Junior XCountry training - C&C please

[Andybazyoung]

Yesterday several junior riders took to a local XCountry training course. It was a beautiful day & all the riders had some great fun. This was the first time at the XCountry course for all these riders!!

1.


2.


3.


4.


5. This young lady was a little too small to ride!

[Manfred M]

Andy - #2 works best for me.

I find that the background in the other images are just too busy and the horses and riders get lost in the background. I suspect that you had no control over where you could shoot from, so this probably made it a bit tough to get the shots.

#5 - I think a little bit of dodging the face will help in this shot. The shadow cast by the hat darkens up the face, and the very bright background just compounds the issue.

[bnnrcn]

#2,#4 and #5 for me Andy. IMO #2 might need a bit more sharpening but I agree with Manfred that it is the best among the other compositions with horses. Lovely young lady

[Shadowman]

Oddly enough, I like the shaded/backlit images (2 and 5) best. I often end up taking photos in this type of lighting merely because I can't position myself on the opposite side.

[Kris V]

I like #4, mainly because t reminds me of one of my horses (long time ago!) that just loved to run through ditches, puddles and everything wet.
Even the water hose!

[IzzieK]

Here is a stupid question but a real question nonetheless because I really have no idea : why do they call it "cross country" training course...?

I like #5 shot...she is a pretty girl too...

[Geoff F]

Yes, #2 has a good clean background but the others give more of an atmosphere of an actual competitive event.

[Andybazyoung]

Ah! The horse & rider travel over a course of fences through the country side of open land, wooded areas & water. Beside the real XCountry course, where the fences are much bigger & demanding, there is a shorter course with smaller fences/obstacles for riders to practice. Hence, a training course...
Yes number 5 is the daughter of the instructor.
Thank you
Andy

[rpcrowe]

Beautiful girl...

I agree with brightening her face but, be careful of color balance when you do. My try tended to go a bit green...

I like to use fill flash in the majority of outdoor portraits.

[Loose Canon]

I agree with brightening her face but, be careful of color balance when you do. My try tended to go a bit green...

There is a greenish/yellow color cast to begin with this shot and its most likely coming from the hat and the grass. That has to do with why brightening the face goes to green.

A couple of suggestions? Ideally in this case? Correct the color balance. Greenish/yellow isn’t necessarily a complimentary cast for faces. If one dodges/burns/level corrects with an intentional color imbalance (say a golden hour shot for example) doing it on a luminosity layer will avoid darkening/lightening the present color cast.

Another good way is to add an overlay layer, fill it with 50% neutral gray and dodge/burn with white/black brushes set at desired opacity. Both techniques are non-destructive.

Also, if the BG seems a bit busy or if the subject appears to get lost in it (i.e. action shots), a light (i.e. subtle, not white) vignette can help. You don't always get to pick and choose conditions and locations!

Quickie color correction with a tad of dodging of the face on said luminosity layer, one pass sharpening brush on the eyes only at about 50% (eye whites may be too white possibly ) for illustration...

[Andybazyoung]

Thank you so much Terry.
Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Regards
Andy

[ST1]

I do like this series Andy, the action shots allow the viewer to see what is going on with the training from your title. Terry's edit and explanation on how to achieve it, is a great set of feedback.

[Andybazyoung]

Yes, you are absolutely correct.
terry's feedback is just super.

[DEAN01]

A very nice series of cross country training. Two is my favorite. I would like to see more water ahead of the rider in 4.