Clay Pigeon Shooting

Creed

Creed

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Strange request I suppose but does anyone have any experience photographing people clay pigeon shooting?

The reason I ask is that my father owns a Clay Pigeon Shooting Ground in the North East and we have been contacted by a company producing a free editorial that is going to be placed in the yellow pages, that features an article on the sport. They have requested some photo's and unfortunately all the ones we had have been misplaced and/or were not very good so I have been tasked with taking some new ones.

Just looking for some advice on what might make a good photo that would be suitable for this sort of article as I am only going to have about 20-30 minutes 1 day to take them

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Good sunny day, people having fun doing it, person under instruction, make sure the area is clean and tidy to give the best impression you can?
 
Shots of each stand are good to show diffirent types of clays and if possible an ariel shot or at least a shot from say from the top of a tower.
 
Being an ex clay shooting person, I'm imagine shots from the side and behind only would be allowed. I'm only be inclined to take photo's of experienced shooters/instructors, i.e. not landed gentry who think it's ok to wave a loaded gun around. :bang:

I'm guessing easy ones would be shots like springing teal or pidgeon that pop into the air so that the gun is raised and the clay is reasonably close. You should be able to get a shot of the shooter and the clay exploding (perhaps using multiple shots and layers?). Perhaps even going away shots.

Depends what's needed really, are you showing the facilities?. Static shots of the traps and operators? Shooting position layouts with shooter and gun raised?
8aclay_lg.jpg


Edit: Google is your friend...
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=clay+shooting+images
 
Might not have much say on the day as Tuesday is the earliest I'm free and they need them soonish as far as I am aware so might just have to work with what I have on the day.. Good point about keeping it tidy though and having someone receiving tuition, I'll take that into account...


medwaygreen said:
Shots of each stand are good to show diffirent types of clays and if possible an ariel shot or at least a shot from say from the top of a tower.
Click to expand...

I aint climbing up our big towers with my camera, I don't like heights and have only ever been to the top holding on very tightly LoL... they are tree height like.
 
Byker28i said:
Being an ex clay shooting person, I'm imagine shots from the side and behind only would be allowed. I'm only be inclined to take photo's of experienced shooters/instructors, i.e. not landed gentry who think it's ok to wave a loaded gun around. :bang:

I'm guessing easy ones would be shots like springing teal or pidgeon that pop into the air so that the gun is raised and the clay is reasonably close. You should be able to get a shot of the shooter and the clay exploding (perhaps using multiple shots and layers?). Perhaps even going away shots.

Depends what's needed really, are you showing the facilities?. Static shots of the traps and operators? Shooting position layouts with shooter and gun raised?
8aclay_lg.jpg


Edit: Google is your friend...
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=clay+shooting+images
Click to expand...



I can arrange to have some of infront of the shooter, it is the family ground after all and I can just get someone to pose... obviously not loaded :).... unfortunately on a tuesday which is when I will be doing it I might be limited to down the line and skeet as not everything will be on... however I like the idea of layered images with a clay exploading, I might give that a try...
 
poacher said:
try some some with the empties popping out. I have a couple in my gallery.

One from the game fair last year
IMG_5895_Done_resized.jpg
Click to expand...

I like that... although the lazy beggers should be catching them and putting them in the bin ;)
 
It's for an advert/article, so I think the 'fun' element has to show, so a clay exploding into dust is a must :D

Can I just add that you're a very lucky person. Do you get to shoot for free?
 
I think your biggest problem is going to be getting a small enough aperture to get the shooter and the exploding clay in focus. Obviously youi'll need a fairly fast shutter speed as well, so you'll be looking at a high ISO.

The other likely problem is that the shooter is almost certain to be in a safety cage which restricts his swing to left and right for safety reasons, so you wont be able to get a clear shot of the shooter without parts of the cage showing.

There's no reason why with your dad owning the ground, you can't get an experienced shooter to shoot outside a cage when the ground is closed. Shoot from behind him and get them to throw up a springing teal type clay target. These clays shoot right up in the air and give you the best chance to get the shooter and the clay in shot as well as involving less gun swinging from the shooter. If the ground has a CPA instructor use him as the shooter.

I'd love to see the shots. What shooting ground is it?
 
Yes I do occasionally get to shoot for free which is nice, and when I don't (and have some time free) I just pay cost for everything :) so yes I am extremely lucky on that front as it's usually an expensive sport.. Unfortunately I just don't get the time to do it as often as I would like..

Luckily we only use cages on the Sporting layouts, things like the skeet and down the line we don't have cages so I won't need to worry about them....
Good point on the aperture though as I was thinking more about the shutter speed and hadn't taken this into account if I'm wanting the clay in there as well...

Do you think it's going to be better to stick to the 18-55 lens and just get close up rather than using the 55-200 ??

Oh and it's Steve Smiths Shooting Ground in Dinnington (Newcastle) for those that are interested and yes I will be posting any decent photo's I get as I could use the feedback to improve my photography.
 
I have done this in the past on pheasant shoots, and it's not easy at all. Standing behind the shooter, the clay can become just a spec as the lens exaggerates the distance, but I'd say the 18-55 is still your best bet as you need the DOF.

If you're going to stand being a trap/down the line' shooter then the clay is going to be getting further away all the time like **** off a stick and increasing your DOF problems. :D

Layering might be the answer in the end.
 
Layer is the answer. One for the shooter and one for the clay exploding. I'd suggest it'll be easier to track the clay and take the shot, then add and scale later in PP.
 
Ok then, one other thing? What's PP?

Got Photoshop and the wife is a Graphic Designer so although this is not the sort of thing she usually does I'm sure she will be able to keep me right using layers to get the affect... Only problem now is their deadline is Monday so need to see if I can get there this weekend.. the Wife won't be happy ;)
 
I've just been to a stag weekend where we did clay pigeon and was crouched behind the shooter.

