Tonight's Barrel Race

[Songman45]

I thought I'd try branching out a little so I went to a local arena for a little barrel racing adventure. Here are some edits:

1.


2.


3.


4.


Thanks for looking

Steve

[motox424]

OK Steve-- I HAVE to ask--- You did not flash those horses, CORRECT??

I'm guessing it was the house spotlight following them, from the stroong shadows?

I really like that the horse's eye in the photos is sharp and seems to be looking at you

#1 & 4, would be a better photo with the spectators in the BG blurred.

Thanks for sharing

[Songman45]

Uh, no. It was pretty much flash.

Steve

[RodeoHammer]

1&4 are the shots that they will buy. Ive never sold a shot other than the left barrel. Flash as you have found out is just about the only way to get shots in these arenas. Not a bad start.

[Songman45]

Thanks again RH. You know, when I started lighting up the 1st (Right) barrel some of the folks looked at me funny. I told them that I'm pretty new at this and I need a little extra practice so I just thought I"d work on my timing. Getting one shot per person requires you know what you are doing. At least hunters give me 4 opportunities and they enter muliple classes. Not so with barrel races in and out in less than 20 seconds then done.

So I turned looking like a dummy into something different. Guess what? They go around the barrels from different sides. If you don't shoot both the first two the rider can't she how she/he or the horse is working one side. This group is loving seeing something they've never seen before. The lighting (modified from this first effort) give me good shots of the left and right barrel and feathers across for the coming home run and I dry to get a nice stride as the come out. Remarkable, I have sold pictures of either barrel and the home run.

I feel pretty fortunate. I went to learn and since have made some sales and I've been invited to shoot other races. Time will tell if I am doing something right OR if nobody in his right mind would market to barrel racers.

[swampler]

I have no idea what you just said.

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by swampler

I have no idea what you just said.

I know, the words look like English but make little sense.

Its a convention that "pro" photographers only photograph the #2 barrel (the one on the right). The barrels are set in a triangle, left and right barrels (1 & 2) at the in-gate end of the arena and the thrid in the center at the far end. The pattern is a clover-leaf around them. The rider passes the first barrel with a right turn, the second with a left.

Typically if the rider is going to overshoot a barrel it will be the first one. This is where they have to make corrections. If there is going to be an awkward shot, it will be at #1. So, the "pros" position themself in the arena direcly in front of the #2 or left barrel. The vantage point is great for catching the horse as it rounds the barrel and digs in to make the turn. If there is going to be a pretty shot, this is where it happens.

Riders are used to seeing this shot, its the common barrel race shot. People with any experience at all in riding will look at you funny if you set-up to shoot anyplace else.

When I got my nest made and then started pointing a light at the other barrel the riders in warm-up asked me what the heck I was doing. You know that sport and action photography is all about timing. I wanted a second chance for myself to get shots to study timing and strides. No sense in wasting shots, so I lit the area up. As I said a rider only makes one pass for the entire race. There may be as few as 50 riders or as many as 150 depending on the popularity of a particular race.

I didn't want to sit there and shoot only one shot per rider and pray that it was good, especially in a race with 56 riders. So I decided to shoot two barrels and the race for the out-gate, or coming home run.

The idea worked out well because the riders got to see both left and right sides of the horse, and they got to see a shot that just isn't taken that often.

[RodeoHammer]

Not saying your wrong just for me around here It dont sell. Also not say when I get my new set-up I will not start shooting it also. I just dont sell it as much off that barrel. So from the days of film and rising cost I just quit shooting the first barrel.

[transcape5]

From someone who knows nothing about shooting these venues I'm looking at these subjectively and like 2&3 best for the intensity of the shots that's enhanced by the light and shadow created from the flash. And the fellas in these just don't look as graceful on the horse as the ladies. I might tone down the highlight in #2 a tad.

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by RodeoHammer

Not saying your wrong just for me around here It dont sell. Also not say when I get my new set-up I will not start shooting it also. I just dont sell it as much off that barrel. So from the days of film and rising cost I just quit shooting the first barrel.

I totally understand what you're saying. And your bringing up the point got me thinking. Maybe because of all the other reasons already mentioned and the cost of film it became standard to get the single barrel. It is the one shot to get, that's for sure. Maybe its been that way for so long no one even thinks about getting an additional shot. If its not going to sell its pointless to waste the additional flash and effort to shoot anything else. Maybe its a novelty that some cat is shooting two barrels. At the same time I really appreciate that, I've sold some of the "odd ball" shots. I also know the shot I do not take will definately not be sold. You might try it for a while if you can. We might develop a new trend and become the innovators.

Originally Posted by transcape5

From someone who knows nothing about shooting these venues I'm looking at these subjectively and like 2&3 best for the intensity of the shots that's enhanced by the light and shadow created from the flash. And the fellas in these just don't look as graceful on the horse as the ladies. I might tone down the highlight in #2 a tad.

Hey Tom,

Thanks for checking in. The ladies generally do look more graceful in this kind of event. Barrel racing has its roots in rodeo, a sport dominated by men. Some time back barrels were added to give the cowgirls an event. So, traditionally barrel racing has been a sport for the ladies. Because its purely a timed event and mass matters (there aren't many 6' 200 lb jockeys either) ladies excel in this event. They are better at it than most men because they have more experience and it is their specialty.

Sometime I think I'll put a flash at some really strange angle (not unlike the first time I tried to light the #1 barrel) that will cast some dramatic shadows just to see if an artsy-smartsy shot gets any attention. There isn't a lot of PP involved in this stuff. The action is fast, the rounds go quick and when its over people tend to load up and go. There's not a lot of hanging around. About all the treatment these get is a crop and straighten, maybe an auto contrast or quick levels adjustment and off to the printer. I guess catching the action and seeing the technique of both rider and horse as a training aide or a bragging right is the selling point, more so than the artistics. Which is good for me, I don't have to spend a lot of PP time. That might change in higher competitions where a winner is going to use the picture in promotion or ads.

[Garytex]

Steve these are really good. No problem with the riders and the flash?

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by Garytex

Steve these are really good. No problem with the riders and the flash?

No problems at all. They all seem to be pretty used to the fact that photographer means flash, its fairly standard. The particular group is on a local level, they aren't used to seeing a photographer until they get to higher level comptition. I was welcomed with open arms since the majority of these riders will never progress beyond the local races. I saw one horse flinch when I fired the flash so I didn't photograph him but the one time. One rider strode up to me and asked not to be photographed, not becuase of her horse but because of her contact lenses and her eye strain.

These are shot in the arena and I'm there at least an hour prior to the race and do some shooting during the warm-ups and exhibitions. All the riders know I'm approachable and cooperative. If they expect a spook or if they are on a green horse they usually stop over and let me know where they are in the race order so I can serve them. Always keep in mind, providing customer service is providing what the customer thinks he needs NOT what I think he needs.

Steve

[jeff martin]

The light was much better on 1 & 4. 2& 3 looked a little harsh, although I'm sure some riders will like the spot light effect.

[Songman45]

Originally Posted by jeff martin

The light was much better on 1 & 4. 2& 3 looked a little harsh, although I'm sure some riders will like the spot light effect.

Thanks Jeff,

I agree with the lighting. On the first try at this I had to make a guess, set the lights and go with what I decided. There isn't any way to move things once the event starts. Since these were made, I"ve done of tweaking and moved the lighting to a better place.

Regards,
Steve