One second round a barrel

[Saorsa]

This is another Rodeo sequence. I have my camera set at 3 fps most of the time. It will go faster but that just means more to throw away and in equine terms it seems to work for me. The first frame of this series shows a time stamp of 16:57:14 the last 16:57:15.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, but do you get one of three throwaways at 3 fps?

[Geoff F]

All good except for the third image.

That one is excellent and a potential prizewinner.

[Saorsa]

Nice series, but do you get one of three throwaways at 3 fps?

Well, I didn't on that set and that barrel that time. Quite often you get heads turned away, a horse stopped at he point where it looks like it's just standing with the rider in an odd posture.

In the first two, her head is down and obscured so I kept them to show the sequence of rounding and the way the horse uses it's forelegs for maneuvering in tight quarters.

These are the sort of things a cutting horse would need to use in herding.

[Shadowman]

Well, I didn't on that set and that barrel that time. Quite often you get heads turned away, a horse stopped at he point where it looks like it's just standing with the rider in an odd posture.

In the first two, her head is down and obscured so I kept them to show the sequence of rounding and the way the horse uses it's forelegs for maneuvering in tight quarters.

These are the sort of things a cutting horse would need to use in herding.

I tend to wait for the opportune moment especially when photographing a runner; I'll wait for just the correct stride and then take the shot. I have to sometimes force myself to shoot fps; knowing full well that the before and after of each step might just hold the best muscle contraction, emotion, or play of light on the subject.

[Saorsa]

I tend to wait for the opportune moment especially when photographing a runner; I'll wait for just the correct stride and then take the shot. I have to sometimes force myself to shoot fps; knowing full well that the before and after of each step might just hold the best muscle contraction, emotion, or play of light on the subject.

It depends on the sport. Having shot a lot of film that is the approach I had to take. Here is a blog entry on shooting action old school.

https://birdsnbugs.com/2013/05/07/sh...on-old-school/

and another about my approach today.

https://birdsnbugs.com/2013/05/08/sh...on-new-school/

[Shadowman]

It depends on the sport. Having shot a lot of film that is the approach I had to take. Here is a blog entry on shooting action old school.

https://birdsnbugs.com/2013/05/07/sh...on-old-school/

and another about my approach today.

https://birdsnbugs.com/2013/05/08/sh...on-new-school/

Brian,

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out. Checked out the first link and the old/new school shooting style was exactly what I was referring to, within the new school blog the author spoke about shooting fps and also waiting for the moment; sort of my current style in the latter and what I need to consider in the former.

[arith]

I found shooting fast moving things rather difficult; focus for one thing. I'm impressed especially with #3.

[Rainforest]

I've penciled in a rodeo shoot for this summer at a small town in Eastern OR...first time. The discussion is helpful and the shots are wonderful. #3 is fantastic. They both look like they know what they are doing!

[Saorsa]

I found shooting fast moving things rather difficult; focus for one thing. I'm impressed especially with #3.

When shooting the bulls and broncs being able to follow focus is critical. When shooting the barrel racers, I only shoot as they are rounding the barrel so it's an easy thing to swing to the next barrel and achieve focus on that. I then shift a bit to the side they will be approaching to pick them up before the barrel and follow. Having that prefocus in the general area means your AF system doesn't need to change much. If you are shooting at decent aperture DOF may even be enough. BUT, the action is what makes the image and catching that will overcome some softness.

My Nikons have a menu parameter called 'Focus Tracking with Lock On." This creates a slight delay between the AF losing focus and trying to regain focus. It is helpful sometimes but not for this. I turn this OFF when shooting action like equestrian and rodeo events in the open. It's a little harder on the battery but I can track a subject much better.

I don't know if your Canon has such a parameter but suspect it does and one of our resident Canon shooters might help.

[IzzieK]

Thanks for the links and the explanation above. As usual, your horses were shot well.Good angles, good lighting.

[John 2]

Great set. Perfect postures of both horse and rider, especially in the third image.

[bnnrcn]

Another nice set

[AlwaysOnAuto]

The third image shows how in sync the rider and horse are. They're both looking at the next barrel already, they're done with this one. NEXT!
Great shots, thanks for sharing them.

[Saorsa]

The third image shows how in sync the rider and horse are. They're both looking at the next barrel already, they're done with this one. NEXT!
Great shots, thanks for sharing them.

Look closely.

In the third shot the rider's mind has already on the third barrel, the horse still has his attention on the second but is just as quickly ready for the third. This is one critical second of a 17 second event. Horse and rider enter the arena and trip the timer at the gallop, go half way across the arena for the first barrel rounding with it on the right. Then it's a full gallop to the second which is a left rounding before the run to the third for another left rounding and back home with a full stop after stopping the timer.