Winner of the race

[lrmat]

<a href="http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh161/laurel1324/?action=view&current=2006_0715Image0021600x450.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh161/laurel1324/2006_0715Image0021600x450.jpg" border="0" alt="Eyesairish Cowboy the Winnder"></a>
I'm hoping I have done this right. I think it probably would be better without the two people, but am not very handy at editing. Hopefully the info you need is with this picture. I think I have done something wrong in the downloading please let me know.
Laurel

[jiminyClickit]

lrmat, Welcome

Clicked all over photobucket, don't see EXIF.

Tough call on the two people: they are sort of ambience, but with one cut off, a little distracting too. Bigger issue is over-exposed light horse. EXIF might explain how that happened.

[clockdoc]

Hi Laurel and welcome to the group. I suspect your oxerexposure of the lighter horse was caused by your camera's meter being influenced by the night sky. For shots like this you can also try a slower shutter speed and pan with the acton. Remember to continue following through the panning motion even after you snap the photo. Flash will be of little value outdoors and so far from the subjects. Subjects in the foregraound can add another dimension to the image but they need to add to the value of the overall image. I hope you have the opportunity to try your hand at shooting more races. As jiminy said, there is no EXIF data to be found for your shots.

[lrmat]

I'm really green when it comes to EXIF.Can you tell me how to find it.

[jiminyClickit]

lrmat,

On your edit program, when you select a photo in a file and right-click, of the list that pops up, the last item is "Properties." Click on "Advanced" in the Properties box. This assumes Windows is in use.

[inkista]

Yeah, it's really hard to get over that first rail when you're shooting a horse race. These days, because I have a 400mm prime, I tend to pay for a grandstand ticket and get high up off the ground, which helps me clear that fence and the first rail. I've also jumped up onto benches (making sure nobody was behind me) when I was at the ground level, or on the infield.

It looks like your focus is off. In the excitement, don't forget to see if your autofocus has caught up with you. It happens to me a lot, too, especially when I'm shooting birds in flight, but I've learned the hard way not to take the shot if the AF isn't there. Also, the timing's just a little awkward. The flat-on angle is best if you've got them actually passing the post (although good luck elbowing your way there and still getting a good view), or earlier, when they were rounding the final turn might have been more dramatic. Where you stand is half the battle.

Don't forget the rule with telephotos that to eliminate camera-shake, you have to be shooting 1/focal_length or faster, or use some form of support. I also agree that if you can add a little panning into the shot, it increases the sense of motion dramatically.

And bonus if you can show the horse with all four feet off the ground. Although, honestly, I think the hardest part of shooting at the races is the siren call of the betting window getting in the way of the photography at the most inopportune times. :rolleyes:

[whitemug]

from the title, i expected to see a "finish line" shot. unfortunately, this was not so.

some observations from my end - nothing personal, ok?

- the truck, shadows, and the space the two viewers are occupying in the shots are kinda distracting from your main subject
- getting closer to the action might've added more drama to the shot