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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Equestrian Shooters
Jerry Laizure, Photographer, Assistant
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Norman | OK | | Posted: 5:23 PM on 08.19.09 |
| ->> I've shot rodeo and bull riding but none of this high brow cross country, stadium and dressage stuff......how 'bout some tips..... |
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Max Lashin, Photographer, Assistant
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | United States | Posted: 5:31 PM on 08.19.09 |
| ->> Give a shout to Scott Serio, he is a member here and very knowledgeable about equestrian photography |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 5:58 PM on 08.19.09 |
| ->> The "hoity-toity" dressage and cross country is very precision type horsemanship as opposed to rodeo and bull riding... and more difficult to capture. Read up on how a dressage competition is judged and then look to capture those qualities. I've shot quite a bit of dressage, and one thing that is universal is make sure horses ears are both forward. Shoot jumps from 3/4 angle ahead of the obstacle. The rest can be had from the judging criteria. |
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Stan Cochrane, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 6:31 PM on 08.19.09 |
| ->> Make sure to capture the rider and horse (horse mostly) bowing before the judges prior to their routine. |
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Scott Serio, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Colora | MD | USA | Posted: 9:09 PM on 08.19.09 |
->> And here I am weighing...
What you take depends on who your market is with equestrian sports. If you are trying to market to people who know the sport, you better be pitch perfect with the timing of your images. There are other images you can take, which while not be technically perfect, will contain great action. But they will probably end not in a publication for the equestrian world.
RULE 1 - Don't get run over by a horse. You only make a great photo for someone else when you do that.
Generally, for a shot of a jump, whether it is cross country or stadium, editors, fans and competitors like to see horses at the peak of their jump, legs tucked under, rider forward. The perfect landing shot also works well. For cross country, you are at liberty to get tons of stuff. There are usually interesting jumps. Remotes work well as a force multiplier to get you to both sides of a jump.
Dressage is about either extension or synchronization. Look and you will understand. An extended leg is extended, no break.
The best way to learn is to go view images from people who can shoot this stuff. The one thing I know for sure is that there are a ton of great shooters on here who would be lost if they had to show up to dressage and shoot. Likewise, I wouldn't be able to show up at a NASCAR race or surfing event. Clueless. Point is, learn from those who know. The same way we all do. Take what is good, dump what is bad and make it your own.
Here are some links where you can find nice images. Sorry, shameless plug, the first site is mine. Just go and search the type of event you are photographing and tons should come up - especially from Rolex Worlds this year for dressage, show jumping and 3-day eventing. The second link, well, she is the grande dame of dressage photography. The last link is pretty much the bible of equestrian coverage.
http://www.EclipseSportswire.com
http://www.susanjstickle.com/
http://www.equestrianimages.smugmug.com/gallery/4819523_dGzTU#287657876_pWm...
http://www.chronofhorse.com/
Good luck, and remember Rule 1.... |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 2:46 AM on 08.24.09 |
->> "The "hoity-toity" dressage and cross country is very precision type horsemanship as opposed to rodeo and bull riding... and more difficult to capture. Read up on how a dressage competition is judged and then look to capture those qualities. I've shot quite a bit of dressage, and one thing that is universal is make sure horses ears are both forward. Shoot jumps from 3/4 angle ahead of the obstacle. The rest can be had from the judging criteria."
Phil, Phil, Phil, you know I love ya, but if you think that, you obviously don't know much about rodeo or bull riding! Ha Ha. I'm sure Les Stukenberg or Greg Fergusen will chime in here and explain it to you more eloquently than I ever could.
I've shot bull riding, rodeo, and cross country, and I'll take the first two over the third any day of the week! Not only do they require much precision and skill on the rider's part, but they are more technically challenging to shoot compared to cross country or dressage because of the speed, erratic movements, and lighting issues you have in rodeo arenas. Rarely do you get the bright sunlight one enjoys when shooting English events. Shooting cross country is a day off for me compared to shooting rodeo or bull riding (not to mention much, much safer)!
Jerry, you'll be fine. Trust me. If you've shot rodeo and bull riding, you already know about the challenges of photographing livestock. Just go out, find a good angle and make pretty pictures.
