Hi guys,

I've been enviously lurking - gazing at your amazing sports shots and hoping to get some myself. Strictly a hobbyist, but I love the thrill of capturing that 'moment'.

Yesterday I went to a World Cup qualifying 3-Day Event. Shot in RAW for the first time - just to try it out. It was overcast, threatening thunderstorms and light rain. I temporarily forgot that I could change the ISO, so was 'stuck' shooting at 200, which led met to lower the shutter speed to 80 sometimes, but I still ended up with some good ones.

No wheels - no balls - just horseflesh and humans.

#1: 195mm (Quantaray 70-300), 1/250, f 5.6

#2: 170mm (Quantaray), 1/500, f 4.8

#3: 135mm (Quantaray), 1/200, f 5.6

Nice job there Obie. Some great action. A bit fuzzy but that could be due to low shutter speed. That first shot is really nice though. THis is one thing I hadn't shot yet, but would like to.

JS

We had a talk at our local camera club, it was very interesting.
When you do shoot it, take care about the shape of the horse.
Aparently you don't sell a photo unless you've captured exactly the 'right' phase of the action.
I don't know if news is as fussy, but horse owners are !

That first shot is really nice though.

Thanks JS. I love the first one myself. I'm going to see about getting an enlargement just to remind myself that I can do it :p

We had a talk at our local camera club, it was very interesting.
When you do shoot it, take care about the shape of the horse.
Aparently you don't sell a photo unless you've captured exactly the 'right' phase of the action.
I don't know if news is as fussy, but horse owners are !
And THAT is why I don't care to be the person standing by the jump trying to get an official photo of everyone to sell :D

I imagine that the first photo is the 'right' capture, and the others are wrong. I know this - but I still liked the 'wrong' ones, since they are just for my enjoyment. I'm so easy to please.

One thing to note, and certain people around here need to understand this as well. There are right ways and wrong ways to take photos, but there is also other factors to consider, personal taste may be to against the norm and do something different that the "norm" or expected. Also background or lighting may help you decide to do things differently than you'd expect. Access has it's privelidges, and also can help determine how you shoot. So don't worry if you can't get the exact reults that someone else THINKS you should, do your own thing, especially if you like the results. Photography is too bogged down in so called rules on how you should take photos.

JS

the first shots nice, but it looks like you're front-focused. But good composition.

Well I like all three, nice job.

Jim