good. central is more efficient, easier for horse to carry. she's looking for her next barrel. #s 2 and 3 below are looking at the ground.
top your pic off with a western shirt and hat and it is perfect! i am big on dress codes. if i am paying someone for shots, i am going to do my best to improve the pic. that's just me, i also hate my daughter's soccer shorts rolled at the waist. if they were supposed to be worn that way, they would come that way!
add-on: backgorund is awesome. it's really hard some times because of stands and spnosorship banners. backgorunds can be pretty cluttered.
and these things can be really hard to do while going full speed(30-35 mph) around 3 barrels on a 1,000 pound animal that can have a mind of its own.
She rode him into the ground.....
too funny, yes she did. i hated when that happened!
Next time shoot at f2.8 for isolation and more light, bring the exposure up when you shoot and iso 800 should work.
Nice shots otherwise. Looks like a fun subject to shoot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
I think you did well, especially for a first try. It is very difficult to photograph this kind of fast action in the shade. However, you can use Photoshop correct much of the muddiness resulting from the poor light. As a first step, when you are in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), use the "fill light" correction, which will selectively lighten the darkened areas. Then work your exposure histogram in ACR to maximize the range of exposure without under exposing the dark parts of the image or blowing out the bright parts. Also, when you are in ACR use the noise reduction feature to reduce noise produced by the high ISO. Your photos will look much better at this point. Then open in image in Photoshop to finish the exposure settings, starting with the Levels adjustment. (If you have the expertise, Curves may work better.)
I disagree with the comment that you should have boosted your ISO to get a faster shutter speed. Blurred hooves show motion, and the rest of the horses/riders in your images are sharp. In the last photo you did very well in the straight-away, panning with the running horse and motion-blurring (streaking) the background. I agree with the comments for tighter crops and use of f /2.8 to limit the depth of field--that is, to make the background out of focus. (Use the aperture priority setting.) Expanding on what Rags and others suggested, to better achieve this, try to get a line of sight with the background as uncluttered and as far a way as possible from the horse/rider. Also, try to find a position that gives you the best light. My apologies if you are already doing these things.
Rodeo photography is very difficult. Keep on practicing and improving. You're off to a good start.