Want to be an equine photographer? Help needed!

[Hacker]

Date: Sunday 6th May
Location: Cottenham Race Course, Cambridge

I've just had a call from a woman I sold some prints to last year and she has asked me to cover an event she is helping to organise at the above location. As you know I usually shoot smaller events and don't print on the day but this show is huge with a capital H! Six showing rings with various ridden and in hand classes, along with dressage competitions plus two showjumping arenas, both of which are holding Chiltern & Thames qualifying classes (amongst others). Events start at 9am and will probably go on during most of the day.

Obviously I am going to be stretched covering all of these :shake: and wanted to know if anyone would like to assist. At the moment I'm not sure whether to print on the day as that would probably entail considerable expense (any idea on printers anyone?) setting up and I cannot control quality. That would also require staff with requisite knowledge and skills to manage the printing.

If you do fancy it reply here or drop me a PM, equestrian experience would be an asset. With regard to payment etc, I haven't worked that out yet but I'm sure we can come to an amicable agreement ;).


:help: :help: :help:

[Jimmy_Lemon]

I think its too far for me, and I have no clue about shooting horses :( There must be someone nearby who would be able to help on here I image...so best of luck.

With the printing on the day, I have never tried it, and if it is such a big event I guess you would need someone with the sole responsability of setting that up and running it for you. Printer wise I am guessing you could buy on of those 6x4 machines with docks where you can just run shots off....personally I would be tempted to use something like an Epson R300 which you can get little screens for to review your shots and then print any size (takes 6x4 sheets if needed)....that or use whatever plugged into a laptop I guess.

P.S Just had a look on Google Earth to see where this place is and found the village, but damned if I can see a racecourse!

[CT]

Too far for me and I find horses big and scary things close up.:gag:

I'm not sure I'd want to print on the day, I think it would be just too much with everything else pressing on your time, and it's going to mean a lot of rushed processing too. I would take a laptop though so people could see what they're ordering. This gives you the chance to do the best processing job you can on your shots at your leisure. This could be a make or break job for you and I'd make sure you provide the best image quality you can which is what you're judged on in the end. :)

[dod]

too far for me too unfortunately :(

[Hoodi]

I would have actually been up for this, as although Cambridge is a bit of a trek I have a friend who lives there - so could have spent the week there or similar.
But the b*****d is in Japan in May :(

[Venomator]

P.S Just had a look on Google Earth to see where this place is and found the village, but damned if I can see a racecourse!

Here it is JL ... :D

Cottenham Racecourse (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=CB4+8SP&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=52.294727,0.15295&spn=0.038216,0.142822&om=1&iwloc=addr)
Cambridgeshire
Cottenham
CB4 8SP


As you already know I am in Herts and pretty close to you Colin but I really do know damn all about Equine 'Tography ... :shrug: ... 'cept it involves big four legged beasties and some two-legged beastie shooting at them ... :D

I guess if you are really, really stuck I could always give it a shot ... but I wouldn't want to let you or your potential paying public down ... :suspect:


There is a photographer in the village goes by the name of Richard Heeps if that is any good for you ... :thinking: ... his site is HERE (http://www.richardheeps.co.uk/browse/cottenham/index.html) ... ;)

Don't know him just found it by chance ... HTH ... :D

Good luck with it anyway m8 ... :thumbs:





:p

[lee]

Aren't Barry & Marrianne in Cambridge, they may be able to help

[neonpollen]

I would have been tempted but I have no experience of Equine events.

[shiato storm]

Sounds similar to rowing events; early start and lots of things going on to photograph. Some one I know may turn up as a duo and cover it that way (more = better!) and instead of printing on the day they had a laptop - ALWAYS WATCHED!! - and processed/displayed some images on screen as well as had a few prints up at various sizes of previous events to show what they are capable of. I'm not sure about printing on the day, indeed that may not have been possible due to power supply issues (river banks in summer tend to be devoid of power sockets...!). Perhaps you might consider just taking a few example images and sticking them up instead of printing there and then.

[Hacker]

Some good ideas peeps! I've decided not to print on the day as it is too much hassle, I'll have my Epson P200 with me and maybe a laptop, I might also get one of those cheap gazebo things and hang a few prints in there.

[shiato storm]

I might also get one of those cheap gazebo things and hang a few prints in there.
thats just the sort of thing the photogs by the river do.