I got a few of the clay being hit but they were taken at the long end of a 70-200, whereas pictures of the shooters were at 70mm. The problem was that we were told to wait as long as we could before going past the vertical as the clay got closer to us and slowed. As a result, the shooter and the clay were never in the shot together.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=246821&id=763015017&l=a9de852b43
 
Al de Man said:
I've just been to a stag weekend where we did clay pigeon and was crouched behind the shooter.

I got a few of the clay being hit but they were taken at the long end of a 70-200, whereas pictures of the shooters were at 70mm. The problem was that we were told to wait as long as we could before going past the vertical as the clay got closer to us and slowed. As a result, the shooter and the clay were never in the shot together.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=246821&id=763015017&l=a9de852b43
Click to expand...

Some useful photo's in there thank you for posting as it has given me some ideas. There are a few good shooters that should be able to dust the clays really close to them to make my life easier.
 
Creed said:
Some useful photo's in there thank you for posting as it has given me some ideas. There are a few good shooters that should be able to dust the clays really close to them to make my life easier.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Depending on the path the clays take, you may want to look down and point your lens earthwards after a hit as you may get showered. I wasn't paying attention and got hit just below the eye by a fragment of the clay whilst reviewing what I'd just taken.
 
Creed said:
Yes I do occasionally get to shoot for free which is nice, and when I don't (and have some time free) I just pay cost for everything :) so yes I am extremely lucky on that front as it's usually an expensive sport.. Unfortunately I just don't get the time to do it as often as I would like..

Luckily we only use cages on the Sporting layouts, things like the skeet and down the line we don't have cages so I won't need to worry about them....
Good point on the aperture though as I was thinking more about the shutter speed and hadn't taken this into account if I'm wanting the clay in there as well...

Do you think it's going to be better to stick to the 18-55 lens and just get close up rather than using the 55-200 ??

Oh and it's Steve Smiths Shooting Ground in Dinnington (Newcastle) for those that are interested and yes I will be posting any decent photo's I get as I could use the feedback to improve my photography.
Click to expand...

Uncanny Creed, I phoned there yesterday but they were closed and you've reminded me to call them today. Thanks!!

My parents in-laws down south are getting into clay pigeon shooting in a big way.
I've been with them a few times and it's a great fun but I found it difficult to get good shots (ehmm with camera :bonk:) as the timing is awkward nd cages get in the way esp when I'm just visiting their club and don't want to get in the way of competition. Any I have are at the home computer I'll have a look when I get back to see if there's anything worthwhile to show.
Looking forward to the photo's

joe
 
joe1978 said:
Uncanny Creed, I phoned there yesterday but they were closed and you've reminded me to call them today. Thanks!!

My parents in-laws down south are getting into clay pigeon shooting in a big way.
I've been with them a few times and it's a great fun but I found it difficult to get good shots (ehmm with camera :bonk:) as the timing is awkward nd cages get in the way esp when I'm just visiting their club and don't want to get in the way of competition. Any I have are at the home computer I'll have a look when I get back to see if there's anything worthwhile to show.
Looking forward to the photo's

joe
Click to expand...

Small world... Yes the ground is closed on Mondays and Thursdays but open every other day.
 
Creed said:
Ok then, one other thing? What's PP?
Click to expand...
It's just tog speak for post processing -anything you do on the computer after the event basically. :D

On a safety note you should always wear a hat and glasses on a clay shoot, I've been hit by jagged bits of clay and falling shot a few times and it can hurt!
 
CT said:
It's just tog speak for post processing -anything you do on the computer after the event basically. :D

On a safety note you should always wear a hat and glasses on a clay shoot, I've been hit by jagged bits of clay and falling shot a few times and it can hurt!
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up thought he had a lisp and was trying to say Photo P'Shop :)

Oh yes over the years I have suffered a fair few injury's from stray clays etc. and certainly have it in mind to be careful as can't afford to replace the camera / lens :)... although for the record should mention ear protection as well since I'm going to be close with the 18-55

Well thank you everyone for your help, I might be able to get there tomorrow to sort this out and there have been a lot of useful posts that are going to help. "if" I get any decent ones I'll be sure to post them on here as well..
 
I did a cover for shooting times years ago, clamped a camera tothe barrels and got the then British Champ toswing it while I gave the shutter a good old drag...the result, after several attempts and good rests in between - weight of camera on end of barrels - was the guy pin sharp in a complete swirl of cartidges on the ground.

I do quite a lot of fieldsports work.

Load of nonsense about only doing side and behind. Think about it first...there are ways, but this is not the place to give away all my trade secrets! I did another shot once, where I got the gun to actually fire directly at me. I was using a 500 f4, on a high bank, and set the shot up so that we got a bird's eye view of the shot leaving the barrel. These things can be done, you just can't stand there and do them though.
 
Lensflare said:
I did a cover for shooting times years ago, clamped a camera tothe barrels and got the then British Champ toswing it while I gave the shutter a good old drag...the result, after several attempts and good rests in between - weight of camera on end of barrels - was the guy pin sharp in a complete swirl of cartidges on the ground.

I do quite a lot of fieldsports work.

Load of nonsense about only doing side and behind. Think about it first...there are ways, but this is not the place to give away all my trade secrets! I did another shot once, where I got the gun to actually fire directly at me. I was using a 500 f4, on a high bank, and set the shot up so that we got a bird's eye view of the shot leaving the barrel. These things can be done, you just can't stand there and do them though.
Click to expand...

Interesting Idea although possibly a bit much for a free advert and the hour or so a beginner is going to have to take the photo's but it has made me think that possibly I should try something unique..
 
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