Riding Clubs Festival StradBally

Kazujo

I've been reading alot here of the last few months and admiring the great shots that you all take but this is my first post.

Just wondering if any of you will be heading to the Riding Clubs festival in Stradbally this weekend?

Borderfox

I am working up in Ballivor this weekend (just past Navan) at a showjumping event, otherewise I would be down in Stradbally as a few friends are competing down there.

Roen

Laois or Waterford?

kensutz

Seems like it's Laois. Would've been too good to be true for something like that in Waterford.

ThOnda

Forecast is not excellent for Waterford area this weekend either

Kazujo

Well the weather was grand and I have the sun burn to prove it.

Here are some of my pics from the event.

Paulw

I really like the 2nd and 3rd.

2nd could do with cropping tighter, and it's a shame you cut the head in 3.

Some good images though.

Borderfox

Nice shots Jim, just as Paul says watch where the frame is in relation to the jump. Even if I use AIServo I will have a look at the jump through the lens and make sure I can fit them all in then back to the rider and follow them in and click.

Last is the best out of the group, seeing the clock in it is good to. Nice colours and you are the right side of the sun too.

Kazujo

Thanks for the comments.

Still have another 40 or so to upload to Flickr.

I flicked between using AI focus and following the horse to the fence and pre focusing on the fence and waiting for the horse.

I did get into the habit of framing the jump first either way but I had to be quick as some of the fences were pretty close together.

One question I have is what do you meter off. The fence, the horse or the grass, I've been experimenting a bit with all three but would like to hear your recommendations?

AnimalRights

I like #4 too.
What Lens?

Borderfox

I use centre weighted average and it works great, one thing to note is that if you prefocus that is your meter and it wont change if the horse is black or grey whereas if you use aiservo it checks the meter all the time so it will adjust itself to take into account the horse colour.

Borderfox

If you prefocus meter of the most neutral thing in the scene. Watch where the sun is also as in number 1. I was working the weekend and had to follow the sun around the arena as the day went on and change jumps accordingly..

Kazujo

Thanks Borderfox I didn't realise that the AIservo constantly adusted the metering too. For a couple of them I locked the exposure on the grass and then focused on the top of the wing of the fence.

I only noticed the huge difference in the suns position until I put them up on the laptop. I was choosing my position on how many fences were being jumped towards me without having to shift around too much.

All of these were taken with a Sigma 70-300 APO on a Canon 400D