A day at the Races (56K warning)

[Keltic Ice Man]

Went to Carlisle Races yesterday. First time I've taken a camera so was thrilled when I managed to get trackside next to one of the jumps. I think I need a lot more practice before I go again - you don't realise how fast those horses are :)

#1 Close Finish
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13224-1/060415_DSCF0028the-winner-o.jpg

#2 - Going on to Win

http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13226-1/060415_DSCF0071over-the-hur.jpg

#3 The tail enders
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13228-1/060415_DSCF0078horse-by-cat.jpg

#4 - That's not Camera dirt
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13230-1/060415_DSCF0087lone-horse.jpg

#5 - "What did ya get up to last night?"
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13232-1/060415_DSCF0093four-in-a-li.jpg

#6 - Concentration
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13234-1/060415_DSCF0126concentratio.jpg

#7 - my only winner - but it paid for the day :D
http://www.tpfgallery.com/gallery2/d/13236-1/060415_DSCF0150mikasa.jpg

Any thoughts on what to do better at the next meeting always welcome.

TFL

Allan

[Keltic Ice Man]

27 viewers and no comments after a day- oh dear they must be poor:banghead:

Allan

[Warspite]

I think they are quite good actually, although horses and racing isnt really my thing.

The last shot is nice, proud owner and his horse, very fetching.

And particularly like number 5 with all the riders doing whatever they are doing except jumping, looks almost surreal.

First shot is good as a typical bolting for the finish type shot.

All well taken in terms of exposure and focus I think. Really need the opinion of a horse fan to give a true indicator, but personally I like most of them.

Thanks for sharing:thumb:

[RobertP]

:)

Nothing wrong with those.

I tried to take some at Newmarket last year. Damn near impossible from public viewing positions. I noticed the pros standing well back with long lenses in places the public could not go.

And yes they are fast - especially if you are on the rail and they pass your side. Screaming punters jumping up and down next to you doesn't help either :)

[dod]

1st and 3rd are my favourites out of those. Just as a side note I think there are so many shots coming on here now it's difficult to find time to comment on all of them. I often find a thread that's a week or so old and think WOW.

[Keltic Ice Man]

Thanks for the comments guys. As my sig says it is through TPF that I am learning about photography so greatly appreciate any comments that you guys throw this way.

Dod I agree it is really difficult with so many pics coming on the forum to add comments to them but its quite rare that a post goes all day with nothing so thats why I thought they perhaps didn't hit the mark. I need more Patience and confidence in my pics (SORRY).

On #3 I was worried there was too much noise but neat noise didn't give any improvement. Not sure why I get so much noise at ISO200 but I think it might be down to the camera not being a full DSLR. - (Thats no dig at compacts!!! - just my observation!)

TFL

Allan

[dazzajl]

Any thoughts on what to do better at the next meeting always welcome.

Well there is nowt wrong there at all is there. Two things come to mind and one of those is only personal preference anyway.

The main thing would be open the aperture up if you can, that would help to isolate the subject more by getting rid of some background detail and by increasing the shutter speed, give you a crisper freeze on the action shots.

The other was perhaps warm them up a little as it looks like it was quite a grey and flat day.

[Forbiddenbiker]

I like most of them, but number 3 is a cracking shot, covered in sweat, feet off the ground and looking straight ahead. Backgrounds ok, but I’d be tempted to crop a little of the right side....maybe bring the distant sky 'up' a little because the white helmets been lost.

Me like that one lots. :)

[matty]

i think they are pretty good allan, though the frame on #1 has to go!

#2 is very good, #3 and #4 also, i could nitpick, things like youve cut the feet off #4 and #2 might have been better if you had got the horse a fraction later etc but TBH im not good enough to dish out that sort of critique on something ive never even tried to do!

Overall, i think they are pretty good, and a solid set

[Keltic Ice Man]

Thanks for the replys folks.

Some really useful advice for the next time. Matty the nitpicking advice was really useful I sat and thought about the feet cutting off, and yep I see that its good advice :thumb:

Forbiddenbiker I'm gonna have a play with #3 see what I can do with the sky - great idea :) and try a warming filter (thanks dazzajl). I like shot #3 especially for the cathedral background and the horse capture so I think its worth spending more time on.

Thanks

Allan