More Horse Racing

[JackieWimbush]

I am new to the world of Shutter Priority and Manual Modes. I just got a new to me camera (Nikon D2H, 18-200mm f3.5-5.6) this year and am going through all the growing pains. I love the camera, know what I want to capture but ... well, you can see from this pic where I'm at technically. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.



If nothing shows...

Overcast conditions
Shutter speed: 1/1600
Aperture f5.6
Exposure prg Shutter priority
Focal length 200 mm
Metering Matrix
ISO 800

[Chip]

Good for you for venturing into new territory!

I don't see a problem with shutter speed. But, it seems that the camera focused on something futher away from you than the horse/rider. Hard to say exactly what it focused on, though. Maybe the railing? Maybe the dirt behind the railing?

To me, the "softness" I see in the horse/rider is caused by this focus problem.

I have a Nikon, but not your model. Do you have the focus set to full auto? Meaning, does the camera pick the focus point, or do you? If the camera picked it, then I recommend changing the setting and taking control of the focus point yourself. It's not that hard to do, once you practice it.

Also, while others may disagree, but I think the crop is a bit too tight, especially on the right and on the top.

Finally, it appears that there's a slight slant to this photo - the railing on the right is just a little higher than than the railing on the left.

Action shots like this aren't easy . . . and you're quite close. Keep it up!

[barabe]

I find your shot very noisy because of the high ISO 800, you have a 1 1600 exposure, you could have gotten the ISO down to 400 at least and get more exposition time to get a nicer image, you are shooting a horse not a jet fighter. I agree with the other post about leaving more space to the front and top of the horse and rider.

[Chip]

My guess (and it's just a guess) is that a lot of the "noise" comes from either loss of resolution due to a large crop and/or the beginning of some out of focus blur.

I know noise levels (from ISO) vary greatly with the camera, but I'd hope that any dSLR can do OK during the day at ISO 800 as long as the shot isn't underexposed.

I could be wrong, though. Just my 2 cents.

[JackieWimbush]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have done some research on the focus system and I think I've got that set now for the shots I want to take. And, after a lot of playing around, I've got a better handle on the shutter speed I'll see today when I go to shoot some jumpers.