El Rodeo

[shaloot]

<p>Hello,<br>

It's been sometime since I've been active on this forum and posted any photos. My laziness really started with the World Cup since it occupied my time for the entire month and since then I've had to get back to regular life which means chores and maintenance around the house. I had taken these photos at a local rodeo near our place that runs every Tuesday evenings. I met up with some other photogs to check it out and you can read about it <a href="http://peachesandcurry.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/el-rodeo/">here</a>. Since the it was an overcast day and the event starts at 7pm, the light was quickly becoming an issue. The fastest and longest lens I have is my FA50 so I had to slap it on and try my luck. These are some of the shots. If you interested to know more about it, then please check out the link to our blog.<br>

I like these 2 shots the most because the first one shows the bull rider being thrown completely off and the 2nd one shows how high those beasts can jump!<br>

<a title="Flying rider... by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4679911294_e0f1d65cb2_z.jpg" alt="Flying rider..." width="640" height="428" /></a></p>

<p><a title="Get some air! by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4679911638_b3b3e518e4_z.jpg" alt="Get some air!" width="640" height="428" /></a></p>

<p>The same bull now coming right towards where I was standing!</p>

<p><a title="Coming right at us again! by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4679279575_568297b554_z.jpg" alt="Coming right at us again!" width="640" height="428" /></a></p>

<p>By the time the barrel racers came around, it was pretty much dark except for the floodlights. So these shots were taken at iso 1000 and at f/2.8 with my af360 flash on full power. The photos were then cropped to bring up the subjects a little more:<br>

<a title="Low and tight. by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4679279933_8e6b478a4a.jpg" alt="Low and tight." width="334" height="500" /></a></p>

<p><a title="Red Rider by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4679280261_70f0510d48.jpg" alt="Red Rider" width="500" height="489" /></a></p>

<p>I was really impressed with the barrel racers. Those ladies would come tearing out of the starting gate and just seeing how they were able to get so low with those horses and take the turns at speed was just awesome! I had a huge crush on them later cause it was just so awe inspiring!</p>

<p>This rodeo was one of those situations where I wish I had a more versatile lens. I hated that I could not get wider shots sometimes and then really wanted some closer tighter shots at other times. I did not want to change lenses in that environment! I'm hoping to go back soon and take more shots of the riders themselves in the prep area, and with some better light.<br>

Thanks for looking!</p>

 

[markus maurer]

<p>I like the first one best, looks like a wide lens was used at first sight. Good that the cup is over :-) Did you try slow flash as well at around 1/15-30?</p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>I commented on your blog, and I thought I did here too. But no comment.</p>

<p>The first one is my favorite (i like a few other detail shots on the blog) but it seems a little underexposed and dull. The motion actually isn't bothersome in that shot, so if you can fix the exposure a bit (just liven it up) it's a keeper.</p>

<p>Anyway, like I said on the blog, it's gonna be tough to get really good shots at dusk and then after dark. I'd recommend practicing at this local rodeo, being somewhat satisfied with everything and then heading to a daylight rodeo. Something that starts at 4pm so you get some nice directional light.</p>

<p>Also, is flash allowed? I know in most sporting events it's frowned upon, and many with animals it's banned. In the PBR rodeos they strobe the arena from above like in basketball, so there are no strobes actually firing in peoples faces. Plus the short duration of the strobe is really unoticable unless you look for it. </p>

<p>I agree with Markus about trying some slower shutter speeds. If you can't freeze action then why not try to work with the motion.</p>

<p>I'd try two things, slower flash sync, as well as putting it on a tripod and/or panning with it to try to work with the motion.</p>

<p>Sounds like you are planning to go to more of these so looking forward to the results.</p>

[MattB.Net]

<p>Nice work! I've shot a couple of rodeos myself and I agree it sure isn't easy! It's one situation where it seems a big white zoom like you see the pros with would help because you need reach and speed and I generally cannot afford both.</p>

[jgredline]

<p>Nice captures Somanna. I too like number 1, but also like number 4. Well done!</p>

[shaloot]

<p>I did try the slow flash method and honestly I didn't like the result. Sometimes those kinds of shots annoy me and in this instance I just did not like how it was turning out. I was more interested in freezing the action. I tried to do some time exposure shots and have the barrel racers as a blur but I would have really liked my wide lens for that perspective.<br>

They did not have a problem with flashes (I wasn't the only one shooting) but they did ask not to shoot towards the starting gate since that is where the infrared timers are located. They are really friendly to camera folk, as long you get out the way :)<br>

Thanks for looking!</p>

 

[wtlwdwgn]

<p>Oooh that's gonna hurt in that 1st shot! Very nice series showing the drama of a rodeo. You'll have to borrow Markus' 85 f/1.8 for next time. 8~D</p>