A day at the races

Back to Outdoor and Travel page
Average of 0 ratings: 0.0 stars
 

0 comments Read comments Be the first to rate this article

How to photograph the horses

By Mason Resnick

May 30, 2008

Photographing horse racing--The Sport of Kings--can be challenging, because you are photographing a fast subject, and not always from as close as you might like.


Bookmark and Share


Depending on the kind of venue, the horses pass you only a few times, giving you precious few chances to get the shot.

What you need: Camp out near the rail. You’ll need it for two reasons. First, you get an unobstructed view. Second, you can lean against the rail for support, which you’ll need because you'll be using a long lens. Ideally, make sure the racetrack is in direct sunlight so you can choose a faster shutter speed. Select autofocus tracking and burst mode so the horses coming at you remain in focus as they move.


Comin’ round the bend: If you stand by the railing not too far from where the track curves, you can get dynamic shots like this when using a longer lens. To get this close, you may need a tele-extender. Choose the fastest shutter speed you can to freeze the action. Photo © by Christine Balderas/iStockphoto.com


Show a sense of speed: While most horseracing photos attempt to freeze the action, you can go the opposite direction and emphasize the feeling of movement by choosing a slower shutter speed (start with 1/15 sec and experiment) and panning with the action. Anti-shake can help give you smooth results. Photo © by Cheryl Quigley/iStockphoto.com

Also, be sure to explore beyond the action on the track. Horseracing attracts a colorful clientele, and you might find yourself wandering into stands, or visit the stable area, where you are sure to find plenty of interesting photo opportunities. So along with your big glass, bring a general-purpose, mid-range zoom.

See you at Belmont Park!

 
About The Author

Mason Resnick is the editor of the Adorama Learning Center and a lifetime photography enthusiast.

Related Articles

Article

PhotoZAP 77: Choppy Waters

Article

How to Location Scout from Home

Article

PhotoZAP 76: Looking Toward the Future

Article

Creative Senior Portraits That Will Sell, Sell, Sell!

Blog

101 Pearls of Wisdom To Make You A Better Photographer

Search for related articles by topic:

photography digital camera SLR tips action sports horse racing

moreRelated Workshops

See all workshops

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Forward this article to a friend
To use this functionality you should have JS enabled
Bookmark this page

Reader Rating and Comments

0 readers rated this article. Average rating: 0.0 stars
 
  • View
  • 0 comments

Was this article helpful?

Rate this article

Your rating:

Post a comment

*required fields
Bookmark this page