Phil, I'm rolling my eyes and laughing at you right now! :~)
Jody |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 3:43 AM on 08.24.09 |
->> Well, I'm laughing at you right back!! :-)
I've shot rodeo, bull riding, barrel racing, mutton busting... calf roping (team and individual), and all that dressage, cross country stuff.. and I would MUCH rather shoot the western stuff than dressage. It's been my experience that dressage riders are picky in the extreme about their shots. I agree that the rodeo riding part is as technical as dressage, in a different way, but shooting it is way easier and a LOT more fun! Heck, a bull twists and turns for the photographer... long as you're in front of the chute you're gonna get some good shots. I fully admit I'm no expert on dressage and cross country riding, I know just enough to be dangerous. But to me it's bor-ing to shoot. And more difficult to capture..."to the satisfaction of the riders" is what I should have said. As I understand it, Dressage is based on communication between rider and horse, and how responsive a horse is to a riders commands, be they verbal or tactile. There is intricacy in dressage that is not always easy to convey in photographs... at least for me.
Gimme a rootin'-tootin' rodeo or bull riding event any day.
You goin' to Vegas in November for the PBR finals? I'll save you a spot! |
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David Scriven, Photographer
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Rochford | Essex | United Kingdom | Posted: 6:27 AM on 08.24.09 |
->> Having spent all day Sunday shooting Equestrian on a photo sales job (I have the sun burn to prove it) I agree with all that Phil says.
The ears is a massive thing with the riders, and the best trick I have learnt to make them put them forward is by throwing something up in the air in front of them just before you take your picture. I normally chuck a CF card wallet. A little whistle normally helps also.
I hate doing the dressage shots, I've done about 6 or 7 events now, and I'd be damned if I knew what the judges are looking for as they all look the same to me.
But the show jumping side of it is a lot more fun and if you position yourself in the right place you can normally get 5 or so gates in.
Just remember to get the shot just as the back legs are taking off, and the front legs are tucked under the horse.
I have found that shots from an angle at the front and directly side on to the gate sell the best.
Good luck! |
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Les Stukenberg, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Prescott Valley | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:56 AM on 08.24.09 |
->> Well seeing as Jody threw me under the bus.. HA.... I'll chime in here. Equestrian, western, or with any sport it's all about timing.. Many would be surprised at how picky rodeo contestants can be about what they want to see.. A few examples are toes turned out (saddlebronc and bareback), horses head in the right direction (team ropers), horse working right (barrels, calf roping and team ropers), hair looking good (barrel racers), no tongue hanging out (team ropers do that a lot it seems), horse fully extended (barrels and roughstock), and for the bull riding get the peak action with no air between the bull and the rider.
Phil and Scott hit the nail on the head when they said STUDY your subject before you go and shoot. It takes PRACTICE to get this stuff and normally it's split second timing that separates an bad or average image from a great image. |
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Allen Hubbard, Photographer
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Spokane | WA | USA | Posted: 6:30 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> "Heck, a bull twists and turns for the photographer... long as you're in front of the chute you're gonna get some good shots"
Phil,
I know a few photographers who can't get a decent shot, all I hear from the contestants about them is that the only shots they get from them the bull has 3-4 feet still on the ground etc.
Rodeo photography is very technically demanding just as the others are. As Jody said one of the main issues is lighting as each arena is positioned different in relation to the sun and many shows are at night with very poor lighting conditions. And you never know which way that bull or bucking bronc is going to go out of the chute.
Then if you don't have the "guts" to stand in the arena with a bull or horse bucking around you then you won't get the shots.
And timing on each of the different events in rodeo is extremely important, nobody will buy a photo if the bull or horse (in roughstock) has 4 feet on the ground, in steer wrestling you have 2 horses coming straight at you and nobody is watching out for you, you had better get the shot right as the cowboy has ahold of the horns and his boot is about to leave the stirrup then keep from getting run over by the horses.
Each event has it's own unique way to shoot from position to timing.
So Phil I don't think your statement holds much water that as long as you are in front of the chute that you will get some good shots. I agree with you on one point, I would much rather shoot rodeo that dressage etc. but that is just my personal preference, not because it is easier. |
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