Explode 5

You've captured the true essence of the rodeo - I love it!

This is quite an extraordinary shot. Congratulations. John

Wow. This is great. It's a little washed out, but I think it has to be to expose for the horse, otherwise it's perfect. I noticed a couple of low ratings; that makes no sense to me. This is an extraordinary picture.

Great shot!!! Perfect timing!

Really a fabulous picture. On a hand print (which would obviosly, easily be worth doing(!)) I'd have the yellow sign and the 2 fellows in the back ground darkened a bit.

Nice one.

Wow!

I would not want be this horses back!!

What a shot!

 

Ulrika

Just try to imagine my "WOW" ...as loud as the crowd watching this. Makes me want to go out and shoot rodeos.

Shooting rodeo is exciting for sure but safety is also a big concern.

I shoot from inside the ring for the best shots and getting slammed against the fence you don't want to experiance more than once.

 

The biggst thing to learn is to anticipate the action if you see it in the frame its too late.

Also manual exposure is important.

Take Care, Pete

Lovely action shot

This is fantastic shot -- one in (however large a number you want to put here).

 

I am wondering if this photo might be improved by some basic digital darkroom techniques.

 

Whether one uses levels, curves or (my favorite) the shadow/highlight filter/tool, I am thinking it might be nice to bring out some of the shadows, particularly the cowboy's face. He might have a great expression or at least one that's viewworthy, although you may already have brought it out and decided it's not.

 

In any case, when I worked for Associated Press way back decades ago, there usually was an artist or two working in New York City headuarters doing airbrushing -- particularly 'graying out' with an airbrush some of the more distracting backgrounds to emphasize the figure in the forefront.

 

It's more easily done in Photoshop, and you might try manipulating this just a tad to lessen the impact of the background -- maybe changing and lessening the brightness/contrast (or increasing it). (the background lines compete with the main 'action' in my opinion, disturbing a possible 'great' composition.

 

Also, one of my shots in which I found the background pinpoint sharp (and therefore interfering with the foreground, a shot of children playing in front of a statue in Odessa, Ukraine, where background buildings had distractingly sharp lines and texture, I simply applied a bit of gaussian blur to the background after selecting the foreground -- the result was a very good shot from something that otherwise could not be displayed.

 

Also, the horse's top back seems to blend with the washed out sky -- that might be improved a bit to outline the horse better (which is in keeping with this basic comment -- however you do that is up to you, if you decide that it is a worthy thing to do.)

Since this is a great shot and might be used over and over and even moreso if it were worked on (in my opinion), it might take just a little bit of enhancement of the foreground rider and horse, while not obscuring but maybe lessening the impact of the rodeo gate and possibly gate attendant.

 

After all, the main subject of this photo is the horse's fabulous jump -- a view one never sees with a horse without a rider, and even among bucking bronco rodeo shots this is a standout (which deserves to place maximum attention on the horse/rider combination).

 

And if the rodeo rider's face shows expression, shadow/highlight tool/filter might help bring it out.

 

None of this means anything if you have done your best with a great shot however; some things just can't be improved on -- and these are just passing thoughts (but with some consideration).

 

By the way, I'm averse to all but the most minimal Photoshop (or other editing program) digital enhancement, but on rare occasions where necessary will use it/them.

 

Best to you both.

 

John (Crosley)

John really appreciate your comments!

The light was so harsh this day but I agree with curves layers it could be made better to some extent. Take Care, Pete