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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Critique of my member page photos...?
Bert Entwistle, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 5:07 PM on 01.16.10 |
->> I don't see a lot of reining horses and bullriding on the site too often, so how about letting me know what you think of these.
I've never asked for input before so I'm prepared for anything.
Thanks,
bert |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 5:35 PM on 01.16.10 |
->> hey Bert,
I love shooting rodeo. We have the California Rodeo Salinas here every July and it's a fantastic event to shoot, so I love seeing how other people shoot it.
The first 5 photos have a nice theme to them of costumed riders and they're clean, in-focus, well-lit images. The only critique on those would be the composition. Like anything sports, composition counts for a lot and they seems a bit too "eye-level" for me, one two isn't bad, but they are all consistent in that. How about laying down or finding an area that you can shoot from up above, down on the riders?
With the action photos, I'd offer the same critiques. Get away from the straight on, standing photos. Similar to surfing, peak action is fantastic, but everyone can get a similar photo, so make it different. Try a different focal length, angle, etc., but they're cool images. Maybe try slowing shutter speeds to shoot some motion.
Nice photos all-around, good to see some rodeo action up here.
Here's my blog from last rodeo:
http://photographnic.blogspot.com/2009/07/california-rodeo-salinas-sunday.h...
Hope that helped.
~ nic |
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Ben Shyman, Photographer
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New York | NY | | Posted: 7:07 PM on 01.16.10 |
| ->> I know that Dave Black has shot a lot of bull riding and rodeo. You might want to look around on his website. |
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John OHara, Photographer
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Petaluma | Ca | United States | Posted: 7:23 PM on 01.16.10 |
->> Free Style is theatrical, It is more about style then reining. Try photographing from above, the spot light gives a pretty fair image to reflect what is happening. I photograph the International Reining Festival in Denver and they also have Freestyle, I shoot from the video platform. Rodeo, as well as reining each have technical requirements. You have to get that part correct. Your a little late on the reiners.
Rodeo, is rodeo. I would at least mix up the images with different bulls or Bulls and Saddle Broncs, or bareback. I think Less is More. Tight sharp images will get some notice. Otherwise rodeo is just rodeo. ...John |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Northwest Missouri | MO | USA | Posted: 11:06 PM on 01.17.10 |
->> The first five shots are too similar. If you have one shot straight on that that's sharp and shot in profile, then I only need to see your best one of each. Your last image has some focus issues. Image 6 and 9 are the same shot so pick one.
My main suggestion is find a way to show better access. I don't see anything behind the scenes or anything that shows the culture of the event. Some crowd shots and a couple behind the scenes shots would help round it out better. Get high, get low, get close, look for framing. And if you're behind the scenes you might see some dejection. Look for light or lack of light. At our university rodeo I like to step away from the fence and near the prep areas to see what types of silhouettes or great edge light I can find.
Regardless of the event you're photographing, you should be looking for the less obvious shot.
Also consider, would they let you put a camera in the dirt near the gate when the bull comes out? You could be safely behind a gate and pull the camera back under the fence after you get 2-3 shots per rider.
I remember when I was 17, I attended a weekend pj workshop at a local junior college. I got schooled at a rodeo by a retiree who was able to get shots of the riders strapping themselves onto the bull and getting pumped up for their eight seconds. There's probably no reason you couldn't do that at most small rodeos.
BTW, Darren Carroll shoots the NFR in Houston and he works for SI. http://www.darrencarroll.com/blog/2009/12/2009-national-finals-rodeo/ |
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Les Stukenberg, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Prescott Valley | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:01 AM on 01.20.10 |
->> Bert,
Like you I've shot a rodeo, reining, mounted shooting, barrel race, team roping or two in my time.. All I can say is that you should be shooting for your client whomever they may be.
In my case when I go and shoot a rodeo or any event for resale to the participants I shoot different, a little looser (for cropping to different print sizes), and I am not as experimental than what I would for say publishing in the paper. In the paper I am looking for a single or a few great images. If I am shooting for resale then I try and am expected to get a good clean shot of each participant, that in some cases can number in the several hundreds or in a big team roping the thousands.
As for my personal likes of what you posted for the reining they are number one and four. I might have chosen more of a 3/4 angle, versus the head on or perpendicular that you showed, but that's just me and I know sometimes there are restrictions to where you can stand.
Hope all is well with you.. |
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